Fire door inspections tend to turn up the same handful of problems, building after building. If you are a landlord, managing agent or responsible person with an inspection coming up, knowing what inspectors look for helps you spot issues early and plan repairs before they are flagged. If a recent check has already listed faults, this article explains what each one means and what to do about it.
The five faults below follow the order an inspector usually works around a door: the gaps, the seals, the closer, the hardware and finally the door’s certification.
1. Gaps Around the Door Are Too Wide or Uneven
Gaps around the edges of a fire door are one of the first things an inspector measures. Most certified doors need edge gaps of around 3mm along the sides and top, following the door’s certification. The gap at the bottom often grows after carpet is removed or a hard floor is laid. Wide or uneven gaps let smoke and hot gases pass through, which shortens the time the door can hold back a fire. You can carry out a quick check yourself:
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- Close the door and look for daylight around the edges.
- Compare the gap at the top and bottom of each side.
- Note whether the floor has changed since the door was fitted.
Correcting gaps usually means rehanging the door, packing the frame or replacing the leaf, which is work for a competent person. If you are unsure what you are looking at, Carpentry & Fire Prevention (CFP) can carry out a fire door safety inspection in Bournemouth, measuring the gaps on each door and recommending the right repair for any that fall outside the certification.
2. Intumescent and Smoke Seals Are Damaged, Painted Over or Missing
Seals sit in a groove around the door edge or frame. Intumescent seals expand when heated, closing the gap around the door to hold back fire. Smoke seals, usually brush or fin strips, limit cold smoke getting through, and doors tested with them carry an “S” suffix, such as FD30S. Inspectors often find seals that have been painted over, pulled out, snapped or left missing after a door has been rehung. A painted seal cannot expand properly, and a missing smoke seal lets smoke reach escape routes well before flames do.
Run your eye along the full length of the frame and door edges. Are the seals continuous, with no breaks at the corners or around the hinges? Replacement seals must match the size and type set out in the door’s certification, so they should be fitted by someone who knows the door’s test evidence. Booking fire doors surveys Bournemouth wide after any redecoration makes sense, as painting is a common cause of damaged seals.
3. The Self-Closing Device Doesn’t Shut the Door Fully
A self-closing device, usually an overhead closer, concealed closer or spring hinge, pulls the door shut after someone walks through. A fire door that does not close fully offers little protection, because an open door cannot hold back fire or smoke. Inspectors often find closers that leave the door resting on the latch or slam it hard. Some have been disconnected because residents found the door too heavy, and wedges, hooks and furniture holding doors open are also flagged. Try this test on each door:
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- Open the door fully and let go
- Repeat from about halfway open
- Repeat from a small gap
Does the door close and latch every time? If not, the closer needs attention. Adjusting the closing speed or replacing a closer needs a competent person, since the closer must suit the door’s weight and certification. If a door has to stay open for daily use, ask about hold-open devices linked to the fire alarm rather than relying on wedges.
4. Hinges and Hardware Are Worn, Loose or Unsuitable
Hinges, latches, handles and locks all form part of the tested door assembly. Common faults include missing or loose hinge screws, worn latches that do not engage, and handles or locks that are not fire-rated. Most fire doors need three hinges, following their certification, so a door hung on two is likely to be flagged. Hardware without the right rating can soften or fail in a fire, which can let the door open or pull away from the frame.
Lift the door gently by its handle. Does it move up and down on its hinges? Check each hinge for missing screws, and look for markings or paperwork showing that hinges and locks are suitable for fire doors. Building regular fire door inspections Bournemouth properties need into your maintenance plan helps catch worn hardware early, while it is still a quick replacement rather than a bigger repair.
5. Alterations Have Broken the Door’s Certification
Changes made after installation are a frequent reason for a door failing. Inspectors look for:
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- Missing certification labels or plugs, usually on the top edge or hinge side of the door
- Letter plates or spyholes added without approval
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Glazing that is not fire-rated
- Holes left from old hardware
- Doors trimmed to clear new flooring
A fire door only performs as tested if it matches its certification, so any change outside that scope can mean the door no longer counts as a fire door.
Check the top or hinge edge for a label or plug, and keep any paperwork from the original installation. If a door has been heavily altered or its certification cannot be traced, replacement may be the better choice. Replacement doors must meet Building Regulations, with Approved Document B covering fire safety and BS 8214:2016 setting out the code of practice for timber fire door assemblies. FD30 means 30 minutes of fire resistance and FD60 means 60 minutes, and your fire risk assessment will show which rating each location needs.
What to Do If Your Doors Show These Faults
Faults like these need repairing, and noting them is not enough on its own. The responsible person, such as the owner, landlord or managing agent, has duties under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service enforces locally. Serious breaches can lead to unlimited fines and up to two years’ imprisonment. Residential buildings over 11 metres with two or more homes also need communal fire doors checked every three months, and flat entrance doors checked annually on a best-endeavours basis. A sensible next step looks like this:
- Record each fault with the door’s location and a photo.
- Arrange a professional survey to confirm what needs doing.
- Plan the repairs. Grouping fire door remedials Bournemouth properties need into one visit can reduce disruption for residents.
- Keep records of the work alongside your fire risk assessment.
Book a Fire Door Inspection Before Faults Become Failures
Wide gaps, damaged seals, faulty closers, worn hardware and unapproved alterations account for many of the problems inspectors find. Most can be spotted with a few quick checks, and many can be put right without replacing the whole door. The main step is acting before an inspector, insurer or the fire and rescue service flags them for you.
Take the time to walk round your building, test each door and note anything that looks wrong. Then arrange for a qualified fire door specialist to inspect the sustainable doors, confirm what needs repairing and carry out the work to each door’s certification. Doing this now gives you clear records, safer escape routes and fewer surprises when your next inspection comes round.
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