Are Fire Door Inspections
a Legal Requirement?

Published 11 April 2025 • DE Fire Compliance • 5 min read

Yes, fire door inspections are a legal requirement in the UK. If you’re a building manager, facilities manager, landlord, or “responsible person” for a non-domestic or multi-occupied residential building, you have a legal duty to ensure fire doors are properly maintained and regularly inspected.

But the law isn’t contained in a single regulation. Several pieces of legislation work together to create the inspection obligation. Here’s what you need to know.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

The Fire Safety Order (FSO) is the main piece of fire safety legislation in England and Wales. It applies to all non-domestic premises and the common areas of multi-occupied residential buildings.

Under the FSO, the “responsible person” — usually the building owner, employer, or managing agent — must:

• Carry out a fire risk assessment and keep it up to date
• Take “general fire precautions” to ensure the safety of occupants
• Maintain fire safety measures in good working order

Fire doors are classified as fire safety measures. The FSO requires them to be maintained so they function as intended — which means regular inspections are necessary to demonstrate compliance.

Article 17 of the Fire Safety Order states that the responsible person must ensure fire safety equipment and facilities are “subject to a suitable system of maintenance and are maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair.”

The Fire Safety Act 2021

The Fire Safety Act 2021 clarified the scope of the original Fire Safety Order. It confirmed that the FSO applies to:

• The structure, external walls, and common parts of multi-occupied residential buildings
• All doors between domestic premises and common areas (i.e. flat entrance doors that serve as fire doors)

This was significant because it removed ambiguity about whether flat entrance doors fell under fire safety legislation. They do. If you manage a block of flats, the entrance doors to each flat are fire doors that must be inspected and maintained.

The Building Safety Act 2022

The Building Safety Act introduced a new regulatory regime for “higher-risk buildings” — generally residential buildings at least 18 metres tall or with at least 7 storeys.

For these buildings, the Act requires:

• A named “Accountable Person” responsible for building safety
• A safety case report demonstrating how fire and structural risks are managed
• Regular inspections of all fire safety systems, including fire doors
• Quarterly checks of all fire doors in common areas
• Annual inspections of all flat entrance fire doors

Fire door inspections in higher-risk buildings aren’t just best practice — they’re a specific, documented legal requirement with prescribed frequencies.

Who Is the “Responsible Person”?

The responsible person is whoever has control of the premises. In practice, this is usually:

• Building owners or landlords
• Managing agents or property management companies
• Employers for commercial premises
• Facilities managers with operational control

If you’re not sure whether you’re the responsible person, a useful test is: do you have the ability to make decisions about fire safety in the building? If yes, you likely carry responsibility under the FSO.

What Happens If You Don’t Comply?

Non-compliance with fire safety legislation in the UK can result in serious consequences:

• Enforcement notices from the fire and rescue authority, requiring remedial action within a set timeframe
• Prohibition notices restricting the use of a building until hazards are resolved
• Criminal prosecution for serious failures, with fines and potential imprisonment
• Civil liability in the event of a fire that causes injury or death

Following the Grenfell Tower fire and subsequent inquiry, enforcement has become significantly more rigorous. Fire and rescue authorities are carrying out more inspections and issuing more enforcement notices than ever before.

What Does a Compliant Fire Door Inspection Look Like?

A fire door inspection should be carried out by a competent person — ideally someone with a recognised qualification such as FDIS (Fire Door Inspection Scheme) certification. The inspection typically covers:

• Door leaf condition, certification marks, and labelling
• Gaps between the door, frame, and threshold (within 3mm tolerance)
• Intumescent strips and cold smoke seals
• Hinges (minimum three, fire-rated)
• Self-closing device operation and adjustment
• Glazing, signage, and hold-open devices
• Frame integrity, fixings, and structural condition

Each door is given a pass/fail/advisory status, and a formal report is produced for the building’s fire safety records.

How Often Should Fire Doors Be Inspected?

There is no single answer — it depends on the building type and risk level. As a general guide:

• Higher-risk residential buildings (18m+): Quarterly for common area doors, annually for flat entrance doors (Building Safety Act requirement)
• All other regulated buildings: At least annually, with more frequent checks in higher-traffic or higher-risk environments
• BS 8214 recommendation: “Regular” inspections, with six months as a reasonable interval for most buildings

For a detailed breakdown, see our guide: How Often Should Fire Doors Be Inspected?

Summary

Fire door inspections are legally required in the UK under at least three pieces of legislation. The responsible person must ensure fire doors are inspected regularly, maintained in good working order, and that records are kept. Failure to do so can result in enforcement action, prosecution, and civil liability.

If your fire doors haven’t been inspected recently, or if you’re unsure whether your building is compliant, the safest step is to book a professional inspection.