Fire safety
Why fire doors matter
In a block of flats, the flat entrance doors and the doors on stairs and corridors are what stop a fire in one flat from filling the escape route with smoke.
A door that has been damaged, altered, wedged open or fitted with the wrong parts may not hold back fire and smoke for as long as it was designed to.
The legal requirements
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, fire doors must be kept in efficient working order and good repair. In blocks of flats this includes the doors in the shared parts and the flat entrance doors.
Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022
- In all blocks of flats, residents must be given information about why fire doors matter and how to look after them.
- Where the top storey is more than 11 metres above ground, fire doors in the communal areas, including their self-closers, must be checked at least every three months.
- In the same buildings, the responsible person must use best endeavours to check flat entrance doors at least every twelve months.
Routine checks can be carried out by a building manager. A detailed inspection by a qualified inspector gives you a reliable baseline, picks up faults that routine checks can miss, and gives you a record showing that you are meeting your duties.
What we check
- The door leaf: damage, alterations and poor repairs
- The frame, its fixing and any gaps to the wall
- Gaps around the door and at the threshold
- Intumescent and smoke seals
- Hinges: number, condition and fixings
- The self-closer: closes fully and latches
- Glazing and vision panels
- Locks, latches, letter plates and hardware
- Fire door signage
- Certification labels or plugs, where present
What you receive
A record for each door showing its location, what we found and whether it passes or needs work, with recommended actions in order of priority. You can use it to instruct contractors and keep it as evidence for your records.
We inspect and report only. We do not sell, fit or repair doors, so our findings are not tied to any remedial work.
Who we inspect for
Landlords, housing associations, local authorities, managing agents, and residents' management and right to manage companies responsible for blocks of flats and other residential buildings.
How it works
- Tell us about the buildingRoughly how many doors, and whether flat entrance doors are included.
- Receive a fixed feeWe confirm the price and arrange access.
- Door-by-door inspectionEach door is inspected on site.
- Your recordResults for every door, with prioritised actions.