Fire doors at work: five checks for employers and managers

A fire door is propped open to make moving equipment easier. Another has a damaged self-closing mechanism. Elsewhere, a door catches on the floor and no longer closes properly.

These might seem like minor maintenance issues during a busy working day, but they could have serious consequences if a fire occurs.

Fire doors help restrict the spread of fire and smoke, protect escape routes and provide valuable time for people to evacuate safely. However, even a correctly installed fire door may not provide the intended protection if it is damaged, poorly maintained or prevented from closing.

Here are five practical areas employers and venue managers can review.

1. Do you know which doors are fire doors?

Not every door in a building is a fire door, and not every fire door leads directly to an exit.

Fire doors may protect corridors, stairways, plant rooms, storage areas and other locations where fire separation is needed. They form part of the building's overall fire protection arrangements.

Practical check: Review your fire risk assessment and available building information to identify the fire doors and their intended function. Include less frequently occupied areas, such as electrical cupboards and plant rooms. If uncertain, seek competent advice rather than relying on appearance.

2. Do the doors close properly?

A door may appear undamaged but fail to close because of a defective closer, damaged hinges, an obstruction or contact with the floor.

Practical check: Where a fire door is intended to be self-closing, check that it closes fully into its frame when released, including from different opening positions where appropriate. Check that any fitted latch engages as intended. Report doors that catch, stick or remain partly open.

Not all fire doors need self-closing devices. Some service cupboard doors, for example, are designed to remain locked shut. Checks should reflect the intended arrangement.

3. Are the doors and their components in good condition?

Fire door performance depends on the complete assembly, including the door leaf, frame, hinges, seals, glazing and relevant fittings.

Practical check: Look for visible damage, missing or damaged intumescent and smoke seals, loose hinges, uneven or excessive gaps, damaged glazing and inappropriate alterations. Painted-over seals may also warrant closer assessment.

These observations do not replace a competent technical inspection where one is needed. Repairs and replacement components must be suitable for the particular door assembly; avoid improvised alterations.

4. Are fire doors being wedged or held open?

Doors are sometimes propped open for deliveries, cleaning, ventilation or convenience. But a fire door held open with a wedge, hook or furniture may be unable to restrict fire and smoke.

Practical check: Look for improvised doorstops and explain to staff why the door needs to function as intended.

If a door genuinely needs to stay open during normal operations, consider whether a suitable automatic hold-open or free-swing device could be installed. Its suitability, release arrangements and maintenance should be assessed by a competent person in the context of the premises and fire risk assessment.

5. Are inspections, maintenance and reporting arrangements effective?

Busy doors can deteriorate through frequent use. Under Article 17 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, relevant fire safety provisions must be subject to a suitable system of maintenance and kept in efficient working order and good repair where necessary to safeguard people.

Government guidance for offices and shops gives monthly checks of fire door closing and the condition of frames and seals as an example. This is guidance, not a universal statutory monthly inspection requirement for every workplace fire door. The appropriate frequency depends on the premises, door usage, condition and fire risk assessment.

Practical check: Establish routine visual checks by appropriately instructed staff, a clear defect-reporting process, competent inspection and maintenance where needed, records of remedial work and follow-up to confirm defects are resolved.

What about fire exits?

A fire door is designed to resist the spread of fire; a fire exit provides a way out of the building. Some doors serve both functions.

Article 14 of the Fire Safety Order addresses emergency routes and exits. Where necessary for safety, escape routes and exits must remain clear, and emergency exit doors must be capable of being opened easily and immediately by people who may need to use them.

Check both the condition of fire doors and the availability of escape routes and final exits.

Who is responsible for fire door maintenance?

Responsibility under the Fire Safety Order generally rests with the Responsible Person, which may include an employer or another person with control of the premises. In shared buildings, landlords, managing agents and occupiers may each have responsibilities.

Relevant Responsible Persons must cooperate and coordinate their fire safety arrangements. Make sure it is clear who checks, maintains and arranges repairs for each door, including those in shared areas.

A useful question for your next workplace inspection

If a fire started today, would every fire door close and provide the protection it was intended to?

If you are uncertain, review your fire door condition and inspection arrangements. Promptly identifying and correcting small defects can help maintain important fire precautions.

At Peace of Mind Training, we deliver practical Fire Safety Awareness and Fire Marshal training for businesses across Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and surrounding areas. Our courses help employees understand fire hazards, prevention, emergency procedures and their role in workplace fire safety.

Explore our fire safety courses and request a tailored training quote through Peace of Mind Training.

Official guidance and further reading

• Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
• GOV.UK: Fire safety in the workplace
• GOV.UK: Fire safety risk assessment – offices and shops
• GOV.UK: Fire safety risk assessment – small and medium places of assembly
• GOV.UK: Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 – fire door guidance

Information reviewed 2 November 2026. This article is general guidance and does not replace a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment or competent advice on individual fire doors.