Fire Door Inspections: Preparing for Compliance and Safety

Fire doors play an essential role in fire protection by containing smoke and flames, allowing more time for evacuation, and reducing property damage. But simply installing fire doors isn’t enough—they must be regularly inspected and properly maintained to ensure they function as intended in an emergency.

How to Prepare for a Fire Door Inspection

Fire door inspections have to be done in accordance with NFP80 standards.   Before an inspection takes place, a building owner should take proactive steps to streamline the process:

Key Preparation Steps:

• Make an Inventory of all Fire Doors. Before our fire door inspector gets to the site, we ask the facility manager to take a proper inventory of the doors and have somebody in place that knows the location. This ensures we can move efficiently and access each door without delays. If your building’s, ‘Life Safety Code’ document is available, having it on hand will be especially helpful! 
• Assign a Knowledgeable Staff Member: A facility technician or maintenance manager who understands the building layout should be available to assist inspectors. This person should also be familiar with how fire doors operate and where they are located.  If no one is available that day, it is important to be able to provide the inspector with the necessary master keys or card readers to allow the inspector to move through the building with ease.
• Ensure Access to Electrical Breakers: In case a door needs to be reset or diagnosed for power-related issues, access to the building’s breaker system should be arranged in advance. We often need to reset a door through the breaker system, so knowing where they are located and ensuring they are accessible makes the process much smoother.
• Keep the Inspection Areas Clear: The most common issue affecting fire door compliance is obstructions. Potted plants in hallways are the biggest culprit, we often find them blocking a fire door. Fire doors must be able to close without interference. 

Ensuring Fire Doors Meet Compliance Standards Before an Inspection

The best way to avoid inspection failures is to maintain fire doors throughout the year. One of the most crucial steps is keeping the area around fire doors clear. Since many fire doors, particularly sliding models, remain out of sight most of the time, facility staff often forget they are there until an inspection reveals a problem.

Fire doors are designed to close automatically when triggered by a fire alarm or smoke detector. However, if an obstruction prevents full closure, the door fails its primary function. A Won-Door fire door will stop if something is in the way, to avoid hurting a person. However, under fire code, the door must close when triggered. So the fire door will gradually apply more force to push an obstruction out of the way. Ensuring paths remain clear at all times is one of the simplest ways to maintain compliance. 

Common Issues That Lead to Fire Door Inspection Failures

Fire doors fail inspections for several reasons, most of which can be prevented with routine checks:

• Obstructions: As mentioned before, furniture, decorations, or storage items may be the door. Fire doors must remain unobstructed to function correctly.
• Inadequate Clearance: Gaps around the door exceeding fire code requirements. A fire door inspector will check that doors fully close and seal properly. Gaps larger than the allowed threshold compromise the door’s ability to contain fire and smoke.
• Missing or Illegible Labels: Fire-rated labels may not be visible or even completely removed. Fire doors must have clear, legible labels indicating their fire rating. If labels are worn off or painted over, the door may be considered non-compliant.
• Damaged Components: Issues with hinges, latches, seals, or automatic closing devices. If any component of a fire rated door fails the annual fire door inspection, the entire door is non-compliant and must be repaired or replaced.
• Electrical Malfunctions: Power-related failures preventing proper door operation. Fire doors with electronic components require periodic testing to ensure they deploy as expected in an emergency. There have been cases where a building cut power to a door years ago without realizing it. If a fire had occurred, that door wouldn’t have worked. Regular inspections catch these issues before they become serious hazards.

By addressing these issues ahead of time, facility managers can ensure a smooth inspection process and maintain compliance with NFPA 80 standards.

How to Organize Maintenance Logs and Documentation

Fire door inspectors don’t just evaluate physical condition—they also require thorough documentation. Facilities must maintain inspection records for a minimum of three years to comply with NFPA 80 regulations of the National Fire Protection Association.

At Door Services Corporation, a part of Door Services Corporation, a copy of the inspection report is provided to the client, and an additional copy is retained for internal records. If a new facility manager comes in and doesn’t know the inspection history, then it will be available on file if these steps are taken.  This ensures continuity in compliance, even when there’s staff turnover.

Fire Doors Require Minimal Maintenance but Maximum Attention

Unlike other fire protection systems that require frequent servicing, fire door maintenance requirements are minimal. Fire doors by Won-Door Corporation are out of the way, so they don’t suffer from daily wear and tear like swing doors do, but that also means people forget they exist. 

Here are the important points facility managers need to keep in mind:

• Conduct regular visual checks to ensure doors are unobstructed. This routine inspection will prevent the most common problems.
• Schedule an annual inspection to verify compliance. Regular inspections ensure fire doors will function properly in an emergency. Fire doors require minimal maintenance, but they do need an annual inspection to be compliant and ensure everything is working properly.
• Avoid modifications that could compromise fire ratings. Fire doors are designed to meet specific safety standards, and any unauthorized alterations—such as drilling holes for new hardware—can render them non-compliant. Facility managers should ensure doors remain in their original certified condition to maintain their fire rating.

Cost Considerations: Are Fire Doors Worth the Investment?

One concern for facility managers is the cost of fire-rated doors compared to standard doors. While fire doors can have a higher upfront cost, their long-term benefits outweigh the investment. Fire doors by Won-Door offer a range of solutions, including the FireGuard Slim, which provides a cost-effective alternative to swing doors. For smaller openings, the pricing of Won-Door can be competitive, and maintenance costs are lower over time.

For larger spaces requiring fire protection, Won-Door horizontal accordion sliding fire doors can span widths of up to 100 feet and heights of nearly 40 feet. In these cases, swing doors are not a viable alternative. When comparing similar products, Won-Door pricing is competitive, and in many cases, has a lower total cost of ownership due to reduced maintenance needs.

Final Thoughts

Fire door inspections are not just about compliance; they are a crucial part of a building’s fire safety strategy. By preparing ahead of time, keeping records organized, and addressing potential failures before an inspection, facility managers can ensure their fire doors perform as intended when needed most.

If your fire doors haven’t been inspected recently, now is the time to take action. Schedule a Fire Door Inspection Service Today and ensure your building remains compliant and protected.

 

FAQ

1. How often should fire doors be inspected?

​Fire doors should be inspected at least once a year by a certified fire door inspector to ensure compliance with fire safety regulations. Additionally, regular monthly visual checks should be performed by facility managers to spot any obvious damage or obstructions.

2. What are the most common reasons fire doors fail an inspection?

Fire doors often fail inspections due to:

• Obstructions blocking the door
• Gaps that are too large or too small
• Missing or damaged fire-rated seals
• Non-compliant hardware or modifications
• Doors being wedged open in violation of fire code regulations

3. What should facility managers do to prepare for a fire door inspection?

Facility managers should:

• Take inventory of all fire doors in the building
• Ensure access to all doors and electrical panels
• Assign a knowledgeable staff member to assist inspectors
• Check for common issues like obstructions, missing labels, or faulty latches

4. Can a fire door be propped open legally?

Fire doors must never be propped open unless they are equipped with an approved hold-open device that automatically releases when a fire alarm is triggered. Using wedges, chairs, or other objects to hold a fire door open is a fire code violation and can lead to compliance failures.

5. What happens if a facility fails a fire door inspection?

If a facility fails a fire door inspection, the inspector will provide a detailed report outlining necessary corrective actions. Depending on the severity of the issues, the facility may be required to:

• Repair or replace damaged fire doors
• Install compliant hardware and seals
• Remove unauthorized modifications
• Failure to address these issues in a timely manner can result in fines, legal liabilities, or increased insurance costs.