How Often Should Fire Doors
Be Inspected?

Published 11 April 2025 • DE Fire Compliance • 4 min read

One of the most common questions we hear from building managers is: how often do my fire doors need to be inspected? The short answer is that it depends on the type of building, its height, and the applicable legislation. But as a practical minimum, most buildings need a comprehensive fire door inspection at least once a year.

Here’s a breakdown of the recommended frequencies, the legislation behind them, and what “inspection” actually means in practice.

Inspection Frequencies at a Glance

Building Type	Common Area Doors	Flat Entrance Doors	Source
Residential blocks above 11m, including higher-risk buildings	Quarterly	Annually	Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022
Residential blocks under 11m	Risk-based under the fire risk assessment	Risk-based under the fire risk assessment	Fire Safety Order / BS 8214
Care homes / healthcare	Every 6 months	N/A	HTM 05-02 / CQC guidance
Schools / education	Annually	N/A	DfE guidance / Fire Safety Order
Commercial / office	Annually	N/A	Fire Safety Order / BS 8214
Industrial / warehouse	Annually	N/A	Fire Safety Order

Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022: Quarterly and Annual Checks

For blocks of flats above 11 metres, the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 set specific fire door check frequencies:

• Communal area fire doors (corridors, stairwells, plant rooms, risers): checked at least every three months
• Flat entrance fire doors: checked at least once a year, using best endeavours to gain access

These aren’t guidelines — they’re legal requirements. The responsible person for the building must ensure these checks are completed and recorded.

BS 8214: The Industry Standard

BS 8214 is the British Standard for timber fire doors. While it doesn’t prescribe a rigid schedule, it recommends that fire doors be inspected “regularly” and that the frequency should be based on a risk assessment.

BS 8214 states: “Fire doors should be routinely inspected at regular intervals. The frequency will depend on the type and use of the building and should be determined by the risk assessment.”

In practice, most fire safety professionals interpret this as at least every six to twelve months for typical buildings. Buildings with higher footfall, more aggressive use (e.g. schools, hospitals), or a history of damage may need more frequent inspections.

Care Homes and Healthcare Buildings

Health Technical Memorandum 05-02 (HTM 05-02), published by the Department of Health, provides guidance for healthcare premises. It recommends fire door inspections at least every six months for care homes and NHS buildings.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) also considers fire door maintenance as part of its inspection regime. A care home that cannot demonstrate regular fire door inspections may receive an adverse finding.

What Counts as an “Inspection”?

There are two levels of checking, and it’s important to distinguish between them:

1. Visual Checks (Can Be Done In-House)

These are basic walk-round checks that building staff can carry out monthly or quarterly. They cover obvious issues:

• Is the door closing fully into the frame?
• Are there any visible signs of damage to the door leaf or frame?
• Is the “Fire Door Keep Shut” sign present and legible?
• Is anything propping the door open?
• Does the self-closer operate correctly?

2. Formal Inspections (Should Be Done by a Competent Person)

A formal fire door inspection should be carried out by someone with appropriate training — ideally an FDIS-qualified inspector. This is a detailed assessment that covers:

• Gap measurements (door-to-frame, threshold)
• Intumescent strip and smoke seal condition
• Hinge type, quantity, and fixing condition
• Certification marks and labelling
• Glazing specification and condition
• Self-closer speed, latching, and adjustment
• Frame fixings and structural integrity

The output should be a written report with pass/fail/advisory status for each door, photographs of defects, and a prioritised remedial action list.

What Happens Between Inspections?

Even with formal inspections on schedule, fire doors can be damaged between inspection dates. Best practice is to:

• Train building staff to spot and report fire door issues
• Establish a simple reporting mechanism (email, app, or paper form)
• Respond promptly to reports of damaged doors — a broken self-closer or missing seal can compromise the fire door’s rating
• Keep a log of all reported issues and repairs

Summary: Recommended Frequencies

• Residential blocks above 11m: Quarterly communal door checks, annual flat entrance door checks — legally required under the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022
• Residential blocks under 11m: Risk-based formal inspections, supported by regular visual checks
• Care homes: Every 6 months, with monthly visual checks
• Commercial / education / industrial: Annually, with quarterly visual checks

If you’re unsure about the right frequency for your building, start with an annual inspection and adjust based on the findings. If the inspector identifies significant wear or damage, you may need to move to a six-monthly schedule.

For more on the legal background, see our guide: Are Fire Door Inspections a Legal Requirement?