This guide and tool provide a focused fire door inspection checklist to help Irish building owners, managers, and responsible persons get an initial assessment of these critical assets before arranging the recommended six-monthly inspections by certified professionals such as Firestoppers.
Our checklist tool allows property managers to run through a comprehensive fire door inspection checklist and export detailed reports to PDF format. This tool is NOT an official inspection tool and professional audits must ALWAYS be conducted by accredited companies such as Firestoppers. This tool serves as a preliminary guide for property managers to identify potential issues and determine when to contact certified professionals – it is not a substitute for official inspections.
The Shocking Reality: Why Most Fire Doors Are Failing
The statistics paint a concerning picture of fire door compliance across buildings:
Failure Rates Are Staggering: Research shows that 75% of inspected fire doors fail to meet safety standards – meaning three out of every four fire doors in your building could be putting lives at risk.
Installation Problems From Day One: Nearly a third (31%) are installed incorrectly from the outset, creating safety vulnerabilities before they’re even put into service.
The Propping Epidemic: A massive 80% of office workers identify propped-open fire doors as a major issue, completely negating their life-saving function during an emergency.
Widespread Damage: Over half (57%) suffer from damaged glazing, while 43% have missing or faulty hardware that prevents proper operation.
These aren’t just statistics – they represent genuine threats to the safety of everyone in your building. This is precisely why our inspection tool is so valuable for property managers: it helps you spot these common problems before they become life-threatening emergencies.
Your Legal Obligations in Ireland
Under Irish legislation, particularly the Fire Services Act 1981 & 2003 and Building Control Regulations, maintaining fire safety measures isn’t optional – it’s the law. For fire doors specifically:
Advised Six-Monthly Professional Inspections: It is strongly advised that a fire door inspection be carried out every 3-6 months by certified professionals like Firestoppers.
Documentation Requirements: These inspections must be properly documented, this is especially important as this documentation can be demanded by insurance companies.
Immediate Action Required: When issues are identified, you have a legal duty to address them promptly.
Our tool helps you stay on top of these requirements by providing regular monitoring between official inspections and clear documentation of when professional intervention is needed.
How Our Inspection Tool Protects Your Building
While certified professionals like Firestoppers conduct the six-monthly inspections, our tool enables building management to catch critical issues early through regular interim checks. The tool guides you through essential inspection areas:
Certification & Identification Checks
- Verification of certification marks (BWF-Certifire, BM TRADA Q-Mark)
- Confirmation of proper signage (“Fire Door Keep Shut” or “Fire Door Keep Locked Shut”)
Critical Gap & Seal Assessment
- Consistent Gap Measurement: Ensures gaps between door and frame remain around 3mm (thickness of a €1 coin) – gaps larger than 4mm compromise fire protection
- Intumescent Seal Inspection: Verifies these crucial seals are present, intact, and not painted over
- Smoke Seal Verification: Checks cold smoke seals (brushes or fins) that prevent smoke spread
Operational Performance Testing
- Self-Closing Function: Confirms doors close properly from any position, including when only slightly ajar
- Latch Engagement: Ensures full, secure latching without sticking
- Hold-Open Device Testing: Verifies electromagnetic devices release when fire alarms sound
Hardware & Structural Integrity
- Hinge Assessment: Confirms all hinges (minimum three) are present, secure, and damage-free
- Hardware Functionality: Tests locks, latches, and handles for proper operation
- Door and Frame Condition: Identifies cracks, holes, warping, or structural damage
Fire-Rated Glazing Verification
- Certification Confirmation: Verifies fire-rated glass certification marks
- Integrity Assessment: Checks for cracks, breaks, or damaged glazing beads
When to Contact Firestoppers: Clear Action Triggers
Our tool doesn’t just identify problems – it tells you exactly when professional intervention is required. You should contact Firestoppers immediately when the tool identifies:
- Any gaps exceeding 4mm around the door perimeter
- Damaged, missing, or painted-over intumescent seals
- Doors that don’t self-close or latch properly
- Missing or damaged certification labels
- Cracked or non-certified glazing
- Compromised door or frame integrity
- Any hardware malfunction
Althought the tool is a useful guide, it should not replace the recommended 6 month professional checks.
The Cost of Non-Compliance
Failing to maintain fire doors properly can result in:
- Legal Action: Improvement or Prohibition Notices from Local Authority Fire Services
- Financial Penalties: Prosecution and substantial fines
- Insurance Issues: Invalidated coverage when you need it most
- Ultimate Consequence: Increased risk of injury or fatality in a fire emergency
Take Control of Your Fire Safety Today
Our inspection tool empowers you to maintain continuous oversight of your fire doors between recommended professional inspections. Use it to:
- Conduct Regular Monitoring: Perform systematic checks using our comprehensive checklist
- Generate Professional Reports: Export detailed PDF reports for your records
- Identify Issues Early: Catch problems before they become safety hazards
- Know When to Act: Get clear guidance on when to contact Firestoppers
- Maintain Compliance: Keep proper documentation for legal and insurance requirements
Don’t let a faulty fire door become the weak link in your fire safety strategy. Use our tool as your first line of defense, but remember – when issues are identified, contact certified professionals like Firestoppers immediately for official inspection and remediation.
Your building’s safety depends on both vigilant monitoring AND professional expertise. Our tool provides the monitoring – Firestoppers provides the expertise.
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: This checklist tool is provided for guidance purposes only and does not constitute an official fire door inspection or certification. All fire door inspections must be carried out by qualified, accredited professionals in accordance with Irish fire safety regulations. Property owners and managers remain fully responsible for ensuring compliance with all legal requirements, including recommended professional inspections every six months. This tool should only be used as a preliminary assessment to help identify when professional inspection services are needed. Firestoppers and other certified fire safety companies provide the official inspections and certifications required by law. Use of this tool does not guarantee compliance with fire safety standards or legal obligations.
