Why a Fire Door Inspection Checklist Matters
A fire door is only a fire door if every component is present, correct and working. The purpose of a fire door inspection checklist is to make sure no component is missed — because the one part that is overlooked is usually the one that fails in a fire.
This page is a genuine resource. It sets out exactly what an inspection should check on every fire door, from the frame through to the signage, and then explains why a printed checklist — however thorough — has real limitations in practice.
The Complete Fire Door Inspection Checklist
Frame
- Frame is intact with no cracks or damage
- Frame is securely fixed and plumb
- Intumescent seals between frame and structure are present and continuous
- No oversized gaps or missing packers
Leaf
- Leaf is flat, not warped or bowed
- No cuts, holes or damage exceeding permitted limits
- Facings and lippings are firmly bonded
- Door thickness matches the certified construction
Hinges
- Correct number of hinges (minimum three for fire doors)
- Hinges are CE/UKCA marked and fire-rated
- Screws are present, correct and tight
- No excessive wear or metal-on-metal contact
Self-closing device
- Closer is fitted and functioning
- Door closes and latches from any open position
- Closer arm and power are correctly set
- No signs of leakage or damage
Locks & latches
- Ironmongery is CE/UKCA marked and fire-rated
- Latch engages fully into the strike
- No modifications that invalidate certification
- Escapement hardware operates freely
Intumescent & smoke seals
- Seals are present, continuous and correctly located
- Seals are undamaged and not painted over
- Smoke seals make contact when the door is closed
- Correct seal type for the door rating
Glazing
- Glass is fire-rated and intact
- Intumescent glazing beads or seals are present
- No cracks or compromise to the glazed aperture
- Glazing system matches the certified detail
Gaps & clearances
- Threshold gap within permitted limits (typically max 3-4mm for FD30)
- Stile and head gaps are within tolerance
- No warping that opens gaps beyond limits
- Door latches without forcing
Signage
- “Fire Door Keep Shut” sign on the closing face
- “Fire Door Keep Locked” where applicable
- “Automatic Fire Door Keep Clear” where applicable
- Signage is legible and correctly positioned
Threshold
- Threshold gap is within permitted limits
- No combustible seals or strips that invalidate rating
- Threshold is intact and not damaged
- Floor finish meets the door without compromise
Operation
- Door opens and closes freely through its full arc
- Door latches securely on closing
- No binding, rubbing or obstruction
- Hold-open devices (if fitted) release correctly
Evidence
- Photograph of the door and any defects
- Record the result against the door ID
- Note the inspector and date
- Capture the door’s rating and configuration
Remedial action
- Record every defect with category and severity
- Assign the remedial to a responsible party
- Set a target completion date
- Track the remedial through to evidence of completion
Evidence an inspection must capture
- A photograph of the door as found
- Photographs of any defect or damage
- The door’s identity, rating and location
- The inspector and the date
- The result — pass, fail or pass with defects
Evidence and Remedial Action
An inspection is only useful if it is recorded. Every check should be captured against the door’s identity, with photographs of the door and any defect, so the result is evidence — not an opinion.
When a defect is found, the checklist should drive a remedial action: a category, a severity, a responsible party and a target date. A defect that is logged but never tracked to completion is no better than a defect that was never found.
Why a Static Fire Door Checklist Is No Longer Enough
Defects Get Lost on Paper
The Register Drifts From Reality
No Memory Between Inspections
The AI-Assisted Alternative
From Checklist to AI-Assisted Inspection
The inspection checklist above is exactly what an inspector should look at. The question is how the result is captured and used. A static checklist ends at the door. An AI-assisted inspection begins there.
Automate inspects against the door’s live record, so the inspector sees its rating, configuration, certificate and history before they start. Photographs are captured to the record. Defects are flagged and categorised automatically, remedials are assigned with target dates, and the fire door register updates itself the moment the inspection is saved.
The same checklist — but connected, evidenced and tracked to completion. That is the difference between inspecting fire doors and actually managing them.
Explore the Platform
Related Resources
An inspection checklist is the foundation. Explore how it connects to inspection software, the register and the wider lifecycle.
Fire Door Inspection Software
How AI-assisted inspection turns a checklist into a managed process.
Explore inspection softwareFire Door Register
The continuously updated record every inspection should feed.
Explore the fire door registerFire Door Maintenance
How defects become remedials, and remedials become closed records.
Explore fire door maintenanceFire Door Regulations
The inspection requirements set by current fire door regulations.
Read the regulations guideFire Door Golden Thread
The permanent record every inspection builds on.
Explore the Golden ThreadFire Rated Doors
What a fire rated doorset actually is — the basis of any inspection.
Read the fire rated doors guide