Fire door guides
Straight answers to the questions managing agents, building owners and residents ask us most. Every guide is dated and reviewed against current law and BS 8214:2026.
Two free tools. No sales call needed.
Both give you a plain-English action plan you can forward to a freeholder, board or insurer. Neither asks you to commit to anything.
Compliance Check
Answer twelve questions about your building and get a traffic-light result, the duties that apply to you and an action plan.
Check your compliance →Two minutesReg 10 Planner
Get a 12-month schedule of fire door checks for your block, with a logbook, resident letters and reminders before each one is due.
Plan your Reg 10 checks →How often should fire doors be inspected? Regulation 10 explained
In England, residential buildings over 11 metres must have communal fire doors checked every three months and flat entrance doors at least every twelve months on a "best endeavours" basis. Other buildings should follow the frequency set by their fire risk assessment.
Read the guide →Who is responsible for fire doors in blocks of flats?
The Responsible Person under the Fire Safety Order, usually the freeholder, a residents' management company or right-to-manage company, often acting through a managing agent. Their duty covers communal fire doors and, since the Fire Safety Act 2021, flat entrance doors that open onto common parts.
Read the guide →BS 8214:2026: what changed for fire doors
BS 8214:2026, published on 20 March 2026, replaces the timber-only 2016 edition. It now covers timber, steel, aluminium and composite fire doors and updates the guidance on smoke seals and under-door gaps.
Read the guide →Fire door inspection checklist
A fire door check covers the leaf and frame, the gaps around the door, intumescent and smoke seals, hinges, the self-closer, any glazing, and signage and labels. Each part must match the door's test evidence.
Read the guide →What a fire door inspection report includes
A good fire door inspection report gives a result for every door, photos of each defect, the door's location and rating, and a prioritised list of repairs. At Burnham, each door also gets a QR tag linking to its live record and history.
Read the guide →How much does a fire door inspection cost?
It depends on how many doors there are, how easy they are to reach and what condition they're in. Most of the real cost of fire door compliance is in the repairs an inspection finds, not the inspection itself.
Read the guide →Fire doors for insurance brokers and partners
Property insurers often want evidence that fire safety measures are maintained, and fire doors are one of the most visible. Partners can give their clients Burnham's free Compliance Check under their own name and receive a monthly summary.
Read the guide →Fire door repair and replacement costs
Repair costs depend on the defect, from a replacement seal or closer adjustment to rehanging a door. Replacement depends on the rating, size, hardware and access. Repairing a sound door is usually far cheaper than replacing it.
Read the guide →Fire stopping explained
Fire stopping seals the gaps and holes in fire-resisting walls and floors, such as where pipes and cables pass through. It keeps each fire compartment intact, so fire and smoke can't bypass the fire doors that protect it.
Read the guide →How to choose a fire door inspector in London
Ask what standard they inspect to (it should be BS 8214:2026), what qualification they hold, whether every door gets its own photo record, and whether they can fix what they find. Many London blocks are over 11 metres, so they also need Regulation 10's quarterly and annual checks.
Read the guide →Flat front doors: a guide for leaseholders
Your flat's front door is usually a fire door. In England, buildings over 11 metres must have flat entrance doors checked at least once a year. Who owns and pays for the door depends on your lease, and you shouldn't alter it without permission.
Read the guide →Who can inspect fire doors? Inspector qualifications
Routine Regulation 10 checks can be done in-house with simple instruction, according to Home Office guidance. A full fire door inspection needs a competent inspector, such as someone holding a FireQual qualification, the ABBE Level 3 Award or FDIS certification.
Read the guide →Can fire doors be held open legally?
Only with a suitable hold-open device that releases the door automatically when the fire alarm sounds. Wedges, fire extinguishers and door stops are never acceptable, and the device should be covered by your fire risk assessment.
Read the guide →