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Three-quarters of fire doors fail inspections
Neil Gerrard Associate editor
Fire doors in healthcare and local authority buildings were among the highest reported to have failed inspections (Image: Dreamstime)
Three-quarters of fire doors failed inspections in the UK, prompting a warning of a “tragedy waiting to happen”.
The figure, from the Fire Door Inspection Scheme’s (FDIS), is based on more than 100,000 fire door inspections carried out by its inspectors in 2021.
These inspections found that 75% of fire doors failed to meet the required standards. The most common reasons for inspection failure were: excessive gaps between the door and the frame (77%); care and maintenance issues (54%); and issues over smoke sealing (37%). In almost a third (31%) of cases, inspections failed due to improper installation.
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Buildings that had the highest number of fire door inspection failures included healthcare, local authority and housing association buildings, as well as private housing.
Meanwhile, 77% of FDIS inspectors have seen an increase in demand for fire door inspections since the introduction of the Building Safety Act.
‘Tragedy waiting to happen’
Louise Halton, FDIS scheme manager, said “With the vast majority of fire doors in the UK failing inspections, it’s sad to say that a tragedy is simply waiting to happen. This is especially so in buildings that are home to vulnerable residents. But this situation is entirely preventable and, at this stage, still reversible. A fit-for-purpose fire door can save lives.
“Now is the time for all of those responsible for fire safety to urgently inspect fire doors in their buildings. Act immediately if faults are identified.
“It’s crucial that reputable and trained fire door inspectors, such as those approved by the FDIS, carry out fire door inspections. However, the ongoing reporting of maintenance issues with fire doors is a role for us all – every building user should play a proactive role in reporting any faults to ensure they are quickly addressed so that the building’s safety is maintained.”
The November/December 2025 issue of Construction Management magazine is now available to read in digital format.
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