Fire door inspection vs fire door check: what's the difference?

Responsible persons are often told that every fire door in their block needs a specialist inspection every few months. For the Regulation 10 duty, that isn't what the law or the government's guidance says. This guide explains the difference between a routine fire door check and a fire door inspection, what each one involves, and when you need a specialist.

What the law requires: fire door checks

Regulation 10 of the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 applies to blocks of flats in England where the top storey is more than 11 metres above ground. The responsible person must:

• check the fire doors in the common parts at least every 3 months; and
• use best endeavours to check every flat entrance door at least once every 12 months.

The government's guidance is clear that these are basic checks: "The checks under regulation 10 should be simple and basic. You should not need to engage a specialist to carry these out." It says caretakers, managing agents, housing officers and maintenance staff should be able to do them.

What a fire door check involves

The government's guidance and checklist cover these points on each door:

• Has the door been replaced, or altered, for example with a new letterbox, spy hole or cat flap?
• Does any letterbox close firmly, and is it free from jamming?
• Is there any damage to the door, the frame or the wall around it?
• Is any glazing cracked or damaged, with its beading secure?
• Are the hinges and other hardware secure, with nothing missing?
• Are the intumescent strips and smoke seals in good condition, where they were originally fitted?
• Are the gaps around the door no more than 4mm, except at the bottom, where the gap should be as small as practicable? A simple gap tester card makes this quick.
• Does the self-closing device work? Open the door fully and let go, then open it to about 15 degrees and let go. Both times it should close fully into the frame.

Record the outcome of every check, and arrange repairs where something fails. The guidance says repair or replacement work must be done by a competent contractor as soon as reasonably practicable.

What a fire door inspection involves

A fire door inspection is a detailed examination by a competent fire door inspector, ideally one with a recognised qualification such as the FDIS Diploma in Fire Doors, or working under a third-party certification scheme. As well as condition, an inspector looks at whether the door is suitable for where it's fitted, for example:

• any evidence of the door's fire rating, such as labels, plugs or certification;
• whether the frame, hinges, closer, locks and glazing are suitable for a fire door and compatible with each other;
• how the frame is fixed and sealed to the wall; and
• whether past repairs or alterations have affected the door's performance.

You get a written report, usually with a result for each door and a list of remedial actions.

When you need a specialist inspection

• When your fire risk assessment recommends one. Fire risk assessors often look at a sample of doors.
• When a check suggests a fire-resisting flat entrance door has been replaced with one that may not be fire-resisting.
• When a door is badly damaged, or a check finds problems you can't judge yourself.
• Before major works to the doors, or when you take over a building and have no records for its doors.

The government's guidance puts it this way: "The checks are not a substitute for periodic assessment of fire doors by fire safety specialists (for example on a sampling basis during fire risk assessments)."

Fire door check vs inspection at a glance

Older doors and the 2025 guidance update

In August 2025 the government revised its fire door guidance after finding that the rules were being misread, which had led to unnecessary costs for leaseholders. The revised foreword says: "The absence of intumescent strips and smoke seals, and the absence of any form of certification for the door, does not imply that the door is unfit for purpose."

The purpose of Regulation 10 isn't to bring existing doors up to the standard of doors in new buildings. A door that met the standards when it was made or fitted can still give adequate protection if it's undamaged and the gaps aren't excessive. If an inspection report recommends replacing doors, check what your fire risk assessment actually requires before you commit to the cost.

How Fire Door Check Log helps

Fire Door Check Log is built for the Regulation 10 checks. It gives you a phone checklist for every door, based on the points in the government's guidance, shows which communal and flat entrance doors are due, and keeps a dated record of every check and every attempt to get access to a flat.

£99 per building per year, whatever the number of flats. See pricing

For doors that need a specialist, Fire Door Check Log gives you a clear record of what was found and when, to pass to your fire risk assessor or a competent contractor.

For printable versions you can use on paper, download our free fire door checklists for blocks of flats.

Sources: Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022: fire door guidance, Fact sheet: fire doors (regulation 10), The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022

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