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Fire Door Inspections

Fire Door Inspection Company

Since the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, fire door inspection is a recurring legal duty, not a one-off check. In residential buildings over 11m, communal doors must be inspected quarterly and flat-entrance doors annually – and you have to prove it.

Ark carries out FDIS-accredited inspections UK-wide and delivers a prioritised report against every doorset – what’s compliant, what’s defective and what to do – each one logged digitally, with defects flowing straight into a costed repair, remedial or replacement plan.

What the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 require

For residential buildings over 11m, the Responsible Person must:

Inspect communal-area fire doors at least quarterly;
Inspect flat-entrance fire doors at least annually;
And provide residents with information on using fire doors safely.

These are minimum frequencies, and the duty is to evidence them, not just perform them. A missing or incomplete inspection record is a breach in its own right – and in social housing it feeds directly into Regulator of Social Housing scrutiny and, where a known defect goes unaddressed, Awaab’s Law. Ark delivers the regime to FDIS-accredited standards with a digital record held against each doorset, turning a recurring statutory duty into a managed rhythm.

An inspection is only useful if you can act on it

If there’s no inspection record

The Responsible Person can’t demonstrate compliance with the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, and a gap in the record is a breach before anything has even gone wrong with a door. A verbal “they were checked” satisfies no regulator, insurer or FRA assessor.

If the report just lists problems and stops

A defect report with no route to closure leaves the risk exactly where it was – the door is still non-compliant, and now it’s documented as non-compliant with nobody actioning it. That’s a worse position for the Responsible Person, not a better one.

How Ark closes the loop

FDIS-accredited inspection, a prioritised report that flags the safety-critical items first, a digital record against every doorset, and a direct handoff into Ark’s own repair, remedial and replacement services – so a defect found on inspection becomes a defect fixed and evidenced, not a defect filed.

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Certified Fire Door Inspection Services

We take pride in our team of certified fire door inspectors, ensuring that each evaluation meets the highest standards of safety and compliance. Our rigorous inspection process is designed to verify that all fire doors are fully functional and reliable in the event of a fire. By choosing Ark Fire Protection, you can rest assured that any necessary adjustments or repairs will be promptly addressed, guaranteeing the effectiveness and durability of your fire doors once our inspections are complete.

We carry out specialised fire door inspections tailored to each door across the UK. After, we deliver a comprehensive report to help you identify potential associated risks. Our inspection report details necessary actions to align with current safety standards and regulations, along with suggested non-critical enhancements for added safety.

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Our Accreditations for Fire Door Inspection Services

When it comes to fire door inspections, you need a company that you can rely on. Ark Fire Protection is proud to be accredited by the leading industry bodies – ensuring that we always meet the highest standards of quality and safety, and that our customers can always expect a first-class service.

We’re also ISO 9001 certified, meaning that our quality management systems are regularly audited and approved. So when you choose Ark Fire Protection, you can be confident that you’re making the best possible decision for your property.

Our Fire Door Inspection Safety Checklist UK

Our certified fire door inspectors use a comprehensive checklist to evaluate the various components of your fire doors, including:

Fire door frames, ensuring they’re correctly installed and free from any damage or obstructions.
Intumescent seals, which expand when exposed to heat and seal gaps between the door and frame, preventing the spread of smoke and fire.
Door closers, making sure they close fully and latch securely to prevent any gap between the door and frame.
Hinges, checking for proper installation and secure attachment to both the door and frame.
Vision panels, confirming they’re correctly sized and fitted with suitable glazing material that meets safety standards.
Fire-rated hardware, such as locks, handles, and panic bars, ensuring they’re functioning correctly and don’t impede the door’s operation.
Signage, verifying that proper fire safety signs are displayed on fire doors to aid in emergency evacuations.

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Why Choose Ark Fire Protection for Fire Door Inspections?

With Ark Fire Protection you get accredited inspectors, clear reporting and a single team that can both inspect your doors and put things right. We inspect every type of fire door, including composite, timber and glazed doors as well as fire door upgrades, and deliver a photographic report you can act on immediately. Because we also carry out fire door remedial works and replacements, there is no need to bring in a second contractor to fix the defects we find. Contact our team today to arrange the right fire door inspection for your building.

Fire Door Inspections as Part of a Wider Safety Strategy

As a full-scope fire door inspection solution provider, we offer a comprehensive range of services across every sector including:

Beyond our thorough fire door services including inspection, we also provide ongoing maintenance to ensure your fire doors continue to function optimally and comply with the latest fire safety regulations.

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Fire Door Inspection Near Me

Nationwide Fire Door Inspections

We provide our fire door inspection expertise around the entirety of the UK but have offices in the following locations:

Get in touch with our team for assistance on your next fire door project.

View our locations

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Great fire door inspection projects start with great technology

Here at Ark Fire Protection, we use a QR Code System to create a journey of your fire door inspections to provide a digital log via the Onetrace App. The log covers the entire lifespan of your new fire door including information such as, the fire door specifications, data sheets, images of work completed, the installer and what was installed.

Our QR Code System gives our clients visibility on the complete lifespan of the fire door and helps you keep on top of what work has been completed and what is required to keep up to date with the latest regulations and requirements.

Because each inspection is recorded against the door’s QR tag, the quarterly and annual checks required by the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 build into a continuous history per doorset – so the Responsible Person can produce a complete, date-stamped inspection record on demand rather than reconstructing it from paper.

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What Are Fire Door Inspection Services and Why Are They Important?

Fire door inspection services provide a thorough evaluation of the condition, performance and compliance of your fire doors and their hardware. A door that looks intact can still fail to hold back fire and smoke if its seals are worn, its hardware is misaligned or its gaps fall outside tolerance. Regular inspection identifies these issues early, so they can be corrected before they become a safety risk. In the UK, fire doors must perform reliably to maintain compartmentation and protect escape routes, and a professional inspection verifies that each door still meets its rated fire resistance, that its installation remains sound, and that it will do its job when it matters most.

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Fire Door Inspection Regulations and Compliance

Fire door inspections play a key role in meeting UK fire safety regulations and recognised best practice. While the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 doesn’t prescribe exact inspection intervals, it places a legal duty on the “Responsible Person” to ensure fire safety measures, including fire doors, are maintained in efficient working order.

Industry guidance – such as BS 8214: Code of Practice for Fire Door Assemblies and BS 9999: Code of Practice for Fire Safety in the Design, Management and Use of Buildings – outlines the standards and criteria for inspection frequency, defect identification, and corrective action. These documents recommend that fire door inspections be carried out at least annually and more frequently in high-use, high-risk, or multi-occupancy buildings.

Approved Document B of the building regulations for fire doors supports the need for ongoing verification of fire resisting elements, and the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 further emphasise the importance of documentation and record keeping for inspections and maintenance. Comprehensive inspection reports provide the evidence needed for audits, risk assessments, and compliance reviews.

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Our Fire Door Inspection Work

We recently inspected and corrected the fire doors at The Chiltern School, working from a third-party inspection report across an occupied education site. Each door was surveyed against the report, the remedial works were scheduled around the school holidays so teaching was never disrupted, and every finding was recorded, actioned and signed off with a full evidence pack. It’s the same inspect, record and remediate approach we bring to every building, whether that’s a single doubtful door or a portfolio of hundreds – and because we carry out the repairs ourselves, there’s no wait for a second contractor to close out what we find.

Fire Door Inspections & Remedial Works Across Multi-Site Estates

Ark delivers fire door remedial works across NatWest’s national estate, covering locations ranging from small market towns to central London.

Read the case study.

Discuss a Similar Project

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Fire Door Inspection FAQs

What does a fire door inspection involve?

A fire door inspection checks door leaves, frames, seals, ironmongery, gaps, closers, and labels to confirm they are intact, correctly installed, and performing to the door’s fire rating. Inspections also assess smoke seals and documentation to ensure ongoing compliance.

How often do fire doors need to be inspected?

Under the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, communal fire doors in residential buildings over 11m must be inspected at least quarterly and flat-entrance doors at least annually. Higher-traffic or higher-risk doors may warrant more frequent checks. The duty is to evidence the inspections, which is why Ark records each one digitally against the doorset.

Who is responsible for arranging fire door inspections?

The responsible person, usually the building owner, employer, or facilities manager, is legally accountable under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 for ensuring fire doors are regularly inspected and maintained.

What common defects are identified during fire door inspections?

Frequent issues include missing or damaged seals, gaps outside tolerance, incorrect or missing ironmongery, non-functioning self-closers, warped or cracked doors, and damage to frames or glazing.

Can fire door inspection findings affect building compliance?

Yes. Inspection findings are important evidence in fire risk assessments and compliance audits. Unresolved defects can lead to enforcement action or increased liability during regulatory review.

What should I do if a fire door fails an inspection?

If a door is found to be non-compliant or defective, fire door remedial works should be carried out promptly by a qualified professional. Repairs must restore performance to meet fire resistance requirements and be documented for audit purposes.

Who is qualified to inspect a fire door?

Fire door inspections should be carried out by a competent, accredited inspector. Ark’s inspections are FDIS-accredited, and each is documented to a consistent standard so the Responsible Person has defensible evidence rather than an informal opinion.

What happens after a fire door inspection?

You receive a prioritised report identifying compliant doors and defects, safety-critical items first. Because Ark also delivers repair, remedial and replacement services, any defects can flow straight into a costed plan and be fixed and evidenced – closing the loop rather than leaving you with a list.

Which buildings legally require fire door inspections?

Residential buildings over 11m carry specific statutory inspection frequencies under the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, but the Responsible Person for any non-domestic premises or communal residential area has a duty under the Fire Safety Order to keep fire doors effective – which in practice means inspecting and evidencing them.