Fire doors save lives by containing fire and smoke, protecting escape routes, and giving people time to evacuate. But when are they legally required? The answer depends on your building type, how it's used, and what your fire risk assessment identifies.
This guide will help you understand when fire doors are needed, what specification is required, and where they must be installed.
What type of building do you have?
Fire door requirements vary by building use and occupancy.
When are fire doors legally required?
Fire doors are required under several pieces of legislation:
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires the responsible person to conduct a fire risk assessment and implement appropriate fire precautions. If the assessment identifies that fire doors are needed to protect escape routes or contain fire, they become a legal requirement.
Building Regulations Approved Document B sets standards for fire doors in new buildings and major refurbishments. These requirements typically carry forward to existing buildings through the Fire Safety Order.
The Fire Safety Act 2021 explicitly extended the Fire Safety Order to flat entrance doors in residential buildings, clarifying landlord responsibilities.
The Housing Act 2004 sets specific fire safety standards for HMOs, including mandatory fire door requirements.
The law doesn't say "you must have a fire door at location X." Instead, it requires you to assess fire risks and implement appropriate measures. In most multi-occupancy or multi-storey buildings, fire doors are the only practical way to meet those requirements.
Understanding fire door ratings: FD30 and FD60
Before we discuss where fire doors are needed, it's important to understand what the ratings mean:
FD30: 30-minute fire door
FD30 doors provide 30 minutes of fire resistance. This is the most common type and is used for:
- Flat entrance doors in residential buildings
- Bedroom doors in HMOs
- Internal doors protecting escape routes
- Doors between different occupancies
- Most commercial building applications
FD30s means an FD30 door with additional smoke seals for enhanced smoke control. This is increasingly preferred, especially for flat entrance doors.
FD60: 60-minute fire door
FD60 doors provide 60 minutes of fire resistance. These are used where higher protection is needed:
- Basement doors
- Plant rooms and high-risk storage areas
- Doors separating buildings
- Some doors in large or complex buildings
- Between high-fire-load areas and escape routes
How to choose the right rating
Your fire risk assessment should specify whether FD30 or FD60 is needed based on:
- Fire load (amount of combustible material)
- Occupancy and evacuation times
- Building height and complexity
- Escape route protection needs
- Building Regulations requirements
When in doubt, FD30s (with smoke seals) is the standard specification for most residential and commercial applications. FD60 is only needed where specifically identified in your fire risk assessment or building regulations approval.
Where fire doors are required
Fire doors are typically needed in the following locations:
Protecting escape routes
Doors to protected stairways — Stairwells are the primary escape route in multi-storey buildings. Any door opening onto a stairway from a corridor, room, or other space must be a fire door to prevent fire and smoke entering the escape route.
Corridor subdivision doors — In longer corridors, fire doors may be required to sub-divide the corridor and limit fire spread along the escape route.
Final exit doors — In some cases, the final exit door from the building needs fire resistance, though this is less common than other locations.
Compartmentation and separation
Between different occupancies — Fire doors separate different uses (e.g., commercial and residential, or different businesses sharing a building).
Flat entrance doors — Doors into individual flats from common areas must be fire doors to compartmentalise each flat as a separate fire-resistant unit.
Between fire compartments — Where a building is divided into fire compartments, doors between them must maintain the compartment's fire resistance rating.
High-risk areas
Plant rooms — Doors to boiler rooms, electrical cupboards, and other high-risk areas need fire resistance.
Kitchens — In HMOs and care settings, kitchen doors often need to be fire-rated to contain the highest-risk room.
Storage areas — Rooms storing significant combustible materials may require fire doors.
Meter cupboards — Cupboards containing gas or electrical meters often need fire-rated doors.
Specific room types
Bedrooms — In HMOs, care homes, hotels, and other sleeping accommodation, bedroom doors typically need fire resistance.
Communal spaces — Living rooms, day rooms, and other communal areas may need fire doors depending on the layout and fire strategy.
The specific fire door requirements for your building depend on its design, use, and fire risk assessment. The above are common applications, but your assessment may identify additional locations or confirm that fewer doors are needed in your specific circumstances.
Residential buildings and flats
Blocks of flats have specific fire door requirements, strengthened by the Fire Safety Act 2021.
Flat entrance doors
Every flat entrance door opening from a flat into a common area (hallway, corridor, lobby) must be a fire door. The standard requirement is:
- Minimum FD30 rating
- FD30s preferred (with smoke seals)
- Must be self-closing
- Properly maintained with intact seals
Why this matters: Most flat blocks operate on a "stay put" policy — if there's a fire in one flat, residents in other flats should remain in their own flats unless the fire is in their flat or smoke enters common areas. This only works if flat entrance doors effectively compartmentalise each flat.
Post-Fire Safety Act 2021 requirements
The Fire Safety Act 2021 made it explicit that:
- Flat entrance doors are part of the building's fire precautions
- The responsible person (landlord, freeholder, managing agent) must ensure they meet required standards
- Flat entrance doors must be included in fire risk assessments
- Regular inspection and maintenance is required
After Grenfell Tower, flat entrance doors are a major enforcement focus. If you own or manage a block of flats, you must verify that all flat entrance doors are certified fire doors in good condition. Non-compliant doors must be replaced.
Who is responsible?
Landlords/freeholders are responsible for ensuring flat entrance doors meet required standards, even though the door is technically part of the tenant's flat. This is because the door protects the common escape route.
Check your lease for specific provisions, but enforcement practice now clearly places responsibility on the landlord/building owner.
Doors to stairwells and common areas
In addition to flat entrance doors:
- Doors to stairwells from corridors or lobbies must be fire doors
- Doors to refuse stores or other high-risk areas must be fire-rated
- Doors between different sections of the building may need fire resistance
Inspection and maintenance in flats
Establish a regime for checking flat entrance doors:
- Annual professional inspection recommended
- Check after tenant changeovers — doors often damaged during moves
- Visual checks during routine building inspections
- Respond promptly to reported defects
£1.2m spent replacing non-compliant flat entrance doors
A local authority housing provider discovered during a post-Grenfell fire safety assessment that the majority of flat entrance doors in their 15-storey block were not certified fire doors. Many had been replaced over the years with standard doors, or were original doors that had deteriorated beyond acceptable standards.
- ✗No records of flat entrance door specifications or certifications
- ✗Doors replaced reactively without ensuring fire rating maintained
- ✗No inspection regime for flat entrance doors
- ✗Self-closers on many doors removed or broken
- ✗Gaps around doors exceeded 3mm in numerous locations
All 120 flat entrance doors were replaced with certified FD30s fire doors over a 6-month period at a cost of £1.2m including project management, decanting some residents temporarily, and making good. An ongoing inspection and maintenance programme was established.
Flat entrance doors are not 'tenant responsibility' — the building owner must ensure they meet standards. Failing to maintain or specify fire doors correctly creates both immediate life-safety risks and massive remediation costs when eventually addressed.
HMOs (Houses in Multiple Occupation)
HMOs have the most stringent fire door requirements of any residential property type.
What is an HMO?
A property is an HMO if three or more people live there who form more than one household, and they share facilities (kitchen, bathroom, or toilet).
Fire door requirements in HMOs
Fire doors are required on:
All bedroom doors opening onto an escape route (which is almost all bedrooms in typical HMOs)
Kitchen doors — to contain fire in the highest-risk room
Living room doors in some configurations
Doors to stairways protecting the escape route
Doors to storage or utility rooms containing high fire risk items
Specification for HMO fire doors
- FD30 rating minimum
- Intumescent strips properly fitted
- Smoke seals (often combined with intumescent strips)
- Self-closing device — must close fully and latch from any open position
- Correct gaps — maximum 3mm around top and sides
- Proper latch — minimum 12mm engagement
Self-closers in HMOs are not optional
The most common deficiency in HMO fire door inspections is missing or non-functional self-closers:
- Closers removed because "tenants don't like them"
- Doors wedged open during the day
- Closers present but not adjusted correctly
This is not negotiable. If a fire door is required, it must have a working self-closing device. A fire door that doesn't close provides zero protection.
HMO licensing conditions
If your HMO requires a licence (mandatory licensing for 5+ people in 3+ storeys, plus many additional and selective licensing schemes), the licence conditions will specify fire safety requirements including fire doors.
Operating an HMO with non-compliant fire doors can result in:
- Refusal or revocation of HMO licence
- Prosecution with fines up to £30,000
- Prohibition orders preventing occupation
- Rent repayment orders
- Banning orders preventing you letting property
When purchasing or taking over management of an HMO, commission a fire door survey. Many older HMOs have standard doors where fire doors should be. Replacing all doors in a 5-bed HMO can cost £3,000-6,000, which materially affects the investment return.
Commercial and workplace premises
Fire doors in commercial premises are required based on the fire risk assessment.
When fire doors are typically needed
Multi-storey buildings — Doors to stairwells protecting vertical escape routes
Long corridors — Subdivision doors to limit fire spread along escape routes
High-occupancy areas — Protecting areas where large numbers of people work or visit
High-risk areas — Plant rooms, storage areas, kitchens
Between different businesses — Separating different occupancies in shared buildings
Protected lobbies — Doors into and out of protected lobbies
When fire doors might not be needed
Small single-storey buildings with adequate direct escape to outside may not need fire doors
Low-risk premises with simple layouts and short travel distances
Domestic premises — single-family homes not used for business purposes
However, even these premises should be assessed. The fire risk assessment determines what's needed.
Office buildings
Typical fire door requirements:
- Doors to stairwells: FD30 minimum
- Doors to plant rooms: FD30 or FD60
- Doors between floors (if not via stairwell): FD30
- Corridor subdivision doors (if required): FD30
- Kitchen doors (if identified in risk assessment): FD30
Retail and hospitality
In shops, restaurants, pubs, and similar premises:
- Doors to escape stairs: FD30 minimum
- Doors separating customer areas from back-of-house: Often FD30
- Doors to kitchens: Often FD30 (definitely if kitchen is high-risk)
- Doors to storage areas: Based on fire load
- Final exit doors: Usually not fire-rated, but must be easily openable
Warehouses and industrial premises
Fire door requirements depend on compartmentation strategy:
- Large open warehouses may have few fire doors
- Multi-occupancy industrial estates need fire doors between units
- Offices within warehouses need separation from the warehouse
- High-risk processes may require enhanced protection
For commercial premises, fire doors are not always required. But if your fire risk assessment identifies that fire doors are necessary to protect escape routes or contain fire, they become a legal requirement under the Fire Safety Order.
Care homes, hotels, and sleeping accommodation
Buildings where people sleep have the highest fire safety standards because occupants are most vulnerable when asleep.
Care homes and hospitals
Bedroom doors — Typically must be FD30s (fire and smoke rated)
Day room and lounge doors — Usually FD30
Doors to treatment or therapy rooms — Often FD30
Kitchen doors — FD30 minimum
Doors to protected escape routes — FD30 minimum
Utility and storage rooms — Based on fire risk
In care homes, the fire strategy often involves horizontal evacuation (moving residents to another compartment) rather than immediate full evacuation. This relies entirely on effective compartmentation and fire doors.
Hotels, B&Bs, and guest accommodation
Bedroom doors — Must be fire doors, typically FD30 or FD30s
Doors to stairwells — FD30 minimum
Doors between different floors or sections — Based on compartmentation strategy
Service areas (kitchens, laundries, stores) — FD30 typically
Guest lounges and dining rooms — Often require fire doors depending on layout
Student accommodation
Treated similarly to hotels or HMOs depending on configuration:
- Self-contained student flats: flat entrance doors must be FD30s
- Shared houses/corridors: bedroom doors typically FD30
- Doors to stairwells and escape routes: FD30 minimum
- Communal kitchens: fire doors usually required
Staff sleeping accommodation
If staff sleep on premises (live-in carers, hotel staff, caretakers):
- Their accommodation must meet the same standards as guest accommodation
- Cannot be lower standard just because it's "staff"
The vulnerability of sleeping occupants means fire door deficiencies in care homes and sleeping accommodation are treated very seriously by enforcement. Regular professional inspection and immediate remediation of defects is essential.
Self-closing requirements
A fire door is only effective when it's closed. Self-closing devices are therefore critical.
When must fire doors be self-closing?
Fire doors on escape routes or protecting compartmentation must be self-closing:
- Doors to protected stairways
- Corridor subdivision doors
- Flat entrance doors
- Bedroom doors in HMOs
- Kitchen doors in HMOs and care settings
- Doors between fire compartments
Types of self-closing devices
Overhead door closers:
- Most reliable and adjustable
- Can control closing speed and latching force
- Visible but highly effective
- Require periodic adjustment and occasional replacement
Concealed door closers:
- Hidden in the door or frame
- Neater appearance
- Harder to maintain and adjust
- Generally more expensive
Rising butt hinges:
- Special hinges that cause the door to self-close
- Neat solution for lightweight doors
- Less reliable than overhead closers
- Not suitable for heavy doors or high-traffic areas
When can fire doors be held open?
Fire doors should never be propped or wedged open unless they have an automatic hold-open device linked to the fire alarm system.
Automatic hold-open devices:
- Hold the door open using an electromagnet or similar mechanism
- Release automatically when the fire alarm sounds
- Allow operational convenience without compromising safety
- Must be tested regularly to ensure they release correctly
Common illegal practices:
- Wedging fire doors open with fire extinguishers (ironic and dangerous)
- Using door stops or hooks
- Removing self-closers "because tenants complained"
- Disconnecting automatic release mechanisms
Propping fire doors open is one of the most common fire safety failings. It's also one that directly contributes to fire deaths. Never compromise on this — if doors need to be held open operationally, invest in proper hold-open devices linked to the alarm.
Fire door inspection and maintenance requirements
Fire doors must be regularly inspected and maintained to remain effective.
Inspection frequency
Daily/weekly visual checks (by building users or facilities staff):
- Is the door closing fully and latching?
- Is anything wedged or propped open?
- Any obvious damage?
Monthly checks (by responsible person or competent facilities team):
- Check self-closers are functioning
- Check gaps around doors are acceptable (3mm test)
- Check seals are intact
- Check hinges are secure
- Check latches engage properly
Six-monthly to annual professional inspection:
- Comprehensive inspection by a qualified fire door inspector
- Particularly important for high-risk premises (care homes, HMOs, high-rise)
- Should include all fire doors in the building
- Results documented and action plan created for any defects
Common defects requiring immediate attention
- Door doesn't close or latch — adjust or replace closer, fix binding issues
- Self-closer missing or broken — replace immediately
- Gaps too large — adjust hinges, repack frame, or replace door if warped
- Intumescent strips missing or damaged — replace strips
- Door propped open — remove wedge, install hold-open device if needed
- Holes drilled through door — assess if repair is possible or door needs replacement
- Non-fire-rated glass fitted — replace with certified fire-resistant glazing
Record keeping
Maintain records of:
- Fire door inspection dates and findings
- Defects identified and remediation completed
- Certification for fire doors (from installation or purchase)
- Maintenance work carried out
- Replacement doors installed
These records demonstrate compliance and are essential evidence if enforcement action is taken or in the event of an incident.
Fire door signage requirements
Fire doors on escape routes must be clearly identified with appropriate signage.
When signs are required
"Fire door keep shut":
- Required on self-closing fire doors on escape routes
- Must be clearly visible on both sides
- Usually self-adhesive or screw-fixed to door face
"Fire door keep locked shut":
- For fire doors that are normally kept locked
- Ensures they're not left open when accessed temporarily
"Automatic fire door keep clear":
- For doors with hold-open devices
- Warns not to obstruct the door's closing path
Sign specifications
- Must be visible in both directions (both sides of the door)
- Should not obscure vision panels
- Must be durable (not handwritten notes)
- Should comply with BS 5499 standard for safety signs
Fire door signs are not expensive (typically £2-5 each) and are a legal requirement for fire doors on escape routes. Their absence is a common finding in fire safety inspections — easily remedied but an unnecessary failing.
New builds vs existing buildings
Fire door requirements differ slightly between new construction and existing buildings.
New buildings and major refurbishments
Building Regulations Approved Document B specifies fire door requirements:
- Standards are prescriptive and detailed
- Building Control sign-off requires compliant fire doors
- Certification and testing evidence required
- Higher standards often apply than in existing buildings
Common requirements in new builds:
- All flat entrance doors: FD30s minimum
- Stairwell doors in multi-storey: FD30 minimum
- Between different uses: FD30 or FD60 based on separation requirements
- Basement and plant rooms: Often FD60
Existing buildings
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies:
- Standards based on fire risk assessment, not prescriptive rules
- Must achieve "equivalent safety" to modern standards
- Enforcement based on risk, not technical non-compliance with latest standards
- However, flat entrance doors now explicitly covered (Fire Safety Act 2021)
Practical approach:
- If the building had fire doors originally, they must be maintained
- If fire risk assessment identifies need for fire doors, they must be installed
- Deteriorated fire doors must be replaced
- Modifications to building may trigger requirement for upgraded fire protection
You cannot escape fire door requirements just because your building is old. If fire doors are necessary to protect escape routes or compartmentalise the building, they must be provided regardless of building age.
Costs of fire door compliance
Budget for fire door compliance as part of your building's operating costs.
Purchase and installation costs
Fire doors (supply only):
- Basic FD30 fire door (blank): £150-300
- FD30s fire door with glazing: £300-500
- FD60 fire door: £350-600
- Custom sizes or high specification: £500-1,000+
Installation costs:
- Hanging fire door in existing frame: £150-300
- New door and frame installation: £400-700 per door
- Adjustments to frame and architrave: Variable
Complete installation (typical):
- FD30 door supply and fit: £500-800 per door
- Large project (multiple doors): May achieve £400-600 per door
Fire door hardware
- Overhead door closer: £50-150 (plus fitting)
- Intumescent strips and smoke seals: £20-50 per door
- Fire-rated letter plates: £30-80
- Fire-rated door viewers: £20-40
- Hinges (set of 3): £15-40
Inspection and maintenance
- Professional fire door survey (10-20 doors): £300-600
- Annual inspection service: £200-500 depending on number of doors
- Maintenance/adjustment per door: £50-150
Total costs for typical scenarios
5-bed HMO needing all fire doors replaced:
- 6 bedroom doors, 1 kitchen door, 1 stairwell door
- Total: £4,000-6,500 including installation
10-flat block needing all flat entrance doors replaced:
- 10 flat entrance doors plus communal doors
- Total: £6,000-10,000 including installation
Commercial building fire door upgrade:
- Highly variable based on size and requirements
- Typically £10,000-50,000+ for significant upgrades
Certified vs Non-Certified Fire Doors
Non-Certified 'Fire Door'
- •No proof of fire testing
- •May look like a fire door but not certified
- •Cheaper initial purchase (£80-150)
- •Unknown actual fire resistance
- •May not meet legal requirements
- •Could invalidate insurance
- •Enforcement risk if inspected
Certified Fire Door
Recommended- •Tested to BS 476 or equivalent
- •Certification label/plug present
- •Higher cost (£150-300+) but proven performance
- •Meets regulatory requirements
- •Accepted by fire inspectors
- •Maintains insurance validity
- •Protects lives and limits liability
Bottom line: Always specify certified fire doors. The modest extra cost is insignificant compared to the consequences of a door failing in a fire, the legal and insurance risks, and the cost of replacing non-compliant doors when enforcement action is taken.
What if I can't afford fire doors?
Fire safety compliance is not optional, but there are options if cost is a barrier:
For landlords
- Factor into rental yield — if the property can't support fire safety costs, it may not be viable to let
- Phased compliance — prioritise highest-risk doors first (escape routes, flat entrance doors)
- Negotiate with enforcement — if you're actively working toward compliance, some flexibility may be available
- Consider property disposal — if compliance costs are prohibitive
For leaseholders and residents
- Check lease obligations — freeholder may be responsible
- Statutory rights — some circumstances allow for enforced action
- Grants and loans — some local authorities offer assistance for fire safety works
- Building Safety Fund — may cover some costs in residential buildings with cladding issues
For businesses
- Business interruption risk — failing to comply can result in prohibition orders closing your premises
- Consider compliance as critical infrastructure — like insurance or utilities, not optional
- Operational changes — can you reduce requirements by changing layout or use?
"I can't afford fire doors" is not a legal defense and will not prevent enforcement action. If fire doors are required to protect escape routes or lives, they must be provided. Factor these costs into your property or business model.
How to verify if existing doors are fire doors
If you've purchased or taken over a building, you need to know if existing doors are fire doors:
Check for certification labels
Look for a certification plug or label:
- Location: Usually top edge of the door (visible when door is open)
- Information: Manufacturer, fire rating (FD30, FD60), certificate number
- Schemes: CERTIFIRE, FIRAS, Warrington, BM TRADA, and others
If the label is missing, the door cannot be verified as a fire door.
Check for fire door components
Even without a label, look for:
- Intumescent strips in grooves in door edge or frame
- Smoke seals (often combined with intumescent strips)
- Self-closing device present
- Minimum 3 hinges (fire doors are heavier, need more support)
- Substantial weight and thickness (fire doors are heavier than standard doors)
These indicators suggest it may be a fire door, but without certification you cannot rely on it.
What if doors aren't certified?
If you cannot verify that a door is a certified fire door:
- Commission a fire risk assessment — identify which doors need to be fire doors
- Replace non-certified doors where fire doors are required
- Keep records of replacement doors and certification
- Update your fire risk assessment once compliant
When purchasing a property (especially flats, HMOs, or commercial buildings), commission a fire door survey as part of due diligence. Replacing all doors in a building can cost tens of thousands of pounds — you need to know this liability before completion.
Fire doors and building insurance
Insurance implications of fire door compliance:
Disclosure requirements
Insurers increasingly ask about fire safety measures:
- "Do you have a current fire risk assessment?"
- "Are all required fire doors in place and maintained?"
- "Have any enforcement notices been issued?"
Failing to disclose fire door deficiencies could invalidate your insurance.
Impact of non-compliance
If a fire occurs and fire doors were required but:
- Not present
- Not maintained
- Propped open at the time of the fire
Your insurer may refuse the claim or reduce settlement.
Evidence of compliance
Maintain evidence for insurers:
- Fire risk assessment documenting fire door requirements
- Certificates for fire doors installed
- Inspection records showing regular maintenance
- Photos of fire doors in good condition
This demonstrates you took reasonable precautions and maintained fire safety measures.
Frequently asked questions
For most existing single-family homes occupied by one household, fire doors are not legally required. However, Building Regulations for new builds or significant renovations do require fire doors protecting escape routes (typically doors to rooms leading off hallways containing stairs). If you operate a business from home, rent out rooms, or have HMO-like occupation, requirements change.
The flat entrance door from each flat into common areas must be a fire door (minimum FD30, preferably FD30s). This is a legal requirement under the Fire Safety Order as amended by the Fire Safety Act 2021. Doors within the flat itself typically don't need to be fire doors unless specified in the building's fire strategy.
FD30 provides 30 minutes of fire resistance. FD30s provides 30 minutes of fire resistance plus smoke seals for enhanced smoke control. The 's' suffix indicates the door is designed to restrict cold smoke passage as well as fire. FD30s is generally preferred, especially for flat entrance doors.
Yes, if the fire door is on an escape route or protecting compartmentation. The only exception is if a door has an automatic hold-open device linked to the fire alarm, which releases the door when the alarm sounds. Simply propping doors open defeats their purpose entirely.
No. You cannot reliably upgrade a standard door to achieve fire resistance. Fire doors have specific core materials, construction methods, and must be tested and certified as complete assemblies. The only solution is to replace non-fire doors with certified fire doors where they're required.
For a typical 5-bed HMO needing all bedroom doors, kitchen door, and stairwell door replaced, expect £4,000-6,500 including supply and installation. Costs vary based on door specifications, existing frame condition, and whether frames need replacing.
The landlord, freeholder, or managing agent is responsible for ensuring flat entrance doors meet required fire standards, even though the door is part of the tenant's flat. This is because the door protects the common escape route. Check your lease for specific provisions.
Visual checks should be done regularly (daily or weekly in high-traffic areas). More thorough inspections should be monthly, with professional fire door surveys every 6-12 months depending on building type and risk level. Your fire risk assessment should specify an appropriate inspection regime.
Enforcement consequences include: enforcement notices requiring installation within a specified time, prohibition notices preventing use of the premises, unlimited fines, up to 2 years imprisonment for serious breaches, and potential corporate manslaughter charges if failures lead to death.
Yes, but only with fire-resistant glazing certified to the same rating as the door. Glass panels are typically limited in size (often maximum 25% of door area). Standard glass is not acceptable — it will shatter in fire, creating an opening for flames and smoke.
Fire doors on escape routes must have 'Fire door keep shut' signs (or similar) visible on both sides. This is a legal requirement under Building Regulations. The signs remind people not to prop doors open and help identify fire doors for inspection and maintenance.
Yes, you can paint fire doors with standard paint, but avoid painting over intumescent strips, smoke seals, or certification labels. Thick paint build-up can affect the door's operation and seal performance. Use thin coats and don't seal the gap between door and frame with paint.
Next steps
If you're responsible for a building where fire doors may be required:
- Commission a fire risk assessment — this will identify exactly where fire doors are needed for your specific building
- Survey existing doors — verify which doors are certified fire doors and which need replacement
- Prioritise high-risk areas — flat entrance doors, escape routes, and HMO bedrooms should be addressed first
- Establish inspection and maintenance regime — regular checks ensure fire doors remain effective
- Budget for compliance — include fire door costs in your operational budget
- Keep records — document assessments, inspections, and any remedial work
Not sure whether you need fire doors or which specification is required? A qualified fire risk assessor can assess your building, identify all fire door requirements, and provide a clear specification and action plan.
Related articles:
- What is a Fire Door? — comprehensive guide to fire door components and maintenance
- Fire Safety in HMOs — detailed HMO fire safety requirements
- What is Compartmentation? — understand how fire doors fit into overall compartmentation strategy
- Do I need a fire risk assessment? — determine your fire risk assessment requirements
Useful tools:
This article provides general guidance on fire door requirements under UK law. It is not legal advice. Fire door requirements vary based on specific circumstances, building type, and fire risk assessment findings. Always consult with a qualified fire risk assessor for advice specific to your building.