“There are approximately 50,000 house fires each year in the UK”

Specialists in Fire Safety

We are a Health & Safety Consultancy specialising in Fire Safety, our aim is to offer a cost effective, professional, skilled and swift response to all health and safety problems.

What Is A Fire Door Survey?

Fire doors are a crucial component of passive fire protection in almost all buildings. They safeguard escape routes and high-risk areas by containing the spread of fire. Due to wear and tear or misuse, these doors require regular inspections to ensure their functionality. Fire door inspections help identify necessary repairs and maintenance to minimize fire spread, providing occupants with extra time to escape. An effective inspection program includes routine visual checks and comprehensive surveys conducted by qualified professionals.

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Why Are Fire Door Surveys Important?

Fire doors prevent the spread of smoke and flames during a fire, working in tandem with fire-resisting compartmentation to section off buildings. This protection is mandated by Building Regulations and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 in England and Wales, as well as corresponding legislation in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Fire doors protect escape routes, high-risk areas, and valuable assets, reducing potential losses and enhancing occupant safety.

The Responsible Person must ensure a thorough fire risk assessment is conducted, typically including a review of existing fire doors. However, these assessments may not cover all doors extensively. Sampling may reveal significant issues like improperly fitting doors, missing intumescent seals, or visible damage, indicating the need for a more detailed inspection.

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What Does A Fire Door Inspection Include?

 

Our non-destructive, non-intrusive surveys cover:

  • Comprehensive Visual Inspection:
  • Fire-resisting qualities of door hinges and hardware
  • Condition, fitting, and operation of hinges and hardware
  • Fire door signage review
  • Condition and operation of hold-open devices
  • Fire door closing devices’ effectiveness
  • Relevant markings (e.g., British Woodworking Federation fire rating)
  • Operation of locks and latches
  • Vision panels and glazing inspection for suitability
  • Cold smoke seals inspection
  • Intumescent strips inspection
  • Fire-resisting qualities assessment, including door thickness
  • Gaps between leaf and frame, including threshold suitability
  • Visual inspection of door frame and leaf
  • Review of materials used in door installation
  • Action Plan:
  • Locations of defects
  • Photographic evidence
  • Suggested remedial actions

Salvum’s thorough inspections ensure your fire doors meet safety standards, providing peace of mind and compliance with fire safety regulations.

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How Can Salvum Help?

Salvum’s expert fire door inspectors perform comprehensive, non-destructive surveys, providing detailed reports on the condition of fire doors.

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Fire door surveys have become a legal requirement in the UK due to changes in fire safety legislation aimed at improving building safety and reducing fire-related risks. This shift follows high-profile incidents, such as the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017, which highlighted serious deficiencies in fire safety measures in many buildings. The Fire Safety Act 2021 and the Building Safety Act 2022 introduced stricter rules, focusing on ensuring that fire doors are properly installed, maintained, and inspected. Fire doors play a critical role in preventing the spread of fire and smoke, allowing occupants more time to evacuate safely and reducing the risk of structural damage.

As part of this legislation, building owners, landlords, and responsible persons must conduct regular fire door surveys to assess the condition and functionality of fire doors. This includes checking for defects like damaged seals, improper fitting, or any other issues that could compromise the fire door’s effectiveness. Failure to comply can result in fines or prosecution, underscoring the seriousness of this requirement. Regular surveys ensure that fire doors meet the necessary safety standards, safeguarding occupants and property alike.

The requirement to conduct fire door surveys applies to a wide range of buildings, particularly those over 11 metres in height. This includes multi-occupancy residential buildings, such as apartment blocks, and any building with communal areas. The “responsible person,” typically the building owner, landlord, or property manager, is accountable under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 to ensure that regular fire door inspections are conducted as part of their fire risk management duties.

For buildings over 11 metres, the legislation mandates quarterly inspections of fire doors in communal areas like stairwells and corridors, while doors to individual flats must be inspected annually. In buildings under 11 metres, both communal fire doors and flat entrance doors are required to be inspected at least once a year. These inspections are vital for identifying any damage or wear that could reduce the fire door’s effectiveness in containing fire and smoke, helping to safeguard occupants and reduce fire-related risks.

How does Salvum work?

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How we are different?

Other companies
High Prices
With us, you pay a fixed fee with nothing to pay until the report is ready to be sent.
Beware of inexperienced and rogue surveyors
Beware of inexperienced and rogue surveyors
Sole trader
Full-time office staff (Monday-Friday 9am-5pm)
Not qualified
P402 Qualified staff (Asbestos Surveying Qualification)NEBOSH Qualified staff (Fire Risk Assessor Qualification) NEBOSH Qualified staff (Health & Safety Qualification)
Not members of any relevant associations/accreditations or memberships
BAFE SP205 Certified for Fire Risk Assessing.
Not insured
Fully insured for Professional Indemnity, Public Liability, Employers Liability
No method statements or risk assessments putting you at risk
Method Statement and Risk Assessments provided on all surveyors/assessments
No experience within the industry
Directors have over 30 years combined business experience
Reports being produced 2-4 weeks after the survey
Report completed within 2-3 working days
Sub contract surveyors/assessors
Full-time employed surveyors/assessors
 
 
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FAQs

We’ve been asked may questions but here’s a few…

What is a fire door survey?

A fire door survey is a detailed inspection conducted by a qualified professional to assess the condition and functionality of fire doors in a building. The survey checks whether fire doors are correctly installed, maintained, and compliant with fire safety regulations, ensuring they can effectively prevent the spread of fire and smoke.

Why are fire door surveys required by law?

Fire door surveys are required by law to improve fire safety in buildings, following tragic incidents like the Grenfell Tower fire. UK fire safety legislation, including the Fire Safety Act 2021 and Building Safety Act 2022, mandates regular inspections to ensure fire doors meet safety standards and protect occupants during a fire.

Which buildings need fire door surveys?

Fire door surveys are required in all buildings with multiple occupancy, such as apartment blocks, commercial properties, and public buildings like hospitals and schools. Buildings over 11 metres in height are subject to stricter rules, including more frequent inspections.

How often should fire doors be inspected?

The frequency of fire door inspections depends on the building’s height. In buildings over 11 metres, fire doors in communal areas must be inspected every quarter, while flat entrance doors should be inspected annually. In buildings under 11 metres, all fire doors should be inspected at least once a year.

Does Salvum hold Insurance?

Yes we do. We hold Professional Indemnity Insurance which safe guards our advice. We also hold Public Liability Insurance and Employers Liability Insurance as standard. Our certificate is available upon request.

Who is responsible for arranging fire door surveys?

The “responsible person” under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 is accountable for arranging fire door surveys. This could be the building owner, landlord, property manager, or another person responsible for fire safety within the building.

What happens during a fire door survey?

During a fire door survey, a qualified inspector checks the door’s condition, fit, seals, hinges, and other components to ensure it functions properly in case of fire. They will look for signs of wear, damage, or faults that could compromise the door’s fire-resistance capabilities.

Are you a member of any associations?

Yes we are. We are BAFE SP205 Certified for Fire Risk Assessing.

What are the consequences of not complying with fire door regulations?

Failure to comply with fire door survey requirements can lead to serious consequences, including fines, legal action, and prosecution. More importantly, neglecting fire door maintenance increases the risk of fire spreading, endangering the lives of occupants and causing greater property damage.

Can I conduct a fire door survey myself?

Fire door surveys should be conducted by a qualified professional with expertise in fire safety and knowledge of current fire door regulations. While responsible persons can perform visual checks, a comprehensive survey requires specialist training to ensure compliance with legal requirements.

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