Layered assurance
What is the difference between a check and an inspection?
A routine check can confirm that a door is present, unobstructed, visibly sound and closes. A competent detailed inspection can investigate identity, evidence, components, gaps, glazing, interfaces and the significance of defects. An intrusive investigation may be needed only where justified and agreed.
Government guidance for Regulation 10 describes simple checks; it does not state that those checks replace the wider fire risk assessment or every technical inspection.
| Level | Typical person | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| User or caretaker observation | Informed staff, residents or site team | Spot obstruction, damage and obvious closing failure |
| Recorded routine check | Trained in-house person or contractor | Consistent functional and visual checks |
| Detailed doorset inspection | Competent fire-door inspector | Assess components, evidence, condition and priorities |
| Specialist investigation | Relevant manufacturer, engineer or specialist | Resolve concealed construction or uncertain performance |
Set the interval
How often should fire doors be inspected?
For specified residential buildings over 11 metres, communal doors require checks at least every three months and flat entrance doors require best-endeavours checks at least every 12 months. Elsewhere, use risk, traffic, misuse, environment, manufacturer information and the fire strategy to set intervals.
A busy corridor door, school door, hotel bedroom door or frequently damaged service door may need more observation than a locked low-use cupboard. A recent inspection does not justify waiting when a defect is reported.
- Door role and people protected
- Usage, damage and repair history
- Environmental and pressure conditions
- Legal, manufacturer and insurer requirements
- Consequences if the door fails
Close the loop
What should an inspection programme record?
Give each door a stable identifier and record location, intended performance, check type, date, inspector, findings, photographs, limitations, priority and action. Link repair evidence and verification to the same record.
Use trend information to identify repeated closer failures, resident access problems, contractor quality issues and doors that need a design solution rather than another minor repair.