Fire door inspection
A fire door only works if it closes fully, latches and seals. Inspection checks the leaf, frame, gaps, seals, hinges, closer and any glass on each door, and records what needs fixing. In blocks of flats in England over 11 metres, communal fire doors must be checked every three months and flat entrance doors every year under the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022.
Published guide prices run from £10 to £30 a door for a basic visual check up to £35 to £80 or more for a detailed survey with photos and a remedial schedule, often with a minimum visit fee.
- Sheet
- PF-04
- Subject
- Fire door inspection
- Scope
- England, Scotland, Wales
- Prices read
- November 2026
PF-04.1
When you need fire doors inspected
- You manage a block of flats over 11 metres in England and need quarterly and annual checks.
- Your fire risk assessment has flagged doors that do not close or have gaps.
- Doors have been damaged, wedged open or fitted with new locks or letterboxes.
- You do not know whether your doors are real fire doors at all.
- You need a door-by-door schedule to plan and budget repairs or replacements.
- An insurer, lender or buyer has asked for evidence.
PF-04.2
What fire door inspection costs
| Item | Published figure |
|---|---|
| Basic visual check Per door, the quick check between surveys | £10 to £30 a door |
| Inspection with a written report Per door, structured checklist and report | £25 to £65 a door |
| Detailed survey, photos and remedial schedule Per door, with photos and a schedule of fixes | £35 to £80+ a door |
| Minimum visit fee on small sites Often charged when there are only a few doors | £200 to £800+ |
Where these figures come from
Per-door figures are typical ranges from published UK contractor price guides, autumn 2026. A guide, not a quote; assume prices exclude VAT unless your quote says otherwise. Try the estimator in the passive fire protection cost guide.
PF-04.3
What a fire door inspection checks
The parts of the job that decide whether it holds up in a fire.
Certification
A label or plug on the door or frame showing its rating and maker. Without one, the inspector can only say whether the door appears to be a fire door.
Gaps
The gaps around the leaf, measured. Guidance commonly looks for about 3 mm at the sides and top, and an under-door gap kept small unless the door was tested otherwise.
Seals
Intumescent strips and smoke seals present, unpainted and undamaged.
Closer and latch
The door closes fully and latches from any angle, without slamming or sticking.
Hinges and hardware
Enough hinges, all screws present, and locks, letterboxes and spyholes that are fire rated.
Glass and damage
Fire-rated glazing with its beads intact, and no holes, splits or alterations to the leaf or frame.
Have doors to check this quarter? Tell us the building and number of doors and get an inspection booked.
Find a contractorPF-04.4
How a fire door inspection runs
Count the doors
List communal and flat entrance doors, risers and plant room doors, so the price is based on real numbers.
Book access
Communal doors need no access; flat entrance doors need residents to be in. Keep a record of every attempt.
Inspect
Each door checked against a set list and photographed, with defects recorded.
Report and fix
A door-by-door schedule ranked by risk, which you can use to price repairs or replacements.
PF-04.5
Questions people ask
How often do fire doors need to be inspected?
In England, in blocks of flats with a storey over 11 metres, the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 require communal fire doors to be checked at least every three months and flat entrance doors at least every 12 months, on a best endeavours basis. Other buildings should follow their fire risk assessment; six-monthly checks are a common minimum. More in our bulletin on inspection frequency.
Who can inspect fire doors?
The law asks for a competent person rather than a named qualification. Many inspectors hold a fire door inspection qualification or work for a firm with third-party certification. Ask what they hold and check it.
What happens if a resident will not give access?
For flat entrance doors the duty is best endeavours. Write to residents, offer more than one date and keep a record of every attempt, as the government fact sheet advises.
Does a fire door inspection include repairs?
Usually not. You get a report; small fixes such as adjusting a closer may be done on the day if agreed. Larger repairs and replacements are quoted separately.
Do I need to inspect doors in a building under 11 metres?
The 2022 quarterly and annual checks do not apply below 11 metres, but the general duty to keep fire precautions in good repair still does, and the regulations still require residents to be given fire door information.
What does it cost to inspect one door?
Published guide prices run from £10 for a basic visual check to £80 or more for a detailed survey, per door, and small jobs often carry a minimum fee of £200 or more.
Find a fire door inspector
Three short steps: where the building is, what the job is, and how to reach you. It takes about two minutes.
This is a free matching service, not a passive fire protection contractor. We find one who covers your area and name them to you first. Nobody contacts you until you say yes.
Thanks, your enquiry is in.
- Within one working day we will email or call to tell you which passive fire protection contractor covers your area.
- Your details reach that firm only if you say yes.
- They look at the site and give you a fixed price. No marketing from us, ever.