Fire Door Inspection

Fire doors are a critical component of a building's fire compartmentation strategy that are engineered to provide resistance to the spread of fire, smoke, and toxic gases throughout a building and to protect escape routes so that a building's occupants can safely escape a fire.

Fire regulations require that fire doors are inspected at intervals of not more than six months to ensure that they will work properly in an emergency. The Fire Door Inspector can inspect your fire doors and specify any remedial measures that may be required.

As the first in Ireland to provide a dedicated fire door inspection service, our experienced fire engineers have built a reputation for their unrivalled knowledge and expertise. Call or send us an email today for a free consultation and quote.

The Inspection Process

The purpose of a fire door inspection is to determine which doors require maintenance, repair, or replacement and to report such defects to the fire safety management for subsequent remedial action by suitably trained maintenance personnel.

The inspection process is comprised of the following three elements:

Visual Check

The complete door assembly is subjected to a visual inspection.

Functional Check

The door and its essential hardware is operating properly.

Check Fixings

All fixings are present, correct, and tight.

The fire door inspection process will involve a fire engineer visiting your premises to subject each door to a thorough and methodical visual inspection, with particular attention paid to the condition of the following components:

Leaves & Frames
Clearance & Threshold Gaps
Locks & Latches
Strikeplates, Levers & Handles
Intumescent Fire & Cold Smoke Seals
Self-Closing Devices
Single-Axis Hinges
Safety Signage
Mechanical Fixings
Closing Speed & Operating Force

Labels & Certification
Glass & Glazing Systems
Door Bolts
Hold-Open Devices
Apertures
Gaskets, Liners & Pads
Air Transfer Grille & Damper
Panic & Emergency Exit Devices
Electro-magnetic locks
Access Control Devices

Where applicable, the inspection process may also involve:

Providing each door with a unique identification number and label
Marking the location of each fire door on a floor layout plan
Preparing an asset register of the fire doors
Preparing a maintenance logbook and a schedule for ongoing routine inspection and maintenance
Providing copies of missing certificates, global assessments, and maintenance manuals
Undertaking a component compatibility assessment and/or audit

The Outcome of the Inspection Process

You will receive a comprehensive report that will identify any defects with your fire doors and will specify any necessary remedial measures. We will consult with you on the completed report, explaining it in plain language, and advise how its recommendations can be effectively addressed.

The report will also provide technical guidance and specify approved methods for how any necessary remedial measures should be carried out by competent persons in strict accordance with any applicable manufacturers' recommendations, code of practice BS 8214:2016, and industry best practice.

A Certificate of Inspection will be issued to demonstrate legal compliance.

BS 9999:2017 states that fire doors should be inspected at least every six months:

In particular, it should be ensured that:

Heat-activated seals and smoke seals are undamaged.

Door leaves are not structurally damaged or excessively bowed or deformed.

Gaps between the door leaf and the frame are not so small as to be likely to bind, or so large as to prevent effective fire and smoke-sealing.

Hanging devices, securing devices, self-closing devices and automatic release mechanisms are operating correctly.

Newly occupied buildings may require more frequent checks in the first year of use. Doors where traffic is high are likely to be more susceptible to damage and should be checked more frequently than other doors in the building, e.g. a door dividing a corridor on a busy circulation route will be used more frequently than a door to a service cupboard.

Fire Doors Explained
Explains the role of fire doors in a building's fire compartmentation strategy and how they are tested, rated, and certified as compliant with building regulations.

Fire Doors & Disability Access
Provides general guidance on fire door access requirements for disabled persons in the built environment that is in accordance with BS 8300 and Part M of the Building Regulations (TGD M).

Fire Door & Fire Exit Signs
Explains the requirements for fire door signage given in B5 of Appendix B of TGD B of the Building Regulations and fire exit signage that complies with I.S. EN ISO 7010.

EN Standards for Building Hardware
Explains the CE Mark for construction products and how to understand the product classification code.

Fire Door Regulations & Standards
Contains an extensive list of the current Irish, British, and European standards and technical guidance documents that are applicable to fire doors.

Fire Door Maintenance
Explains how fire doors should be maintained in good operational condition.