Are Your Fire Doors Compliant?

UK guidance recommends inspecting fire doors at least every 6 months in commercial buildings. In high-traffic areas, quarterly checks may be needed to ensure the door’s integrity, seals, and hardware are maintained. ArkasFD will tailor the schedule to your risk assessment and send automatic reminders, so you never miss a deadline.

Intumescent strips expand when exposed to heat, sealing gaps around the door to help contain fire and smoke. Without them, a fire door won’t perform as intended and won’t pass inspection.

Under the Fire Safety Order 2005, failing to maintain fire safety, including door compliance, can lead to unlimited fines or even imprisonment for the Responsible Person if someone is put at risk. As well as prosecution under the Fire Safety Order, insurers require certified fire doors to be installed, inspected, and maintained. Wedging them open, removing them, or missing scheduled maintenance breaches policy terms and can lead to higher premiums, claim refusals, or even cancellation of cover.

Fire doors must remain closed or use certified hold-open devices that release during a fire. Wedge-propping is dangerous and renders the door ineffective at stopping fire and smoke spread.

The Responsible Person, often a building owner, manager, or landlord, is legally accountable for fire safety measures, including ensuring all fire doors are maintained, checked, and compliant.

A gap greater than 3–4mm (maximum 5mm) can let smoke and fire through. Fire doors should fit tightly in the frame, especially at the top and sides. A £5 gap gauge is a useful inspection tool.

Fire doors should have a visible label from an approved third-party scheme like BSI Kitemark or CERTIFIRE, confirming they’ve passed fire-resistance testing and meet UK standards.

An FD30 fire door offers 30 minutes of fire resistance, which is the minimum standard for most commercial spaces. Some settings may require FD60 or higher, depending on the fire risk assessment.

A standard door can’t be assumed to meet fire resistance requirements just because it’s modified. Unless the entire upgraded assembly is tested and certified, it’s not legally compliant.

A fire door set includes the door leaf, frame, intumescent seals, hinges, and closer, all tested together. An emergency exit sign is safety-related but not physically part of the door system.