The legislative landscape

UK fire safety law has undergone significant transformation in recent years following Grenfell, moving from general recommendations and legal oversight to mandatory enforcement. The foundation of this legal framework has been the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (RRFSO) commonly referred to as the FSO, which mandates that the ‘Responsible Person’ (RP) - typically a building owner, landlord, or employer must maintain fire safety measures in “efficient working order” therefore it is imperative to have a suitable and sufficient schedule of maintenance in place.

Building on this, the Fire Safety Act 2021 clarified that flat entrance doors in multi-occupied residential buildings are legally within the scope of the Fire Safety Order, resolving previous ambiguities. This was followed by the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 (specifically Regulation 10), which introduced for residential buildings over 11 metres in height:

  • Communal fire door inspections every three months
  • Flat entrance door inspections every 12 months on a “best endeavours” basis.

 

Need for regular inspections

A modern-day fire door is an engineered solution – with the assembly comprising of the leaf, frame, intumescent seals, smoke seals, and essential hardware, like hinges and self-closing devices. In an ideal world the RP would understand the importance of commissioning an intrusive inspection as a first ever inspection to highlight all possible failings.

Common issues identified during inspections include:

  • Excessive gaps: Gaps between the door and frame should typically be between 2mm and 4mm. Larger gaps allow smoke and fire to bypass the door.
  • Faulty self-closers: If a door does not close fully and latch from any angle, it cannot perform its function during a fire.
  • Damaged seals: Intumescent strips, which expand when heated to seal the gap, must be present and undamaged.
  • Uncertified hardware: Replacement of hinges or handles with non-fire-rated components can lead to structural failure under heat.
  • Poor installation: Lack of knowledge and competency, inadequate fixing or lack of fire stopping, or inadequate products being used beyond their scope. In fact many certified doors being installed today that reference installation to BS 8214 will be non-complaint due to the latest updates withdrawing the use of fire-rated expanding foams as a suitable fire stopping solution.

 

Competency of inspectors

The law requires that all fire door work, including inspections is to be carried out by a “competent person” which, is defined by the Building Safety Act 2022 as possessing the appropriate Skills, Knowledge, Experience, and Behaviour (SKEB). Whilst the RPs can perform “simple” checks themselves, many organisations opt for specialist inspectors. A competent inspector should be able to:

  • identify the fire rating (e.g. FD30 or FD60) and verify it against building records
  • assess the compatibility of all components within the door set
  • evaluate the door against current standards like BS 8214 or BS EN 1634-1 for modern certified doors or relevant requirements for ‘nominal’ and ‘notional’ doors.

 

Training and certification requirements

Although there is not a minimum requirement for inspectors or installers of fire doors, training is the primary vehicle for building and evidencing competence.

Recognised qualifications often align with national frameworks, such as the ABBE Level 3 Award in Fire Door Inspection. This typically involves comprehensive classroom learning followed by a portfolio of evidence to demonstrate practical proficiency.

Furthermore, third-party accreditation schemes—such as those offered by BM TRADA (Q-Mark) or FireQual provide the highest level of assurance. These schemes require inspectors to undergo regular audits, maintain continuing professional development (CPD), and hold appropriate professional indemnity insurance.

For insurers, having documented inspections by a third-party certified professional is increasingly becoming a prerequisite for processing fire-related claims.

 

Summary

The transition from voluntary checks to mandatory, documented inspections reflects the UK’s commitment to the Golden Thread of building safety. By ensuring inspectors are rigorously trained and competent, building owners can move beyond mere ‘paper compliance’ to achieving genuine life-safety outcomes.

Moving forward we will likely see a regulatory framework develop for door inspectors and eventually for installers, similar to BS 8674 for fire risk assessors, where competency will be key to improving the quality of doors within our industry.
 

The ABBE Level 3 Fire Door Inspectors course is suitable for those new to the industry and seasoned professionals alike.

Spending three days learning and practically inspecting doors on site in our new training and education centre, it covers timber, composite, and metal doors, looking at individual component parts, certification, inspecting and reporting, and procurement.

It also looks at relevant legislation, guidance, and best practices in line with the new standard, BS 8214:2026.

If you wish to understand more about the training available at the FPA, then contact our training admin at training@thefpa.co.uk or on 01608 812500.