%201.svg)
%201.svg)
Fire doors are one of the most critical elements of your fire safety strategy, yet they are often overlooked or poorly maintained. Fire Door Safety Week 2024 (23-27 September) is a great opportunity to review and upgrade your fire door provision.
Why fire doors matter
Fire doors serve two key functions: they act as a barrier to contain fire and smoke, protecting escape routes and giving people more time to evacuate safely. They also protect structural elements of a building and help to prevent fire from spreading.
Crucially, a fire door only works if it is correctly installed, maintained, and not propped open. A fire door that has been wedged open, is damaged, or has poorly fitting seals can provide no protection at all.
Common fire door failures
The most common fire door issues identified during inspections are:
- Doors propped or wedged open
- Missing or damaged intumescent strips and smoke seals
- Damaged or poorly fitting door frames
- Self-closing mechanisms that don't work correctly
- Glazing panels that are not fire-rated
- Doors that don't close and latch properly
Your fire door responsibilities
Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the responsible person in a workplace is required to:
- Ensure all fire doors are suitable for their purpose and correctly installed
- Carry out regular checks of all fire doors
- Ensure fire doors are not held open by unauthorised means
- Make sure any issues identified are promptly repaired
Fire door checks should be carried out at regular intervals (at least every six months), and a formal annual inspection should be undertaken by a competent person.
What to check
During your fire door checks, you should inspect:
- The door leaf: check for damage, warping, and that the door fits correctly in the frame
- The frame: check for gaps or damage that could compromise the door's performance
- Intumescent strips and smoke seals: check they are undamaged and properly fitted
- Hinges: check they are secure and not damaged
- Self-closing device: check it works effectively and closes the door fully
- Signage: check that all fire door signage is in place and clearly visible
If you need support reviewing your fire door provision or carrying out a fire risk assessment, our team of fire safety specialists can help. Contact us today to find out more.
Last updated
September 23, 2024
Opus Safety
Health & safety insights
Guidance, updates and practical advice for your sector.
Why Was the Health and Safety at Work Act Introduced?
Why was the Health and Safety at Work Act introduced? The disasters, the Robens Report and the duties the HSWA still places on UK employers today.
What Law Regulates Workplace Health and Safety? DSEAR Explained
What law regulates workplace health and safety? A clear guide to the HSWA, DSEAR and whether your business needs a DSEAR risk assessment.
Hot weather health and safety: six essential questions
Six essential questions to keep your team safe in hot weather – heat stress, hydration, PPE, first aid and driving – with practical steps for summer working.
HSE prosecutions: Workplace fatalities and seven-figure fines
Four recent HSE prosecutions – from a £1m refinery gas leak to fatal and life-changing injuries – and the simple controls that would have prevented them.
Maintain momentum with a mid-year health and safety check
Use the mid-year point to take stock of your health and safety: risk assessments, training, PPM and agency staff. A practical checklist to keep momentum through summer.
Why Health and Safety Matters: When to Hire a Consultant
Hire a health and safety consultant when you grow, your team is stretched, risks get complex, or you receive an enforcement notice - whatever your size.
On the Radar: Local Authority Enforcement Priorities (2026–2029)
The HSE's LAC 67/2 strategy sets council inspection priorities for 2026-2029, shifting towards health risks. What local-authority-regulated businesses should check now.
HSE prosecutions: The cost of poor compliance
Four recent HSE prosecutions - occupational asthma, severed fingers, a lost leg and a fall from height - and the basic controls that would have prevented each.
The RIDDOR public consultation: What it means for you
The HSE's 2026 RIDDOR consultation proposes five reforms to incident reporting. What the changes mean for duty holders, and what to do before it closes on 30 June.
How to Report Health and Safety Incidents Involving Employees Under RIDDOR
How to Report Health and Safety Concerns under RIDDOR, including reportable incidents, key deadlines and compliant recordkeeping.
Why businesses choose
Opus Safety
We've worked across UK industry for years. The numbers show what our clients achieve when compliance becomes a strength, not a burden.
%201.svg)
