Beyond the Fire Door Survey: From Identifying Defects to Completing Corrective Works

Fire door surveys and corrective works are essential parts of an effective fire door management programme.

Fire door inspections play an important role in protecting buildings and the people who use them. However, identifying a defect is only the beginning. Effective fire door management also requires accurate records, appropriate prioritisation and corrective work completed by competent specialists.

What happens after a defect is identified matters just as much.

Under the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, responsible persons for multi occupied residential buildings in England exceeding 11 metres in height must undertake:

• Quarterly checks of fire doors in communal areas
• Annual checks of flat entrance doors on a best endeavours basis

These requirements have applied since 23 January 2023. They are intended to ensure that doors designed to restrict the spread of fire and smoke remain effective throughout their working life.

The required frequency may now be widely understood, but the quality of inspections, the accuracy of records and the response to identified defects can still vary considerably.

A checklist alone is not enough

A fire door is a complete assembly. Its ability to perform depends on the condition and compatibility of several components, including:

• The door leaf and frame
• Intumescent strips and smoke seals
• Hinges and fixings
• The self closing device
• Glazing and glazing systems
• Locks, latches and other ironmongery
• Gaps around the door leaf
• Signage
• The surrounding structure and installation

Damage, alterations, missing components or excessive gaps may affect how the door performs during a fire.

Routine checks can help identify visible deterioration. However, concerns that could affect the fire resistance or performance of the door should be assessed by a competent fire door specialist.

Combining fire door surveys and corrective works creates a clearer route from identifying defects to completing and recording the necessary action.

Creating a reliable digital record

Legionella & Fire Safe Services uses Onetrace when undertaking fire door surveys and inspections.

Our approach to fire door surveys and corrective works is supported by detailed digital reporting through Onetrace.

This allows information to be recorded against each individual door while the surveyor is on site. Depending on the agreed scope, the record can include:

• The precise location of the door
• Photographic evidence
• Details of the door and its components
• Defects identified during the inspection
• Recommended corrective action
• The current status of each door
• Evidence of completed works

For organisations responsible for multiple buildings or large numbers of doors, this creates a much clearer and more manageable record than paper based inspections or disconnected spreadsheets.

It also provides the traceability needed to demonstrate what was inspected, what was found and what action followed.

From inspection to corrective action

Identifying a defect does not, by itself, remove the risk.

LFS provides fire door surveys and corrective works for housing providers, local authorities and facilities managers across the UK and can support the complete process, from the initial survey through to the necessary corrective works. Depending on the condition of the door, the available evidence and the survey findings, this may include:

• Adjusting or replacing self closing devices
• Replacing damaged or missing seals
• Correcting unsuitable gaps where an appropriate repair is possible
• Repairing or replacing defective ironmongery
• Completing suitable fire door repairs
• Replacing doors or complete doorsets where necessary
• Updating the digital record with evidence of completed work

Any corrective work must be appropriate to the particular door assembly and supported by the available certification and manufacturer information. Not every damaged fire door can or should be repaired.

Where replacement is required, the new doorset must be correctly specified and installed to provide the required level of protection.

Maintaining the golden thread

Accurate records should not end when the survey report is issued.

Where corrective work is required, property and facilities teams should be able to follow the journey from the original defect through to the completed action. This means being able to establish:

• Which door was affected
• What defect was identified
• How the required action was prioritised
• What work was completed
• Who completed and reviewed the work
• What evidence is available
• Whether any further inspection or monitoring is required

By using Onetrace across the inspection and corrective works process, LFS can help clients maintain a clear, accessible history for their fire door assets.

“A fire door inspection should lead to action, not simply another report sitting in a folder. Our use of Onetrace gives clients a clear digital record of each door, the defects identified and the corrective work required.

“Because LFS can also carry out the necessary repairs or replacements, we can support the whole process from inspection through to completion, with clear evidence at every stage.”

Danielle Bayliss, Managing Director of Legionella & Fire Safe Services

Fire door surveys and corrective works from one experienced team

Managing separate surveyors, contractors, reports and completion records can make fire door programmes difficult to control.

LFS provides a joined up service covering fire door surveys, inspections, corrective works, replacement and digital reporting.

This gives clients one experienced team to support the process from the first inspection through to the completion and recording of the required work.

For housing providers, local authorities, facilities managers and responsible persons, this means the survey becomes the beginning of an effective fire door maintenance programme, rather than simply another report to manage.

Speak to LFS

To discuss fire door surveys, inspections, corrective works or a wider fire door management programme, contact Legionella & Fire Safe Services.

0800 080 3045
info@legionellaandfiresafe.co.uk
legionellaandfiresafe.co.uk