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Fire doors are often used every day, but they are not always checked as closely as they should be. In busy commercial buildings, schools, healthcare settings, residential blocks and public sector premises, small faults can quickly affect how a fire door performs.
A fire door is designed to slow the spread of fire and smoke, giving people more time to leave the building safely. To do that, every part of the door set needs to work correctly. The frame, seals, hinges, closer, glazing and ironmongery all play a part.
For businesses and property managers across Wales and the wider UK, regular fire door inspection is an important part of fire safety management. It also supports ongoing fire door compliance under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which applies to non-domestic premises in England and Wales.
Why Fire Door Defects Matter
A damaged or badly maintained fire door may look like a minor issue. In a fire, it can become a serious risk.
Fire doors are built to resist fire for a set period, commonly 30 or 60 minutes. Highland Services supplies and installs FD30 and FD60 fire doors across Bridgend, Cardiff, Swansea, Newport and the wider South Wales region.
During a professional inspection, the aim is to confirm that the door can still do its job. A good fire door inspection checklist should look at the full door set, not just the door leaf.
Common Fire Door Defects Found During Inspections
1. Gaps Around the Door Are Too Large
One of the most common issues found during fire door checks is excessive gaps around the top, sides or bottom of the door.
If gaps are too wide, smoke and flames can pass through more easily. This reduces the door’s ability to hold back fire. Gaps may become worse over time due to building movement, wear, poor installation or repeated use.
A trained inspector will check that the door fits correctly within the frame and that clearances are within acceptable limits.
2. Damaged or Missing Intumescent and Smoke Seals
Intumescent seals expand when exposed to heat, helping to close gaps around the door during a fire. Smoke seals help restrict smoke spread.
During inspections, common defects include:
- Missing seals
- Painted-over seals
- Damaged or loose seals
- Seals fitted incorrectly
- Gaps where seals should meet
These parts are easy to overlook, but they are essential to fire door performance.
3. Faulty Door Closers
A fire door should close fully into the frame from any open position. If the closer is weak, damaged or poorly adjusted, the door may stay open or fail to latch.
This is a major issue. A fire door that does not close properly cannot protect an escape route or compartment.
Common closer faults include leaking mechanisms, loose fixings, poor alignment and closers that shut the door too slowly or too forcefully.
4. Doors Being Wedged Open
Fire doors should not be wedged open. This is still one of the simplest and most dangerous defects found in buildings.
In some settings, staff wedge doors open for convenience, ventilation or easier access. This removes the protection the fire door is meant to provide.
If a door needs to remain open for operational reasons, a suitable fire-rated hold-open device connected to the alarm system may be needed.
5. Damaged Hinges or Incorrect Fixings
Hinges carry the weight of the fire door and help keep it in position during a fire. Missing screws, loose hinges or non-fire-rated hinges can affect the integrity of the full door set.
A professional fire door servicing visit should check hinge condition, screw type, alignment and signs of wear.
Heavy use, impact damage and poor maintenance can all lead to hinge defects.
6. Damaged Door Leaves or Frames
Cracks, holes, dents, warping and split timber can all affect performance. Damage around locks, handles and glazing panels is also common.
Frames are just as important as the door itself. If the frame is loose, damaged or poorly fitted, the fire door may not provide the required protection.
Regular fire door maintenance helps identify these issues early, before replacement becomes the only option.
7. Incorrect or Damaged Glazing
Vision panels in fire doors must be fire-rated and installed with the correct glazing system.
Defects may include cracked glass, missing beading, poor seals or non-compliant replacement glass. Any glazing issue should be reviewed by a competent person, as standard glass will not perform like tested fire-rated glazing.
8. Poor Signage
Fire door signs are a small but important part of compliance. Missing, damaged or unclear signs can lead to misuse.
Typical signs include “Fire Door Keep Shut” or “Automatic Fire Door Keep Clear”. The correct sign depends on the door type and how it is used.
How Often Should Fire Door Checks Be Carried Out?
Routine visual checks should form part of normal building management. Higher-risk or high-traffic buildings may need more frequent inspections.
A formal fire door inspection should be carried out by a competent person who understands fire door components, regulations and defects. Guidance from fire and rescue services in Wales also highlights the importance of checking minimum fire door standards in managed properties.
Book a Fire Door Inspection in South Wales
If you are unsure about the condition of your fire doors, book an inspection and speak to an expert. A proper inspection can identify defects, support compliance and help protect the people using your building every day.
