Fire Door Inspection
Checklist UK 2026

Published 17 April 2026 • DE Fire Compliance • 7 min read

A fire door inspection is a systematic assessment of every component of a fire door assembly against the requirements of BS 8214:2016 (Timber-based fire door assemblies — Code of Practice) and current fire safety legislation. This guide explains exactly what is checked, why each item matters, and what a pass or fail looks like in practice.

You can use this as a self-assessment tool before booking a formal inspection — but note that a formal inspection by a competent person is still required for legal compliance.

The Full Fire Door Inspection Checklist

1. Door Leaf Condition

The door leaf is the first line of assessment. Inspectors check:

• Visible damage — splits, cracks, holes, delamination, or warping
• Core integrity — where damage is visible, the inspector will assess whether the fire-resistant core has been compromised
• Correct specification — the door should be a certified fire door (FD30 or FD60), ideally with a certification label on the top edge or in the hinge rebate
• Thickness — FD30 doors are typically 44mm; FD60 doors 54mm (variations possible with certified assemblies)

Check	Pass	Fail
Door leaf condition	No damage to face, edges, or core	Splits, holes, delamination, or warped leaf
Certification label	Label present and legible on top edge or hinge rebate	No label (not automatically a fail if door has other evidence of compliance)

2. Gaps Around the Door

Gap measurement is one of the most important checks. BS 8214 specifies the following maximum gaps:

• Head and jambs (sides and top): 3mm maximum (with intumescent seal) or 4mm without
• Threshold (bottom gap): 10mm maximum on the underside of the door, measured from the floor level

Gaps are measured with feeler gauges at multiple points around the door. A gap that is too large means the door will not contain fire and smoke for its rated period.

Gap Location	Maximum (with seal)	Maximum (without seal)
Head and jambs	3mm	4mm
Meeting stiles (double doors)	3mm	4mm
Threshold	Typically 10mm (check specific assembly specification)

3. Intumescent Seals

Intumescent strips expand in heat to seal the gaps around the door, preventing fire and hot gases from passing. Inspectors check:

• Seals are present on all four sides (head, both jambs, and threshold if required by the specification)
• Seals are continuous — no gaps, cuts, or missing sections
• Seals are not compressed, damaged, or painted over
• Seals are correctly positioned in the rebate or groove
• The correct type of seal is fitted (intumescent only, or combined intumescent and smoke seal)

4. Smoke Seals

Cold smoke seals (brush or blade seals) prevent cold smoke passing the door before the intumescent seal activates. These are required on most fire doors in buildings with sleeping accommodation (the default for FD30S designation). Inspectors check that seals are present, undamaged, and making effective contact with the door or frame.

5. Door Closer

Fire doors must self-close and latch. The closer is assessed for:

• Present and installed — no missing closer
• Door closes fully from any open position (typically tested from 5°, 45°, and 90°)
• Door latches on closing — the latch must engage the keep
• Closer has UKCA/CE marking or is a recognised fire-rated product
• Hold-open devices — electromagnetic hold-open devices are acceptable if linked to the fire alarm; wedges and furniture are not

Common failure: Doors that close to within 5mm of the frame but don’t latch. The latch is critical — a door that is not latched may not stay shut in a fire.

6. Hinges

Hinges on fire doors must be:

• CE/UKCA-marked fire-rated hinges (typically to EN 1935 Grade 11 or 13)
• Minimum of three hinges per door leaf (two hinges are not compliant for fire doors in the UK)
• All screws present and tight — no missing screws or loose fixings
• No visible damage to hinge leaves or knuckles

7. Glazing and Glazing Beads

Where a fire door has a glazed panel, the glazing must be fire-rated. Inspectors check:

• Glass is fire-rated (typically marked with a fire-resistance rating on the pane)
• Glazing beads are fire-rated — plastic or timber beads are not acceptable; fire-rated timber or metal beads with intumescent lining are required
• No cracks or damage to the glass
• Beads are correctly installed and not loose
• Glazed area does not exceed the specification of the certified assembly

8. Frame Condition

The door frame forms an integral part of the fire door assembly. It must be:

• Structurally sound with no significant damage or decay
• Correctly fitted — no excessive gaps between the frame and the wall structure
• Fire-stopping around the frame perimeter — where the frame meets the wall, there should be no voids that could allow fire to bypass the door assembly

9. Signage

The required signage depends on whether the door should be kept shut or locked:

• “Fire door keep shut” — required on all self-closing fire doors in common areas (corridors, stairwells)
• “Fire door keep locked” — required where the door is locked shut (not self-closing)

Signs must be on both faces of the door. Missing, damaged, or incorrect signage is a compliance failure, even if minor.

10. Hardware and Ironmongery

All ironmongery on a fire door must be fire-rated and compatible with the certified assembly. Inspectors check:

• Handles, lock cases, and escutcheons are fire-rated
• Letter plates (on flat entrance doors) — must be fire-rated and have an intumescent liner
• No additional holes, cut-outs, or modifications not covered by the assembly certification

Severity Ratings

Findings are typically categorised into three severity levels:

• Critical — the door provides little or no fire resistance in its current condition. Immediate action required. Examples: missing seals, door not closing, large gaps, structural damage to door leaf.
• Major — significant deficiency that reduces fire resistance. Action required within a defined period. Examples: incorrect hinges, compressed seals, cracked glazing.
• Minor — non-conformity that does not significantly compromise fire resistance in the short term but should be addressed. Examples: missing signage, loose screws, painted-over seals.

Downloadable Checklist

We have a printable version of this checklist available as a PDF. It’s designed for facilities managers and responsible persons who want to carry out a preliminary self-assessment before commissioning a formal inspection.

Download the free fire compliance checklist →