Fire door inspection requirements: 2026 update
The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 introduced mandatory fire door inspection frequencies for multi-occupied residential buildings. This article explains who is responsible, what inspections must cover, and how often they must take place.
Inspection frequency
Required inspection intervals by building type
What changed in 2022
The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 were introduced partly in response to findings from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, which identified systematic failures in fire door maintenance in high-rise residential buildings. The key new requirements are: (1) quarterly checks of fire doors in common parts of buildings 11 metres and above; (2) annual checks of flat entrance doors, requiring responsible persons to seek access from residents; (3) mandatory provision of fire safety information to residents.
For context on what fire doors do and what ratings mean, see our fire door glossary entry. For workplace fire safety obligations including fire wardens, see the fire warden duties guide.
What a compliant inspection record looks like
The fire log should include a record for each door inspection covering: the date of inspection; the identity of the inspector (name or role); each door inspected (location or identifier); the condition found (pass / defect identified); and for defects, the action taken and target completion date. The Fire Door Inspection Scheme (FDIS) offers a competent person register and documentation templates that satisfy the regulatory requirement.
The 3 mm gap check
A fire door is non-compliant if the gap between door leaf and frame exceeds 3 mm. Test with a pound coin (2.8 mm thick) or a standard 3 mm feeler gauge on all four sides. A gap wider than this indicates the door, frame, or seals need attention. This is the single most common defect found in fire door audits.
Sources: Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 · RRO 2005 · NFPA 80 · FDIS
Fire door compliance FAQ
Questions about fire door inspection requirements
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (as amended) and the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, the responsible person for a multi-occupied residential building is typically the building owner, managing agent, or landlord — whoever has control of the common areas. For workplaces, it is the employer or occupier with control of the premises. In buildings with multiple responsible persons (e.g., a building with commercial ground floor and residential above), each person is responsible for their respective areas and must cooperate with the others.
A thorough fire door inspection should check: (1) the door closes fully against the frame under its own self-closer — no gaps; (2) intumescent seals and smoke seals are intact and undamaged; (3) the gap between door and frame is no more than 3 mm; (4) the door has a valid third-party certification mark on the top edge; (5) hinges are not loose and fire-rated; (6) no modifications have been made that compromise the fire rating; (7) hold-open devices (if fitted) release automatically when tested. Results should be recorded with date, inspector, and any remedial actions required.
Under the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, for buildings of 11 metres or more: fire doors in common areas must be checked quarterly, and flat entrance doors must be checked annually (the responsible person must seek access to check the self-closer and seals). For buildings under 11 metres, inspection frequency is determined by the fire risk assessment. NFPA 80 in the US requires annual inspection for all fire doors.
A damaged fire door should be taken out of service (or the gap blocked) and replaced or repaired as soon as reasonably practicable. In buildings where the door protects an escape route, delay in remediation carries significant legal risk for the responsible person. Temporary measures — such as using a compliant fire door from another location — may be appropriate for essential escape route doors. Always record the defect, the remedial action taken, and the date in the fire log. If the building's fire risk assessment has not been updated to reflect known door deficiencies, update it.