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Fire door guide

Quarterly fire door checks in blocks of flats

Find out what the routine check regime means for communal and flat entrance doors, what counts as a fail, and when a full inspection by a specialist is the sensible next step.

Fire door inspection

Worker in hi-vis kneeling to measure a fire door frame with a tape measure.

What quarterly fire door checks mean for your building

Worker kneeling to measure the gap at the base of a fire door.

The law behind the routine check

Under the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, responsible persons managing blocks of flats over 11 metres must carry out quarterly fire door checks on every flat entrance door opening onto a communal area. The same rules require monthly checks on communal doors. These are not optional. They exist because a faulty door lets smoke and flame spread through corridors where people need to escape.

In Bexley, many older blocks fall below that height threshold but still carry real risk if doors fail. Communal door checks in Bexley buildings should follow the same principles even when the strict legal trigger does not apply. A flat entrance door check record proves the work happened and shows any faults were acted on. Without it, you have no proof the building was safe on the day something went wrong.

The regulations sit alongside the wider duties set out in fire risk management law. If you are unsure who holds responsibility for your building, read about the [responsible person](/compliance/who-is-the-responsible-person) and what they must do.

What happens during a routine check

A routine check is visual and physical. The person doing it opens the door, lets go, and watches it close. They look at the seals, the hinges, the glass, and the gap around the edges. They are not taking the door apart or measuring intumescent strips with callipers. That level of detail belongs to a full [fire door inspection](/fire-door-inspection).

During the check, the assessor looks for obvious damage. Is the self-closing device working, or is there a fire door self closer fault where the arm hangs loose and the door drifts shut too slowly? Are the hinges secure, or is the door sagging against the frame? Is the glazing cracked? Each of these problems compromises the door's ability to hold back a fire.

The door gap tolerance for a fire door is typically three millimetres or less along the sides and top. A larger gap means smoke passes through before the intumescent seal activates. If the gap is clearly too wide, note it down. You do not need specialist tools to see a problem, but you do need to know what a problem looks like.

What counts as a fail and what to do next

A door fails a routine check if it does not close fully into the frame under its own power, if the seals are missing or painted over, if the glazing is cracked, or if the gap around the edge is visibly excessive. Damage to the door leaf itself, such as holes or deep splits, is also a fail.

Some failures can wait a few days while parts are ordered. A door that will not latch at all, or one with a broken closer leaving it permanently open, cannot wait. It must be fixed immediately or the flat must be treated as compromised until the repair is done. Leaving a failed door in place risks the entire compartmentation strategy of the block.

If multiple doors fail, or if the failures suggest a systemic problem like warped frames across several flats, routine checks are no longer enough. That is the point to book a full inspection by a specialist firm. They assess the door set as a whole, including the frame, hardware, and certification.

Recording the results properly

Every check needs a written record. The flat entrance door check record should include the date, the door location, the name of the person checking, and the outcome. Note any defects found and the action taken or planned. This log forms part of the building's wider fire safety documentation.

Keep these records together, ideally in the building's fire safety log book. If you are unsure what else belongs in that file, check what a [log book should contain](/news/fire-safety-log-book-for-your-building-what-to-record). Inspectors from the local authority or fire service will ask to see them. Missing records are treated as evidence the checks did not happen.

Digital records are acceptable so long as they are complete and accessible. Photographs of defects help when explaining to leaseholders why access was needed or why a repair could not wait.

When routine checks become a full inspection

Routine checks monitor condition between formal assessments. They do not replace the need for a specialist to examine the door set in detail. If you notice recurring faults, such as closers failing repeatedly or gaps widening after repairs, the underlying cause might be structural movement or incorrect installation.

That is when the fire door inspection frequency for flats should shift from routine monitoring to a comprehensive survey. A specialist firm inspects each component against the original certification. They determine whether the door can be repaired or must be replaced entirely.

For buildings in Bexley dealing with complex layouts or mixed ownership, a [compartmentation survey](/compartmentation-survey) often makes sense alongside door inspections. It confirms the barriers between flats and corridors are intact, not just at the doors but through walls, floors, and service risings too.

What affects the cost of fire door work

Every building differs in layout, age, and door type, so the amount of work required changes from job to job.

Worker in hi-vis kneeling by a fire door with extinguishers and notice board nearby.
Number of doors
More doors take longer to inspect or repair, increasing the time the specialist spends on site.
Door type and certification
Fire doors require specific replacement parts that match the original test evidence.
Access arrangements
Gaining entry to occupied flats takes coordination, especially if residents work during the day.
Extent of damage
Replacing a closer is quicker than fitting a new door leaf and frame into an existing opening.

The specialist explains the cost of the particular job before anything is agreed.

Questions about routine fire door checks

Do quarterly checks apply to flat entrance doors or just communal doors?

They apply to both, but the frequency differs. Flat entrance doors in blocks over 11 metres require quarterly checks. Communal doors in those same buildings need monthly checks. In lower-rise blocks, the legal requirement for quarterly flat entrance door checks does not apply, though regular monitoring remains good practice.

What counts as a fail on a routine check, and can it wait?

A door fails if it does not self-close fully, has damaged seals, cracked glass, or excessive gaps. Minor wear might allow a short delay for parts. A door that stays open or will not latch poses an immediate risk and must be addressed straight away.

Who in the building is allowed to carry out the quarterly check?

The responsible person or someone acting on their behalf can do it. There is no formal qualification required for the visual check, but the person must know what a compliant door looks like. If you are unsure who can check fire doors safely, seek guidance before starting.

What do I need to write down and keep for each door?

Record the date, door location, inspector name, pass or fail status, and any defects found. Note the remedial action taken or planned. Store these records in the building log book so they are available if requested by enforcement authorities.

Residents will not let me inspect their entrance door, what then?

Explain the legal duty and the safety risk. Write to them formally. If access is still refused, document every attempt. Seek legal advice, as the responsible person retains liability for the building's safety regardless of individual cooperation.

When should I stop doing routine checks and book a full door inspection?

Book a full inspection when routine checks reveal repeated failures, widespread damage, or uncertainty about whether the doors meet their original certification. A specialist firm carries out detailed assessments that go beyond visual monitoring.

Does a gap round the door edge mean the door has to be replaced?

Not always. If the door gap tolerance for a fire door is exceeded slightly, adjustment or new seals might resolve it. Large gaps caused by warping or frame movement usually require replacement of the leaf, the frame, or both.

How do these checks fit with the annual check in a low rise block?

Low-rise blocks under 11 metres do not have the same quarterly legal mandate for flat entrance doors, but the responsible person must still maintain fire safety. Annual checks or more frequent monitoring form part of meeting that broader duty.

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