Fire doors are the most common fire safety feature and the most commonly defective. This guide covers inspection requirements, FDIS standards, and maintaining door integrity.. Fire Doors: The Unsung Heroes Fire doors are the most common passive fire protection element in UK buildings. A typical residential tower might have 500+ fire doors. Yet surveys consistently find that 70 80% of fire doors have defects that compromise their performance. What Fire Doors Do Contain fire within the compartment of origin Protect escape routes from smoke and heat Provide the 'quarter hour' (FD30) or 'half hour' (FD60) of protection that enables safe evacuation Allow fire service operations in smoke free conditions behind the door Maintain compartmentation integrity when closed Legal Requirements Fire Safety Act 2021 For residential buildings with two or more sets of domestic premises: Front entrance doors to individual flats are within scope of fire risk assessment Self closing devices on flat entrance doors (if not already fitted) Regular inspection of flat entrance doors Information to residents about maintaining fire doors Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 Annual inspection of all fire doors in common parts Quarterly inspection of all fire doors in common parts of buildings over 11m Best efforts to inspect flat entrance doors Information to residents about reporting fire door defects Building Safety Act 2022 Fire door information included in the golden thread Safety case must address fire door management Building Safety Manager responsible for fire door programme FDIS (Fire Door Inspection Scheme) What Is FDIS? Third party accredited fire door inspection scheme Administered by the British Woodworking Federation (BWF) Inspectors trained and assessed to FDIS competency standards Provides standardised inspection methodology and reporting Inspection Criteria FDIS inspectors assess: 1. Certification — Is the door certificated to BS 476 22 or BS EN 1634 1? 2. Installation — Correct frame fixing, gaps (2 4mm), threshold clearance 3. Ironmongery — Hinges, locks, closers all fire rated and correctly fitted 4. Glazing — Fire rated glass with appropriate glazing system 5. Intumescent seals and smoke seals — Present, correct specification, undamaged 6. Signage — Fire door keep shut / Fire door keep locked shut 7. Condition — No damage, warping, delamination, or modification 8. Self closing — Door closes fully into frame from any angle Common Defects Critical Defects (Immediate Action) Door does not self close fully into frame Missing or damaged intumescent seals Gaps exceeding 4mm (head and jambs) Glazing cracked or not fire rated Door leaf damaged or penetrated Missing or defective ironmongery Non Critical Defects (Plan Remediation) Minor scuffing or cosmetic damage Signage missing or incorrect Hold open device not connected to fire alarm Overhead closer requires adjustment Maintenance Programme For Building Managers 1. Establish a fire door register (every fire door identified and recorded) 2. Implement quarterly visual inspections (common parts) 3. Annual detailed inspections by FDIS accredited inspector 4. Defect tracking and remediation programme 5. Replacement programme for doors approaching end of service life 6. Resident communication programme about fire door importance 7. Budget provision for ongoing fire door maintenance and replacement Record Keeping Fire door schedule with unique reference numbers Inspection records with photographs Defect and remediation tracking Replacement history and certification All records forming part of the golden thread Magnus Opifex SEVEN LTD — UK's Leading Fire Safety & Fire Engineering Consultancy 🌐 magnus opifex.co.uk 📞 +44 (0) 20 3488 1926 ✉️ info@magnusopifex.co.uk Founded by Daniel Sheridan, Magnus Opifex SEVEN LTD delivers award winning fire engineering, fire risk assessments, and building safety consultancy across the United Kingdom and internationally.