Quarterly checks. Annual inspections. BS 8214 compliance. £280,000 fines. This is the definitive guide to fire door inspection that every building manager must read — before it's too late.. The Legal Requirements Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 Since January 2023, the following inspection requirements apply to all residential buildings over 11m : Quarterly (every 3 months): Fire doors in common parts (corridors, lobbies, staircases) Check: self closing device, intumescent strips, smoke seals, glazing, signage, damage Annually (every 12 months): Flat entrance doors (FD30S) Best efforts basis — residents must be given reasonable notice and opportunity to provide access What Constitutes a 'Check'? The regulations require checks to ensure fire doors are 'effective.' This means visually inspecting: 1. ✅ Self closer — does the door close fully from any angle? 2. ✅ Intumescent strips — present, intact, correct type? 3. ✅ Smoke seals — present and undamaged? 4. ✅ Glazing — fire rated glass intact, correct type, within size limits? 5. ✅ Gaps — maximum 3mm between door and frame (except threshold: 8mm max) 6. ✅ Hinges — minimum 3 hinges, CE marked, grade 13? 7. ✅ Lock/latch — does the door latch securely? 8. ✅ Signage — 'Fire Door Keep Shut' or 'Fire Door Keep Locked'? 9. ✅ Physical damage — dents, holes, delamination, swelling? 10. ✅ Modifications — unauthorised letterboxes, cat flaps, spy holes? The Consequences of Non Compliance Enforcement Actions Enforcement notice — requiring compliance within 28 days Prohibition notice — restricting use of premises until compliant Prosecution — fines up to £280,000 (unlimited on indictment) Personal liability — the responsible person can be imprisoned Recent Prosecution Examples Building Type Issue Fine HMO, London No fire door inspections for 5 years £95,000 Residential block, Manchester 34 defective fire doors not replaced £175,000 Care home, Bristol Fire doors propped open, self closers removed £280,000 Best Practice: Beyond the Minimum Commission a Type 4 fire risk assessment (destructive inspection) for a sample of doors Maintain a digital fire door register with photos, dates, and findings Use RFID tags on fire doors for efficient tracking and audit Train building staff to spot common defects between formal inspections Budget for door replacement — average fire door life: 15 20 years Magnus Opifex provides fire door surveys, assessments, and replacement programmes. Contact us.