Fire Door Inspection in Tower Hamlets

Under the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, fire doors in the common parts of residential buildings over 11 metres must be checked at least every three months (quarterly). Flat entrance doors that are the responsibility of the building’s responsible person must be checked annually. These are minimum legal frequencies — if your fire risk assessment identifies issues, more frequent checks may be recommended. Buildings below 11 metres are not covered by the quarterly requirement, but the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 still requires fire doors to be maintained in working order.

The inspector checks that each fire door closes fully into its frame under its own power (self-closing device), that intumescent strips and smoke seals are present and undamaged, that glazing is intact and correctly fire-rated, that hinges are secure and not worn, that the door leaf is free of holes or damage, that the gap between the door and frame is no more than 3–4mm, and that the latch engages properly. Any door that fails on any of these points is recorded and a remedial action is recommended with a priority rating.

A fire door check is the routine quarterly or annual inspection required by the 2022 Regulations — it focuses on whether the door is in working order and identifies obvious defects. A fire door survey is a more comprehensive assessment, often carried out by an FDIS-certificated inspector, that examines the door’s certification, installation quality, compatibility of components (ironmongery, seals, glazing), and overall fire performance. A survey is typically recommended when doors are first installed, after significant building works, or when the fire risk assessment calls for a detailed review.

The ‘responsible person’ under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 is responsible. In a block of flats, this is usually the freeholder, building owner, or managing agent. For HMOs, it is the landlord or licence holder. The responsible person can carry out routine checks themselves if they are competent, but many instruct an FDIS-certificated inspector for comprehensive surveys and to ensure defensible records. Flat entrance doors that are owned by individual leaseholders may fall outside the responsible person’s direct control, but the 2022 Regulations give the responsible person a duty to make best efforts to inspect them.

Failed doors must be repaired or replaced as a priority. Minor issues such as missing seals or a faulty self-closer can often be remedied on-site during or shortly after the inspection. Doors with structural damage to the leaf, incorrect certification, or non-fire-rated glazing will typically need full replacement. The inspection report will categorise each defect by risk priority. Failure to act on identified defects could result in enforcement action by the fire and rescue service, including prohibition notices that can restrict the use of the building.

Following the Grenfell Tower tragedy, Tower Hamlets — with its high concentration of tall residential buildings — has been a focus area for fire safety enforcement. The Building Safety Act 2022 applies to many blocks in the borough, and responsible persons face additional obligations around fire risk assessments (including Type 4 assessments for higher-risk buildings), external wall surveys, and fire door checks. The council's enforcement activity in the private rented sector is also among the highest in London. The general legal requirements for fire door inspection apply across England, but London Borough of Tower Hamlets may have additional conditions attached to property licences or local enforcement priorities that affect how the requirements are applied in practice.

Tower Hamlets is one of London's most densely populated boroughs, characterised by high-rise residential blocks, modern apartment towers in Canary Wharf and the Isle of Dogs, Victorian terraces in Bow and Mile End, and a large social housing stock across Bethnal Green, Stepney, and Poplar. Development has been rapid over the past two decades, with thousands of new-build flats added in tall buildings across the borough. The prevalence of high-rise living means fire safety compliance is a particular focus. Common property types that require this service include high-rise residential towers, modern Canary Wharf apartments, Victorian terraces in Bow and Mile End, social housing blocks. The specific requirements depend on the property type, tenure, and how the building is used.