Fire Door Surveying
Regulation 10 Compliant
BM Trada Q-Mark certified fire door surveys to BS 8214. Regulation 10 compliant with full photographic reporting and prioritised remediation plans.
What is Fire Door Surveying?
A fire door survey is a systematic inspection of every fire door in a building to confirm it will perform as rated during a fire. An FD30-rated door must hold back fire and smoke for 30 minutes. An FD60-rated door must hold for 60 minutes. The survey checks whether each door can still deliver that protection.
Under Regulation 10 of the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, building owners and managers of residential buildings with storeys 11 metres or above must carry out regular checks of all fire doors. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 places a broader duty on responsible persons to maintain fire safety measures in all non-domestic premises and residential common areas.
Why Fire Door Surveying Matters
Fire doors are passive fire protection — they do not detect a fire or raise an alarm. They contain it. A properly functioning fire door holds back fire and hot smoke from escape routes, stairwells, and corridors, giving people time to get out and the fire service time to respond.
A single defective door on an escape route can be the difference between a contained incident and a fatal one. If a fire door is damaged, incorrectly installed, or missing components, it can fail within minutes rather than holding for its rated 30 or 60 minutes.
What Our Fire Door Survey Includes
- Visual and physical inspection of every fire door on site
- Gap measurement using calibrated feeler gauges (3mm sides/top, 8-10mm threshold)
- Intumescent strip and smoke seal integrity check around the full perimeter
- Self-closing device function test from multiple open angles
- Hinge assessment — number, condition, rating, and fixings
- Condition grading for each door: pass, advisory, or fail
- Photographic report showing each defect with door location reference
- Prioritised remediation recommendations for every advisory and fail result
- Compliance certificate confirming the scope and outcome of the survey
FD30 vs FD60 Fire Door Ratings
- FD30 — 30 minutes fire resistance. Standard for offices, residential corridors, flat entrance doors, and retail units.
- FD60 — 60 minutes fire resistance. Required for high-rise stairwells, plant rooms, kitchens, storage areas, and high fire load zones.
The required rating for each doorway is determined by the building’s fire strategy and fire risk assessment. During a survey, we verify that the correct rating is installed in the correct location.
Inspection Frequencies
| Door Type | Frequency | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Flat entrance doors (residential 11m+) | Quarterly | Building Safety Act 2022 |
| Communal fire doors (residential 11m+) | Annually | Building Safety Act 2022 |
| All fire doors (commercial) | Annually | RRO 2005 best practice |
| After damage or alteration | Before reuse | RRO 2005 |
Book a fire door survey today.
Who Needs a Fire Risk Assessment?
Fire door surveys are legally required for residential buildings over 11 metres and recommended as best practice for all premises with fire doors.
You Need a Fire Risk Assessment If You Have:
Residential buildings (11m+)
Quarterly flat entrance door checks and annual communal area inspections under Regulation 10
Exemptions
Single private dwellings are exempt from mandatory fire door surveying requirements. However, any building with fire doors fitted as part of its fire safety strategy should have those doors regularly surveyed to ensure they remain compliant.
Our Fire Door Surveying Process
A structured 5-step approach to fire door surveying, from booking to compliance certification.
Book Your Survey
Call us or fill in the form. We schedule around your building operations and resident access requirements.
Surveyor Arrives
A BM Trada Q-Mark certified surveyor arrives with calibrated gauges and full inspection equipment.
Doors Inspected
Every fire door is inspected against BS 8214 — leaf, frame, seals, gaps, hinges, closer, glazing, and signage.
Report Delivered
Photographic report with pass/advisory/fail grading and prioritised remediation plan within 24 hours.
Certificate Issued
Compliance certificate confirming the survey scope, findings, and Regulation 10 compliance status.
Fire Door Surveying Costs UK 2026
Pricing is based on the number of doors and building size. Batch discounts available for larger properties.
Factors affecting cost: Final cost depends on building access, door locations (e.g. risers, plant rooms), and whether you need a combined survey covering both fire doors and passive fire protection.
Fire Door Surveying Legislation 2026
The legal framework governing fire door surveying and inspection in the UK.
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
Requires the responsible person to maintain all fire safety measures, including fire doors, in proper working order. Applies to all non-domestic premises and communal areas of residential buildings.
Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 (Regulation 10)
Introduced mandatory quarterly checks of flat entrance doors and annual inspections of all communal fire doors in residential buildings over 11 metres. The key regulation driving fire door surveying.
Fire Safety Act 2021
Clarified that flat entrance doors in multi-occupied residential buildings fall within the scope of the Fire Safety Order, making them the building owner's responsibility.
Building Safety Act 2022
Established the Building Safety Regulator and enhanced requirements for fire safety documentation in higher-risk buildings, including fire door inspection records.
BS 8214:2025 Update
Updated code of practice for the inspection and maintenance of timber-based fire doors, incorporating new test evidence standards.
Residential PEEPs Regulations
Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans become mandatory for high-rise residential buildings, requiring verified fire door performance on escape routes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about fire door surveying answered by our experts.
What is the difference between a fire door inspection and a fire door survey?
What is Regulation 10 fire door inspection?
Do fire doors need certification?
What is included in a fire door survey?
How much does a fire door survey cost?
What happens if a fire door fails survey?
Ready to Get Your Fire Door Surveying?
Professional service from BAFE-accredited engineers. 24-hour turnaround. From £15/door.