Under the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, we need to check all front doors that open onto a communal area in buildings over 11metres (five storeys) whether you rent or own your home. We also carry out checks of fire doors in communal areas and corridors.

Like any safety equipment, fire doors need to be in good condition to perform effectively. If a fire door is damaged or altered it may not stop fire and smoke from spreading, which could put lives at risk.

• Flat front doors are checked annually
• Communal fire doors are checked quarterly.

The assessor doesn’t only look at the door itself—every part of it plays a crucial role in performance. They therefore look at:

• The self-closer – this is the mechanism at the top of the door that shuts the door automatically. It’s a vital component of a fire door as it would stop fire, smoke and fumes from going into communal areas, escape routes and other flats in the block,
• The door frame,
• The hinges (there must be a minimum of three),
• The gaps at the side, top and bottom of the door,
• The brushes or seals fitted around the door or frame, which expand when exposed to heat which stops the spread of any smoke, fire or fumes,
• Locks and latches.

It’s a short visual check that should take no more than five minutes.

• If you rent your home, depending on the condition of your front door, we’ll either raise a repair or arrange for it to be replaced.
• If you own your home your lease will clarify if you’re responsible for your front door. If you are, we’ll either explain what repairs are needed or provide you with a specification of the type of fire door you need to have fitted. Whether you need to repair or replace your front door, you’ll need to employ someone qualified to do the work.

You can find out more about fire doors here on the government website.