FIRE DOOR SURVEYS
Independent fire door surveys focused on the right scope, impartial findings and practical recommendations.
Fire Guard Compliance Ltd provides independent fire door surveys and inspections for commercial, residential and managed properties. Our qualified fire door inspectors assess the condition of fire door sets, identify defects and potential deficiencies, and provide clear, prioritised recommendations for remedial action.
Our approach starts before the inspection itself. Rather than automatically surveying every door included in an enquiry, we seek to establish which doors need to provide fire resistance, using available fire strategies, fire risk assessments, door schedules and other relevant building information. This helps ensure the survey is appropriately scoped and that clients are not paying to inspect doors without first establishing whether they need to perform a fire-resisting function.
We do not undertake fire door installation or remedial works. This means we have no financial incentive to recommend unnecessary inspections, repairs or replacements. Our findings and recommendations are based on the evidence available, the condition of the doors and the relevant fire safety requirements, providing Responsible Persons, building owners, landlords and facilities managers with independent advice they can rely on.
WHAT DOES A FIRE DOOR SURVEY INCLUDE?
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Our fire door surveys provide a detailed assessment of the complete fire door set, including the door leaf, frame, intumescent and smoke seals, hinges, closing devices, glazing, hardware, gaps, signage and other relevant components.
Our qualified fire door inspectors assess the condition, installation and operation of accessible components, identifying defects and issues that may affect the fire door's ability to perform effectively in a fire. Where necessary, we can also undertake intrusive inspection to investigate concealed construction or components that cannot be adequately assessed visually.
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We provide fire door surveys for a wide range of commercial, residential and managed properties, including offices, retail premises, care and supported living facilities, blocks of flats, HMOs, education premises, industrial and mixed-use buildings.
Whether you require a routine condition survey, a survey following refurbishment or alterations, or a more detailed assessment where the condition or specification of existing fire doors is uncertain, our inspection scope can be tailored to the requirements of the building and the information available.
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Following every fire door survey, you receive a clear, structured and practical report detailing the condition of the fire door sets inspected. Individual findings are supported by photographs where appropriate, with defects and potential compliance issues clearly identified and prioritised.
Our reports are designed to provide practical recommendations rather than simply a list of defects. Where reasonably practicable, we take a repair-first approach, recommending appropriate remedial action before replacement. Replacement is only recommended where a door set cannot reasonably be brought back to an appropriate standard.
As an independent fire door inspection company, we do not undertake fire door installation or remedial works. Our recommendations are therefore not influenced by follow-on work and are based solely on the condition of the door set, relevant requirements and professional judgement.
This provides Responsible Persons, building owners, landlords and facilities managers with clear, impartial information to help them understand the condition of their fire doors and make informed decisions about any remedial action required.
Our fire door surveys involve a detailed inspection of the key components and features that contribute to the performance of a fire door set. Depending on the scope of the survey, this may include assessment of:
Fire door leaves and their condition
Door frames and architraves
Intumescent and smoke seals
Hinges and other essential hardware
Door closers and latching arrangements
Glazing and glazing systems
Gaps and clearances
Door signage and identification
Locks, handles and other hardware
The condition and suitability of the overall door set
Following the survey, you will receive a clear and structured report identifying defects, deficiencies and potential compliance issues, together with practical and prioritised recommendations for remedial action.
Where reasonably practicable, we take a repair-first approach, recommending appropriate remedial works where a fire door set can be brought back to a suitable standard. Replacement is only recommended where the condition, construction or configuration of the door set means that suitable remediation is not reasonably practicable.
WHEN ARE FIRE DOOR SURVEYS NEEDED?
Regular inspection and maintenance of fire doors is an important part of effective fire safety management. The frequency and scope of inspection should reflect the type of building, the use and condition of the fire doors and the level of risk.
For multi-occupied residential buildings in England where the top storey is more than 11 metres above ground level, Regulation 10 of the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 requires the Responsible Person to ensure that:
Communal fire doors are checked at least every three months; and
Flat entrance fire doors are checked at least every 12 months.
These routine checks are intended to identify obvious defects and ensure that fire doors remain in good working order. They do not replace the need for appropriate fire risk assessment, maintenance or more detailed inspection where required.
For commercial and other non-residential premises, BS 9999 provides guidance on the routine inspection and maintenance of fire safety measures, with six-monthly inspection of fire doors commonly recommended as part of an appropriate fire safety management programme.
A more detailed fire door survey may also be appropriate where the condition, history or specification of the doors is unknown, following refurbishment or alterations, where damage or defects have been identified, or where concerns have been raised through a fire risk assessment.
Our fire door surveys can be tailored to the requirements of the building, from routine visual inspections through to more detailed intrusive surveys where further investigation is necessary.
Visual Fire Door survey
A visual fire door inspection involves a detailed assessment of the accessible and visible components of the complete fire door set, without removing or damaging components. This includes the door leaf, frame, intumescent and smoke seals, hinges, closing devices, glazing, hardware, gaps, signage and other relevant features.
A visual inspection is appropriate for many routine fire door surveys and can identify a wide range of defects, including damage, excessive gaps, missing or damaged seals, unsuitable or defective hardware, poor closing action and other issues affecting the condition of the door set.
The appropriate level of fire door inspection will depend on the type, condition and history of the fire doors, together with the purpose of the survey and the information available. We provide both visual and intrusive fire door inspections, allowing the scope of the survey to be proportionate to the circumstances.
There are two commonly used approaches to fire door inspection: visual and intrusive. The main difference relates to the extent of the inspection and whether components or areas of the fire door set need to be opened up or removed to establish information that cannot be determined through visual inspection alone.
TYPES OF FIRE DOOR SURVEY
Intrusive Fire Door SURVEY
An intrusive fire door inspection involves limited opening-up or removal of components where information cannot reasonably be established through visual inspection alone. This may include investigating concealed components, door leaf or frame construction, glazing systems or other elements of the fire door set.
Intrusive inspection may be appropriate where the specification or fire resistance cannot be established, supporting documentation is unavailable, the door has been significantly modified or damaged, or concerns identified during a visual inspection require further investigation.
The appropriate scope of inspection will depend on the individual circumstances of the premises. Our fire door inspectors will assess the available information and condition of the fire doors and recommend a proportionate level of inspection, ensuring that clients receive the information they need without unnecessary intrusive investigation.
Establishing the Right Scope for Your Fire Door Survey
Not every door within a building is necessarily required to be fire-resisting. The appropriate requirements depend on the building's design, use, fire safety strategy and the function of individual doors.
Before confirming the scope of a fire door survey, we seek relevant information such as the building's fire strategy, fire risk assessment, door schedules and available drawings. This helps establish which doors are required to provide fire resistance and should be included within the survey.
Where this information is unavailable or unclear, we highlight the issue and discuss the appropriate next steps before proceeding. We do not simply assume that every door identified by a client needs to be a fire door, nor do we automatically recommend inspecting every door without considering the requirements of the premises.
This approach is particularly important in commercial buildings, where the function and fire resistance requirements of individual doors can vary. Establishing the appropriate scope at the outset helps avoid unnecessary inspection costs and provides a sounder basis for any subsequent maintenance or remedial work.
Our aim is simple: to inspect the right doors, for the right reasons, and provide recommendations supported by evidence. As an independent consultancy, our priority is to help clients understand what is required, not to generate additional work.
Need a Fire Door Survey?
Fire Guard Compliance Ltd provides independent fire door surveys for commercial and residential premises across Greater Manchester and the wider North West. We take the time to understand your building, review the available fire safety information and establish an appropriate survey scope before inspection begins. Our qualified inspectors provide detailed findings, photographic evidence and practical recommendations, without the conflict of interest that can arise when the same contractor both identifies remedial work and profits from carrying it out.
Whether you manage a single property, a residential block or a wider portfolio, we can help you establish the right scope and obtain a clear, independent assessment of your fire doors.