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Fire Door Inspection & Maintenance

Caldera FS offers complete Fire doorset Inspection & Maintenance

It is a legal requirement that fire doors have regular inspections. The benefits of these inspections include:

Legal compliance
Regular inspection and maintenance helps building owners and responsible persons meet their duties under UK fire-safety legislation, particularly the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 in England and Wales.

Life safety
Fire doors help contain fire and smoke, keeping escape routes usable and giving occupants more time to evacuate.

Early fault detection
Inspections can identify damaged doors, defective closers, worn hinges, gaps, damaged seals, faulty glazing or doors that do not close properly.

Fire and smoke containment
Properly maintained doors are much more likely to perform as designed during a fire.

Reduced liability
Keeping inspection and maintenance records provides evidence that reasonable steps have been taken to manage fire risks.

Protection of property
Containing fire to a smaller area can reduce damage to buildings, equipment and contents.

Better overall fire safety management
Routine inspections help identify recurring problems and ensure defects are repaired before they become serious. 

Summary
Fire door inspections and maintenance protect lives, support legal compliance, reduce fire risk and help ensure fire doors will work when they are most needed.

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Here are some key benefits of fire doors

Slowing down fire spread by compartmentalising affected areas of the building

Certified fire doors act as a critical barrier, holding back flames and containing fire to its area of origin.

Protecting escape routes and keeping them clear and accessible during an emergency

Strategically positioned fire doors safeguard corridors and stairwells, ensuring evacuation paths remain safe and usable.

Allowing safe evacuation for all occupants with sufficient time to exit the building

By resisting fire for 30, 60, or even 120 minutes, fire doors give occupants the vital time needed to escape safely.

Reducing smoke inhalation risk by preventing toxic smoke from spreading through corridors

Smoke seals and intumescent strips block harmful fumes, protecting occupants from the leading cause of fire-related injuries.

Minimising fire damage to the wider building structure and surrounding areas

Containing fire to a single compartment dramatically reduces overall destruction, saving costly repairs and lost assets.

Protecting building structures from heat and fire damage for longer periods

Robust construction shields walls, floors, and structural elements from intense heat, helping preserve building integrity.

Ensuring full compliance with current UK fire safety regulations and standards

Professionally installed and maintained fire doors meet Building Regulations and all relevant fire safety legislation.

Providing peace of mind that your building is as safe as it can possibly be

A fully certified fire door system gives owners and occupants complete confidence that the building is properly protected.

FAQ

A fire door is a specially constructed door designed to resist fire and smoke for a specified period (e.g., 30, 60, 90 minutes). It’s part of a tested fire door assembly that includes the door leaf, frame, hardware, seals, and glazing (if any). 

Fire doors compartmentalise a building to: 

  • Slow the spread of flames and heat 
  • Limit smoke movement 
  • Protect escape routes (stairs, corridors) 
  • Buy time for evacuation and firefighting 

When closed, intumescent strips expand under heat to seal gaps and block smoke and hot gases. 

Look for: 

  • Heavier construction than a typical interior door, often using solid-core timber, steel, or other fire-resistant materials.
  • A certification label or metal plate on the hinge edge or top of the door 
  • Intumescent seals in the frame or door edge 
  • Self-closing hinges or door closers 
  • FD30: 30 minutes of fire resistance 
  • FD60: 60 minutes
  • Higher ratings (e.g., 90 or 120 minutes) are used in higher-risk areas
  • S-rated: is a fire door that has been tested and certified to provide resistance in addition to its fire-resistance rating.

The rating refers to the duration the door assembly has been tested to withstand fire under standardised conditions. 

Generally, no—not without proper approval. Drilling holes, changing hardware, trimming the door, or adding pet flaps can void certification. Always consult a certified fire door professional before modifications. 

Yes—unless they are held open by an approved automatic release device. Propping a fire door open with a wedge is unsafe and illegal. 

Typically: 

 

  • Commercial buildings 

 At least twice a year. 

 

  • High-traffic areas  

 More frequent checks are required, possibly every three months.  

 

Residential Buildings (England) 

Communal fire doors: inspected every 3 months 

Flat entrance doors: inspected at least every 12 months 

These checks apply to residential buildings over 11 metres in height. 

Yes, but only with fire-rated glazing installed as part of a tested assembly. The glass must meet the same fire rating as the door. 

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