Recent flat fires across the UK expose a recurring failure in fire door maintenance that responsible persons cannot afford to ignore. Whether you manage an HMO, a block of flats, a care home, or a retail unit, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 places legal duty on you to keep doors fit for purpose. The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 adds specific requirements: quarterly checks of communal fire doors in multi-occupied residential buildings, plus flat entrance doors in buildings over 11 metres. Each inspection must confirm intact intumescent strips, working self-closers, and correct gaps. A propped or damaged door lets smoke and flames spread, so log every check, fix failures immediately, and use PAS 79 to structure your wider risk assessment. — HawkSwift FRA News General guidance, not formal legal advice — book a HawkSwift assessment for your premises.
Quick answers
Q: How often do I need to check fire doors in a block of flats?
Under the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, you must check all fire doors in communal areas routinely. For residential buildings over 11 metres, this includes quarterly checks of flat entrance doors.
Q: What makes a fire door inspection compliant?
A proper inspection means verifying intact intumescent strips, functioning self-closing mechanisms, and clear gaps. If a door fails inspection, you must isolate and fix it immediately.
Q: What framework should I use for my fire risk assessment?
You should use a recognised framework like PAS 79 to structure your overall fire risk assessment. You must also log every fire door check you carry out.
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