Fire door inspections in Reading and Berkshire
A fire door inspection checks each door's leaf, frame, gaps, seals, self-closing device, hinges, glazing and signage. Regulation 10 of the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 requires quarterly checks of communal fire doors and yearly best-endeavours checks of flat entrance doors in residential buildings over 11 metres. Garrison FM inspects fire doors in Reading, Berkshire, Oxfordshire and London.
What the inspector checks on each door
- Door leaf condition: damage, holes, splits and unauthorised alterations
- Frame and fixing to the wall, including gaps around the frame
- Gaps between leaf and frame, and at the threshold
- Intumescent strips and smoke seals: present, continuous and undamaged
- Self-closing device: closes the door fully into the frame from any angle
- Hinges: number, condition and missing or loose screws
- Glazing and vision panels: condition, beads and glass type where marked
- Locks, latches and other ironmongery
- Signage, such as "Fire door, keep shut" on communal doors
- Certification labels or plugs, where visible
What you receive
- A record for each door: location, condition, pass or fail on each check, and the action needed
- A summary of doors needing work, ordered by priority
- A record you can use as evidence of the regulation 10 checks
Scope limits
- The inspection is visual and non-destructive.
- We do not certify, label or repair doors. We say what needs to change and by when.
- Flat entrance doors are checked from the common parts unless residents give access.
How often fire doors must be checked
Fire door check frequencies for flats in England are set by regulation 10 of the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, in force since 23 January 2023. Height is measured to the top storey.
| Building | Communal fire doors | Flat entrance doors | Resident information |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 or more flats, 11 metres or under | No fixed frequency in the regulations | No fixed frequency in the regulations | Required under regulation 10 |
| 2 or more flats, over 11 metres | Check at least every 3 months | Best endeavours to check at least every 12 months | Required under regulation 10 |
Below 11 metres, the fire risk assessment for the block should still consider fire doors and set a frequency for checks. Read the full guide to fire door inspection requirements.
Price
A Garrison FM fire door inspection costs £30 per door ex VAT, with a minimum charge of £250 per visit. Each door in scope gets its own record. Tell us the number of communal doors and flat entrance doors when you enquire and we confirm the fixed price.
| Example | Price, ex VAT |
|---|---|
| HMO with 6 fire doors | £250 |
| Block with 4 communal doors and 8 flats | £360 |
| Block with 10 communal doors and 24 flats | £1020 |
Fire door inspection
£30 per door
Ex VAT. Minimum charge £250 per visit.
Questions about fire door inspections
How often should fire doors be inspected in a block of flats?
In residential buildings over 11 metres, regulation 10 requires communal fire doors to be checked at least every 3 months and flat entrance doors, on a best-endeavours basis, at least every 12 months. Below 11 metres there is no fixed frequency in the regulations, but the fire risk assessment should consider fire doors and set checks.
What do I need to tell residents about fire doors?
In any building with 2 or more flats and common parts, regulation 10 requires the responsible person to tell residents that fire doors should be kept shut when not in use, that residents should not tamper with self-closing devices, and that they should report any fault or damage straight away.
How much does a fire door inspection cost?
Garrison FM charges £30 per door ex VAT, with a minimum charge of £250 per visit. A block with 6 communal doors and 12 flat entrance doors, 18 doors in all, costs £540 ex VAT. Tell us the number of communal and flat entrance doors when you enquire and we confirm the fixed price.
Is a fire door inspection the same as a fire risk assessment?
A fire risk assessment looks at the whole building and includes a sample of fire doors. A fire door inspection records every door in scope, in more detail, and gives you evidence of the regulation 10 checks. Many blocks need both.
Book a fire door inspection
£30 per door ex VAT, minimum £250. Tell us the postcode, the building height and the number of communal and flat entrance doors. We reply with a fixed price and a visit date.