Fire doors
Fire Door Inspection Checklist: Monthly and Annual Checks, Common Failures and Records
Fire door inspection checklist: monthly and annual checks, common failures such as wedged doors and removed closers, safe repairs and inspection records.
Safety Plus technical team · Updated · 8 min read
Why fire doors fail in real buildings
Fire doors rarely fail because of how they were made. They fail because of how buildings are used. A stair door that is in the way of trolleys gets wedged open. A closer that slams gets its arm unhooked. A lost key leads to a padlock. A painter covers the smoke seal. Each change seems small; together they mean the door will not stop smoke on the day it is needed.
Inspection is not paperwork for its own sake. It finds these changes early, while they are cheap to fix, and it produces records that show authorities, buyers and insurers that the building is managed.
In RMG and textile factories, fire doors on stairs and storage areas are a frequent focus of safety inspections. The same discipline applies to hospitals, warehouses and commercial buildings. Combine fire door checks with the rest of your equipment checks using the RMG factory fire safety equipment checklist.
Quick daily or weekly walk-through checks
These take seconds per door and can be done by security, floor supervisors or safety committee members during rounds:
- Door is closed, or held open only by an alarm-released magnetic holder.
- Nothing wedges, ties or blocks the door: no chocks, ropes, hooks, stacked cartons or fire extinguishers against the leaf.
- The path on both sides is clear.
- The door closes and latches on its own when released from fully open.
- No padlocks, chains or bolts on escape doors.
- "Fire door — keep shut" signage is in place.
Anything wrong is reported the same day. A wedged stair door should be corrected on the spot, and the reason it was wedged should be solved so it does not happen again.
Monthly inspection checklist
A trained member of the facility or maintenance team should inspect every fire door monthly and record the result.
| Check | What good looks like | Common fault |
|---|---|---|
| Self-closing | Door closes fully from any open position | Closer arm disconnected or closer leaking oil |
| Latching | Latch engages positively every time | Strike misaligned; latch taped back |
| Panic device | Bar retracts latch easily with one push | Bar stiff, damaged or bypassed |
| Hinges | All screws present and tight; no sagging | Missing screws; leaf drags on floor |
| Gaps | Even gaps around leaf; no light visible at edges | Uneven gaps from sagging or frame damage |
| Seals | Continuous, undamaged, not painted over | Torn, missing or painted seals |
| Vision glass | Intact, firmly beaded | Cracked or replaced with ordinary glass |
| Leaf and frame | No holes, dents that affect closing, or rust through | Holes from removed fittings; impact damage |
| Labels | Rating labels on leaf and frame visible | Labels painted over or removed |
| Magnetic holder | Releases on test or alarm | Holder not wired to alarm |
Gaps deserve special attention. NFPA 80 sets maximum clearances for fire door assemblies; for steel doors, edge gaps of around 3 mm and bottom gaps of up to around 19 mm are the figures commonly cited. Confirm the limits that apply to your doors from the manufacturer's instructions and the edition of the standard your project follows.
Annual inspection and functional testing
NFPA 80, commonly specified for fire door installation and maintenance, calls for fire door assemblies to be inspected and tested at least annually by a person with knowledge of the doors and their hardware, with written records. Even where your project follows a different standard, an annual competent inspection is good practice.
An annual inspection should go further than the monthly check:
- Confirm each door matches its label and the door schedule: rating, size and type.
- Operate the door through its full range and check closing and latching speeds; adjust closers.
- Check hinge wear and fixings, frame anchorage and the seal between frame and wall.
- Inspect for unauthorised modifications: new holes, added locks, enlarged glass, cut-down leaves, added kick plates.
- Test hold-open release together with the fire alarm system.
- Check pairs close in sequence and the astragal overlaps correctly.
- Record every defect, the action required and the deadline.
For buildings with many doors, it helps to schedule the annual inspection alongside fire alarm and emergency exit lighting tests.
Common failures and how to fix them
| Failure | Why it matters | Correct fix |
|---|---|---|
| Door wedged or tied open | Door cannot close in a fire | Remove wedge; install alarm-released magnetic holder if the door must stay open |
| Closer removed or disconnected | Door will not close itself | Refit or replace with a listed closer sized for the leaf |
| Latch not engaging | Fire pressure can push the door open | Realign strike; repair or replace with rated latch |
| Seals painted over or torn | Smoke passes around the leaf | Replace with the manufacturer's specified seal |
| Gaps too large | Smoke and flame path | Adjust hinges; repair frame; consult manufacturer |
| Holes from removed fittings | Breaches the leaf | Fill only by a method approved by the manufacturer |
| Ordinary glass in vision panel | Glass fails early in a fire | Replace with the correct fire-rated glass from the manufacturer |
| Padlock or bolt on escape door | People may be trapped | Remove immediately; fit fire exit hardware |
| Non-rated lock or hinge fitted | Assembly no longer as tested | Replace with listed hardware |
Most of these failures come from a real operational need: ventilation, trolley movement, security. Solve the need properly — with a hold-open device, a different door position or an access control solution approved for fire doors — or the fault will come back.
What you can and cannot repair on site
Routine maintenance such as tightening screws, adjusting closers, lubricating hinges and replacing seals with the specified type can usually be done by trained staff.
Do not do these on site without the manufacturer's approval:
- Cutting or trimming the leaf or frame.
- Enlarging or adding vision panels or louvres.
- Drilling new holes for locks, signs or access control.
- Replacing glass with anything other than the specified fire-rated glass.
- Changing hinges, closers or exit devices for non-listed parts.
If a door is badly damaged, replacement is often cheaper and safer than repair. As the manufacturer of its doors, Safety Plus can supply matching replacement hardware or new doors to the original size; contact us through the request a quote page.
Record keeping: a simple fire door log
Give every fire door a unique ID (for example, "B-3F-ST2-01" for building B, third floor, stair 2, door 1), mark it on the floor plan, and keep a log like this:
| Field | Example |
|---|---|
| Door ID and location | B-3F-ST2-01, stair 2 landing, 3rd floor |
| Rating and type | 120 min, single leaf, rock wool core |
| Manufacturer and label number | As on leaf label |
| Inspection date and type | Monthly / annual |
| Inspector | Name and role |
| Findings | Closer slow to latch; seal torn at head |
| Action and deadline | Adjust closer; replace seal within 7 days |
| Date closed and by whom | Date, name |
Keep the log with the original door schedule, test evidence and hardware data sheets. These records also support your wider compliance file; see the BNBC 2020 fire safety overview for context. For replacement doors and hardware, see fire rated doors and fire door hardware.
Frequently asked questions
How often should fire doors be inspected?
A practical routine is quick walk-through checks daily or weekly, a recorded monthly inspection, and an annual inspection and test by a competent person, which NFPA 80 commonly requires.
Can a fire door be kept open during working hours?
Only with an alarm-released hold-open device, such as a magnetic door holder, that lets the closer shut the door when the alarm sounds or power fails. Wedges and hooks are never acceptable.
What gap is acceptable around a fire door?
Follow the manufacturer's instructions and the standard your project uses. For steel doors under NFPA 80, edge gaps of around 3 mm and bottom gaps of up to around 19 mm are commonly cited limits.
Who should carry out the annual fire door inspection?
A person with knowledge of fire door assemblies and their hardware, such as a trained facility engineer, the door manufacturer's technician or a fire safety consultant. The inspection should be documented.
Can we drill a fire door to fit an access control lock?
Not without the manufacturer's approval and suitable listed hardware. Unapproved holes can void the rating.
Sources
Get a quotation
Name, phone and what you need is enough — we will call you back.