Fire Door Checks in Blocks of Flats: What to Look For

In a block of flats in England with a top storey more than 11 metres above ground, the responsible person must check fire doors in the communal areas at least every three months and use best endeavours to check every flat entrance door at least every 12 months. Both checks must include making sure the self-closing device works. The duty comes from regulation 10 of the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 and has applied since 23 January 2023.

The checks are meant to be basic. Government guidance, last updated in August 2025, says they are visual, do not involve tools and should not need a specialist. What matters is looking at the right things on every door, writing down what you found and getting faults repaired by a competent contractor as soon as reasonably practicable.

Which doors are covered

Flat entrance doors that open onto the common parts, checked from both sides, so you need access to each flat
Stair, lobby and corridor doors on escape routes
Plant room, riser and cupboard doors in the common parts, which should normally be kept locked shut
Any communal fire door held open by a magnetic device linked to the fire alarm

Buildings under 11 metres have no set inspection frequency under regulation 10, but the responsible person still has to make sure fire doors, including flat entrance doors, give adequate protection, and article 17 of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires a suitable system of maintenance. In practice the fire risk assessment should set a frequency. Residents in every block with two or more flats and shared escape routes must also be told, when they move in and at least every 12 months, to keep fire doors shut, not to tamper with self-closers and to report faults straight away.

What to look at on each door

The GOV.UK fire door guidance and its checklist, together with fire and rescue service advice, point to the same handful of items. Work through them in the same order every time so nothing is missed.

The door itself: has an original fire door been replaced with one that is not fire resisting, or is there visible damage to the leaf, frame or surrounding wall?
Labels and signs: a certification label or plug on the top or edge of the door, and the correct fire door signage on communal doors
Gaps: the gap between the door and frame at the top and sides should never be more than 4mm. Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service suggests a £1 coin, about 3mm thick, to get a feel for scale. The gap at the bottom can be slightly larger
Intumescent strips and smoke seals: present, intact and not painted over
Hinges: firmly fixed, usually three or more, with no missing or loose screws
Glazing, letterboxes and air transfer grilles: not altered or damaged, and letterboxes closing properly rather than jammed open
Self-closer: open the door fully and let go, then open it to around 15 degrees and let go. Each time it should close fully onto the latch without sticking on the floor or frame
Hold-open devices: test with the test button or the alarm so the door releases and closes
Wedges and obstructions: doors propped open or blocked, which is a common failure in busy corridors

Records and access

For flat entrance doors, the regulations require a record of the steps taken in each 12 month period, including what you did to try to gain access where a resident did not let you in. Keep copies of letters, emails and booked appointments, and offer more than one date. The government guidance notes that legal action may ultimately need to be considered where a resident persistently refuses.

For each check, record the door location, date, who checked it, what was found and the action taken. A door register that also shows the next due date makes overdue checks visible at a glance, and it fits naturally into a wider planned preventative maintenance schedule.

When to call a specialist

The routine checks are not a substitute for periodic assessment of fire doors by fire safety specialists, for example on a sample basis during the fire risk assessment. Bring in a competent specialist when a door looks like it is not fire resisting, when gaps or seals need more than simple adjustment, after works that cut into doors or frames, or when replacing a door. Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service recommends third party accredited installers for replacements.

Local guidance in the North West and London

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service publishes a fire doors video with a full transcript covering the same checks, including letterboxes, hold-open devices and double doors with selectors, and says faults should be put right by a competent person. London Fire Brigade explains the 2022 regulations by building type. Our Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 guide covers the wider duties for residential blocks.

How Apex helps

Apex Options carries out routine fire door checks as part of fire safety and compliance for residential buildings, with on-site delivery in London, Liverpool, Manchester, Greater Manchester and Cheshire. We keep a door register with photographs, chase access to flats and log every attempt, and arrange remedial work through competent contractors under our planned preventative maintenance service. This guide is general information, not legal advice, so confirm your building's duties with a qualified fire safety professional.

Sources

Apex OptionsPublished 21 October 2026

Questions

Questions.

How often must fire doors be checked in a block of flats?

In England, where the top storey is more than 11 metres above ground, communal fire doors must be checked at least every three months and flat entrance doors at least every 12 months on a best endeavours basis. Below 11 metres there is no set frequency, so the fire risk assessment should set one.

Do fire door checks need a specialist?

Not for the routine checks. Government guidance says they are visual and can be done by the responsible person or someone they appoint. A competent specialist should handle repairs, replacements and any doubt about whether a door is fire resisting.

What happens if a resident will not allow access to check their front door?

Keep a record of every attempt to gain access, such as letters, emails and offered appointments. The regulations require this record, and government guidance notes that legal action may ultimately be needed if a resident persistently refuses.

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