Fire Door Maintenance Requirements Explained

• The responsible person must ensure fire doors are inspected, maintained and kept in working order under fire safety legislation.
• Maintenance checks must confirm fire doors close automatically, components are undamaged and seals are intact.
• Detailed maintenance records are not legally required but are best practice and prove compliance with fire safety duties.
• Fire door maintenance and inspections must be carried out by people with the necessary knowledge, experience and training (i.e., competence).

Fire doors are built to resist intense heat and flames. They’re part of a building’s passive fire protection system. In an emergency, they automatically close, creating fire-resistant barriers that prevent the blaze from spreading.

Most fire doors are placed along escape routes to protect people from fire as they evacuate. Others are placed to prevent fire from reaching critical parts of a building.

All workplaces, public buildings and residences with two or more storeys need fire doors. The number, type and placement depend on the property’s layout and fire risk profile.

Similarly, fire door maintenance requirements aren’t equal across different property types. Multi-occupied residential buildings over 11 metres or 7 storeys in height (also known as higher-risk buildings) have additional regulations to follow when it comes to fire door maintenance.

The most important legislation for fire safety in England and Wales is the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO).

Under the FSO, every non-domestic building must have a “responsible person” for fire safety. This person is accountable for:

• Carrying out a fire risk assessment
• Ensuring fire safety measures are in place and maintained

Fire door inspections and maintenance are some of the responsible person’s regular duties. These duties can be delegated to a competent third party, but accountability always stays with the responsible person. They must ensure fire door checks and maintenance are carried out as required by the FSO.

The Fire Safety Order sets out the legal basis for fire door maintenance. Under Article 17, all fire safety measures, including fire doors, must be:

• Properly maintained
• Kept in efficient working order
• Repaired when necessary

While the law doesn’t prescribe a specific maintenance system, the responsible person must consider:

• The fire risks of the premises
• The number, type and use of fire doors

An expert can be appointed to help develop a maintenance plan that meets these requirements.

Fire doors in new buildings or buildings undergoing major alterations must comply with the Building Regulations 2010. However, these regulations cover the installation and performance of new fire doors. Fire door regulations for occupied buildings are outlined in the FSO.

Fire doors must be maintained in “efficient working order” and ready to work as expected when they’re needed.

In summary, this means ensuring:

• Door hardware: Hinges, handles and latches are secure and functional.
• Automatic closing: Fire doors close fully and latch automatically.
• Intumescent seals: Seals are intact and undamaged (intumescent seals expand when exposed to intense heat, blocking gaps in the fire door set).
• Smoke seals: Confirm that smoke seals are in place and functional (not all fire doors have smoke seals as standard).
• Door alignment and gaps: Gaps around the door are within acceptable limits (typically not exceeding 3mm at the top and sides and 10mm at the bottom).
• Door surface and frame: Parts are free from damage.
• Signage: Appropriate fire door signage is present and legible.
• Obstructions: The door’s path is clear of obstacles that could prevent it from closing.

It’s worth stressing that fire door maintenance should only be carried out by someone competent. You need a clear understanding of fire door hardware, standards and legal requirements, plus the right experience and training.

Maintenance actions should also be recorded for compliance and stored in a way that’s easily accessible to other duty holders or authorities.

While not legal requirements, British Standards provide best practice guidance. Following these standards helps ensure fire doors remain effective and compliant. It also demonstrates a commitment to fire safety.

The key British Standards to be aware of are:

• BS 9999:2017 – Provides general guidance on fire door maintenance requirements.
• BS 8214 – Covers the installation and maintenance of timber-based fire doors.
• BS 5499 – Sets standards for fire door signage, including symbols and graphics.
• BS EN 1935 – Details requirements for fire door hinges.
• BS EN 1154 – Specifies standards for fire door closing devices.
• BS EN 1155 – Applies to powered fire door closing devices.

Maintenance schedules should be based on fire door checks and inspections.

At a minimum, all fire doors should be visually inspected each month. These checks aren’t in-depth but should only be done by someone competent who knows what to look for.

More thorough fire door inspections also need to be carried out periodically. Because inspections are more detailed than visual checks, inspectors need greater experience, knowledge and training to be competent.

The baseline for these inspections are:

• Six months for common property doors (fire doors in communal areas of a building).
• Twelve months for sole occupancy doors (fire doors that lead to a private area, such as a hotel room door).

Sticking to this schedule should help you meet fire door maintenance requirements, but it’s not guaranteed. In practice, maintenance frequency depends on a fire door’s location and use.

As a general rule, doors in high-traffic areas should be checked more often and will likely need more regular upkeep.

For higher-risk buildings (multi-occupied residential buildings over 11 metres or 7 storeys in height), inspection frequency is different. Minimum requirements for these properties are:

• Quarterly checks of all fire doors in communal areas
• Annual inspections of flat entrance doors, which must be fire-rated

Fire door checks must be carried out by a competent person. The list below is a broad overview of an inspection. It’s not a how-to guide. You need sufficient experience, knowledge and training to carry out compliant fire door checks.

Key areas to check include:

• Door structure: Look for damage to the door leaf, frame or edges.
• Seals: Ensure intumescent and smoke seals are intact and free from damage.
• Gaps and alignment: Measure gaps around the door to confirm they’re within acceptable limits.
• Hardware: Check hinges, latches, closers and handles for faults.
• Automatic closing: Test that the door closes fully and latches securely on its own.
• Signage: Confirm fire door signs are in place, legible and compliant.

Any issues identified must be addressed promptly to avoid putting safety at risk.

Keeping detailed records of fire door maintenance isn’t a legal requirement, but it is best practice. Records prove you take your fire safety duties seriously and can be used to develop more effective maintenance schedules.

Maintenance records should include:

• Inspection details: Dates, findings and any identified issues
• Actions taken: Repairs, replacements or adjustments made
• Follow-up plans: Future maintenance schedules or required actions

Proper fire door maintenance requires knowledge, experience and training.

Our online Fire Door Maintenance Training course explains what you need to do to keep fire doors functional and compliant. It covers:

• Fire door regulations, ratings and standards
• Essential maintenance procedures for all essential parts of a fire door set
• How to ensure fire doors meet legal requirements

Learn how to ensure fire door safety. Enrol in Fire Door Maintenance Training today.