Fire Door Maintenance Requirements for Commercial Buildings

Commercial buildings are always at risk of a fire, especially if they are hospitality or dining environments.

In such buildings, fire doors are a critical element and help prevent fire and smoke from spreading.

To keep your doors working properly, understanding fire door maintenance requirements for commercial buildings is essential.

At Yeoman Shield, we have been helping provide fire door maintenance for commercial buildings for around four decades, and using all the knowledge and experience we have to ensure your building is safe and compliant with fire safety regulations.

Click here, call 0113 279 5854 or email info@yeomanshield.comfrom anywhere in the UK to speak to our team of specialists.

Legal Responsibilities for Commercial Buildings

Under the Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order 2005 and Fire Safety England Regulations 2022, the responsible person must ensure fire doors are inspected and maintained.

This may include:

• Fire door inspection programmes
• Fire risk assessment reviews
• Fire door surveys
• Recording maintenance activities
• Addressing defects promptly

Building owners, facilities or property managers, and in-house maintenance teams all play an important role in ensuring compliance. 

In fact, having more than one person in charge of checking the fire doors is the smartest way to keep them compliant and working properly.

Fire Door Maintenance Checklist

So, what exactly do you need to check for during the fire door maintenance process?

Here’s a look at the fire door maintenance checklist to ensure you are doing everything correctly, so as not to make a major error:

• Door Leaf and Frame: the most common damage tends to happen to the door frame and leaf, which might just be cosmetic, but needs checking to be sure. Note any damage, warping, cracks, or signs of impact, especially in high-traffic areas.
• Intumescent and Smoke Seals: These seals are what keep smoke at bay for long enough to get people out of the building. They must be completely intact.
• Self-Closing Device: the fire door has to close by itself, and if it doesn’t, it needs an immediate repair. Also, sometimes, when the door shuts, it feels jammed, which is equally bad.
• Door Edge and Hardware: have a look at the door edge, hinges, locks, handles, and other components to ensure the fire-rated assembly remains in good repair.

Every single component of the fire door needs to be in good condition for it to work in tandem with the others to protect escape routes.

 The ideal way to ensure your fire doors work effectively is by inspecting the doors regularly and keeping track of any abnormalities and issues that are spotted, and maintenance that has taken place. 

How often you inspect is determined by the size of the commercial building and how busy it gets.

Why Fire Door Maintenance Matters

The answer to the question regarding why fire door maintenance matters is that it can save lives. Keeping your fire doors in good working order is no different to an MOT for your car or repairing a broken shelf. The longer you let something wear, the more likely it is to fail at the worst time.

So, fire doors are only effective if they are properly maintained. Damage, wear, or poor installation can affect a door’s ability to provide adequate protection during a fire.

Regular fire door maintenance helps:

• Maintain fire resistance
• Protect escape routes
• Support fire safety measures
• Ensure fire doors remain compliant
• Preserve door performance

It is vital to do the correct checks and repairs where necessary so that your fire doors fully close, do not get stuck, and remain in an efficient state. The last thing you need in the case of a fire is to worry about how much trust you can put in your main line of defence against a blaze.

Professional Fire Door Management

At Yeoman Shield, we have been providing professional fire door management to help building and property managers stay compliant with evolving regulations.

With around 40 years of knowledge in the industry, we can help the person responsible, such as the facilities manager, with fire door surveys, maintenance guidance, fire safety information, and compliance solutions designed to protect both people and property.

Click here or call 0113 279 5854 to consult with our fire door specialists at Yeoman Shield and get help from a trusted partner who knows what fire door maintenance requirements for commercial buildings are all about!

Our Address: 

Yeoman Shield (Harrison Thompson & Co Ltd)

Yeoman House,
Whitehall Industrial Estate,
Whitehall Rd,
Leeds
LS12 5JB

01132795854