Fire Door Compliance for Facilities Managers: Your Legal and Operational Responsibility

Jamie Harris
Jul 14, 2025
3 min read

Introduction: Fire Doors Aren’t Just a Fire Safety Box to Tick

As a facilities manager, you're responsible for ensuring that buildings operate safely, efficiently, and in full legal compliance. While much attention is often given to alarms, lighting, and access control, fire doors are one of the most overlooked, yet most critical, safety components in any building.

Poorly maintained or non compliant fire doors can expose you, your employer, and building occupants to serious risk. In this guide, we’ll explain your responsibilities under UK fire safety law, what to look out for, and how to ensure your fire doors are fully compliant.

Why Fire Door Compliance Matters for Facilities Managers

Fire doors aren’t just another asset, they are life saving systems that:

Slow the spread of fire and smoke
Protect escape routes
Contain fires to limited zones
Provide critical time for evacuation and emergency response

If a fire door fails to operate as it should, the consequences can be severe, both legally and in terms of loss of life.

Legal Responsibilities Under UK Fire Safety Regulations

As a facilities manager or responsible person, you're required to comply with:

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022

These regulations require that:

All fire doors (especially those in communal or escape areas) are inspected and maintained regularly
Records of inspections, maintenance, and remedial work are kept and made available
You act on faults or wear and tear immediately
All fire doors meet certified standards (e.g. FD30, FD60)

Failure to comply can lead to enforcement action, invalid insurance claims, and reputational damage.

Common Fire Door Issues Found in Commercial and Public Buildings

During inspections, we regularly find faults that facilities teams aren’t aware of, including:

Doors that don’t fully self close
Missing or damaged intumescent and smoke seals
Gaps around the door edges that exceed regulation limits
Incorrect or non-compliant ironmongery (hinges, closers, handles)
Doors propped open by staff or contractors
Lack of signage or certification labels

These issues compromise the fire door’s integrity, and often go unnoticed until it's too late.

How to Keep Fire Doors Compliant in a Busy Environment

As a facilities manager, staying on top of fire door compliance in a busy building can be a challenge. Here’s how to keep things in order:

1. Schedule Routine Inspections

Fire doors in high traffic areas (e.g. corridors, stairwells) should be checked every 3–6 months, while others may be inspected annually by a competent professional.

2. Plan for Maintenance

Don’t wait until an inspection fails, put a maintenance plan in place to carry out repairs proactively.

3. Educate On Site Staff

Train cleaning, maintenance, and front of house teams on the importance of keeping fire doors shut and reporting damage immediately.

4. Keep Documentation

Maintain digital records of inspections, repairs, and replacements, this will support audits, risk assessments, and insurance claims.

Who Needs Fire Door Support?

We work with facilities managers across a wide range of sectors:

Offices and business parks
Schools, colleges, and universities
Warehouses and manufacturing sites
Healthcare, care homes, and assisted living
Local authority buildings
Retail and hospitality venues

If you’re managing any medium to large property, you’re likely responsible for dozens of fire doors, and we’re here to make that job easier.

How Fire Doors UK Can Help Facilities Managers

At Fire Doors UK, we provide nationwide support for facilities teams, including:

Comprehensive fire door inspections with digital reports
On-site repair and remedial work
Certified fire door installations (FD30, FD60, timber, steel, glazed)
Ongoing compliance plans tailored to your property or portfolio
Advice and consultation on fire strategy reviews

We help you reduce risk, save time, and stay ahead of compliance.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should fire doors be inspected in a commercial building?Fire doors in communal or high-traffic areas should be checked at least every six months. We recommend annual professional inspections for all buildings.

Do I need certification for fire door inspections?Yes — inspections should be carried out by qualified professionals who can provide written evidence of compliance.

Can fire door maintenance be handled in-house?Basic visual checks can be done in-house, but repairs, replacements, and compliance inspections should be handled by accredited specialists.