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Fire door inspection checklist

Work through 38 checks for the complete doorset, record uncertainty honestly and turn failures into prioritised actions.

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Reviewed: 30 July 2026Guidance: EnglandChecklist: 38 inspection prompts

Choose the right level of check

Routine observation is not the same as technical inspection

01

Routine responsible-person check

Can identify obstruction, wedging, visible damage, missing signs and failure to self-close. The person still needs enough instruction to recognise and report concerns.

02

Competent doorset inspection

Examines measurements, components, compatibility, evidence, alterations and the frame-to-wall interface to the depth required by the scope.

03

Specialist or intrusive investigation

May be needed where construction, concealed fire stopping, product evidence or fire resistance cannot be established visually.

Door and inspection details
01Door identity and available evidence
The doorset has a unique location or asset reference

Use a consistent reference that connects the door, photographs, findings and later remedial evidence.

Its fire-safety purpose and required performance are known or recorded as uncertain

Check the fire strategy, FRA, drawings, door schedule and available product evidence. Do not infer a rating from appearance alone.

Available labels, plugs, certificates or markings are legible and recorded

A label can support identification but does not prove that the complete installed doorset remains suitable.

Previous repairs and alterations are known where records should exist

Access control, locks, viewers, letterplates, glazing and replacement ironmongery can affect performance.

02Door leaf, frame and physical condition
The leaf has no significant holes, splits, delamination or impact damagePriority check

Record the position and extent of damage. Unsupported filler or surface repair may not restore tested performance.

The leaf is not visibly twisted, bowed or distorted

Distortion can prevent reliable closing and create inconsistent gaps.

The frame is secure, undamaged and aligned with the leaf

Look for movement, splitting, loose sections, failed joints and signs of unsuitable replacement.

Door stops are continuous, secure and compatible with the closing leaf

The leaf should close consistently against the intended stops without rebound.

There are no visibly unsuitable or unrecorded repairs

Escalate repairs that cannot be connected to compatible materials, instructions or evidence.

03Gaps and threshold
Head and jamb gaps are measured and appear consistent with the doorset evidence

Record measurements rather than relying only on sight. The correct gap depends on the doorset and available evidence.

The threshold gap is measured and compatible with smoke-control and doorset requirements

Floor finishes and threshold seals can affect the acceptable arrangement; do not apply one universal dimension.

Gaps are not visibly excessive, closed up or markedly unevenPriority check

Uneven gaps can indicate dropping, distortion, frame movement or poor installation.

Flooring, mats and thresholds do not obstruct closingPriority check

The door must complete its closing cycle from the positions it is likely to be left in.

04Intumescent and smoke seals
Required intumescent and smoke seals are present in the intended locations

Use the fire strategy, door evidence or competent specification to confirm what should be fitted.

Seals are continuous, secure, undamaged and not heavily painted over

Record missing, loose, cut, contaminated or incompatible sections.

Replacement seals appear compatible in type, size and location

Mixed or unsupported replacement products should be checked against doorset evidence.

05Hinges, latch and ironmongery
Hinges are secure with no missing or loose fixingsPriority check

Check every hinge, the frame and leaf fixings, wear and visible damage.

Hinges show no significant wear, leakage, distortion or binding

The leaf should move freely without dropping or placing excessive load on the closer.

The latch engages reliably where the doorset is designed to latchPriority check

Test normal closing without assisting the leaf. Failed latching can prevent the door reaching its intended closed condition.

Handles, locks and other ironmongery are secure and do not damage operation

Record non-original items, loose fittings and unsealed or excessive cut-outs.

06Self-closing device and operation
A self-closing device is fitted where required

Confirm the intended arrangement from the door purpose and building information.

The door closes fully into the frame from a wide-open positionPriority check

Test safely without pushing or pulling the leaf through the final part of its travel.

The door closes fully from a partly open positionPriority check

This helps reveal weak final action, binding or unsuitable adjustment.

The closer, arm, chain or concealed components show no visible damage or leakage

Record loose fixings, disconnected arms and adjustments that appear to prevent closing.

07Glazing, apertures and fitted devices
Fire-resisting glazing and beads appear intact and securely retainedPriority check

Record cracked glass, damaged beads, missing fixings, failed seals and unsupported replacements.

Letterplates, viewers, transfer grilles and other apertures appear suitable and intact

Openings and devices should be supported by compatible evidence and remain undamaged.

Access-control equipment and cables do not obstruct or visibly compromise the doorset

Check magnetic locks, strikes, contacts, cable loops and release arrangements against the intended system.

08Surrounding construction and signage
The visible frame-to-wall junction has no open gaps or failed finishingPriority check

A visual check cannot confirm concealed fire stopping, but visible separation or unsupported foam requires escalation.

The surrounding wall and nearby services show no obvious damage or unsealed openings

Record penetrations, cracking and alterations that could bypass the doorset.

Required fire-door signage is present, legible and appropriate to the door

The correct sign depends on whether the door is kept shut, kept locked or held open on an approved device.

Any hold-open or swing-free device is suitable, releases and allows full closingPriority check

Test only where it is safe and within the person’s competence and site procedure.

09Use, access and routine management
The door is not wedged, tied or routinely held open without an approved devicePriority check

Remove unsafe improvised hold-open arrangements where authorised and escalate repeated behaviour.

The leaf, closing path and escape-side operation are unobstructedPriority check

Storage, furniture, floor coverings and decorations must not prevent normal use or closing.

The complete doorset was accessible for the intended check

Record refused access, locked rooms and concealed components as limitations; do not mark them as passed.

10Records, action and follow-up
Relevant overview and defect photographs are referenced

Photographs should identify the door and show scale or position where useful without exposing unnecessary personal information.

Every failed or uncertain item has an action, priority and owner

Immediate risk may require temporary control while a competent repair or replacement decision is arranged.

Required repair or replacement evidence is specified before work is closed

Completion should be verified against the intended outcome, not just an invoice or contractor attendance.

The next routine check or competent inspection date is recorded

Set frequency from legal duties, risk, door use, condition, previous defects and the fire strategy.

Limits of the tool

What a visual checklist cannot establish

Visible condition is important, but a satisfactory-looking door is not automatically a proven fire-resisting doorset.

01

Original fire performance

Appearance alone cannot establish the tested or assessed fire-resistance period of the complete installed doorset.

02

Hidden construction

The core, internal reinforcement, concealed fixings and frame-to-wall fire stopping may require evidence or investigation.

03

Component compatibility

Seals, glazing, ironmongery, closers and repairs may look intact without being compatible with the doorset evidence.

04

Installation history

A visual record may not reveal undocumented alterations, unsuitable previous repairs or missing installation evidence.

05

Correct specification

The required rating, smoke control, self-closing and security arrangement depend on the building and fire strategy.

06

Certification or compliance

This checklist records observations. It does not certify the door, approve remedial work or determine legal compliance.

Interpreting the record

A failed or uncertain item needs a decision—not a cosmetic tick

Record what was observed, whether the door can still perform its intended role and who is responsible for the next action. A serious operational defect may need an immediate temporary control while competent repair, replacement or investigation is arranged.

Inspection guidanceUnderstand professional scope →Cost estimatorPlan an inspection budget →Compliance recordsTrack checks and defects →

What a useful record includes

Keep the evidence connected to the doorset

  • Unique door reference and precise location
  • Date, check type and person completing it
  • Measured or observed condition and limitations
  • Photographs linked to the same reference
  • Failed items, immediate controls and priority
  • Action owner, target date and completion evidence
  • Competent repair or replacement decision where required
  • Verification and next inspection date

London and Surrey fire-door support

Arrange a competent fire door inspection

If this checklist identified failures, you have many doors to inspect or the building requires a more technical doorset survey, provide the essential details below.

  • Inspection enquiries for London and Surrey
  • Telephone number required
  • Use the details box for urgent failures or access restrictions

Submitting the form does not certify the doors, confirm an appointment or provide a fixed quotation.

Frequently asked questions

Fire door checklist FAQs

Can anyone use this fire door checklist?

A responsible person or member of staff can use it to structure routine observations if they understand the limits of the check. Technical inspection, specification, repair and evidence decisions require competence appropriate to the doorset and building.

Does completing the checklist certify a fire door?

No. It records observations and limitations. It does not prove the fire resistance of the installed doorset, certify compliance or replace a competent inspection where one is required.

What should happen when a fire door fails to close?

Treat failure to self-close into the intended closed position as a significant defect. Consider immediate risk controls, record and escalate it promptly, and arrange competent repair or replacement rather than repeatedly adjusting it without evidence.

What gap should a fire door have?

Do not apply one universal dimension without checking the doorset evidence, location, smoke-control needs and applicable guidance. Measure and record the gaps, then have uncertain or unsuitable conditions assessed competently.

How often should fire doors be checked?

Frequency depends on the building, legal duties, door use, condition and fire strategy. For residential buildings above 11 metres in England, the Fire Safety (England) Regulations require quarterly checks of communal fire doors and best endeavours to check flat entrance doors at intervals not exceeding 12 months.

Is a routine check the same as a professional fire door inspection?

No. Routine checks can identify obvious damage, wedging and failure to close. A competent inspection can examine the complete doorset, measurements, evidence, compatibility, alterations and the surrounding interface in greater depth.

Sources and limitations

Guidance reviewed 30 July 2026

This checklist provides general information for England. It does not certify a fire door, determine a product’s fire resistance or replace building-specific inspection, evidence and competent judgement.

Citation and reuse guidance for this checklist