Fire Door Services across London, Surrey & South East

A fire door is one of the most important passive fire protection measures designed specifically to resist fire and smoke for a set amount of time.

Surrey Fire & Safety provides fire door installation, inspection, and maintenance for commercial, residential, and industrial buildings across London, Surrey, and the South East.

Most people walk through fire doors dozens of times a day without a second thought. That’s by design — but it also means faults go unnoticed, and a door that looks fine may not perform when it matters.

Every single component matters for the optimal fire door performance.

Our qualified specialists cover everything from initial installation through to ongoing compliance inspections and remediation works.

Our Fire Door Services

We provide a complete fire door service — from initial installation through to ongoing inspections, maintenance, and repairs.

Use the links below to see full details on what is involved, what the legal requirements are, and what you can expect from us for each service in our offer.

What Is a Fire Door?

A fire door is a certified door assembly that is designed and tested to resist the spread of fire and smoke for a defined period of time — typically 30 or 60 minutes, though 90 and 120-minute ratings exist for higher-risk locations.

The key word is assembly. A fire door is not just a door leaf. It is the complete combination of the leaf, the frame, the intumescent seals, the cold smoke seals, the self-closing device, the hinges, and any glazing — all tested together as a system.

If a single component is compromised – so is the certified performance.

As a part of a broader fire compartmentation strategy, fire doors serve several critical functions simultaneously:

• Containing fire
• Keeping escape routes clear of smoke
• Maintaining fire compartmentation
• Supporting firefighting operations

Fire doors work in combination with fire stopping, cavity barriers, and fire-resistant walls and floors to contain a fire long enough for safe evacuation.

A fire door must:

• Close by itself
• Have intumescent (expanding) seals
• Be correctly installed
• Be kept free from damage
• Never be wedged open

Our experts cover all of the above, making sure you’re protected, safe – and fully compliant.

How Do Fire Doors Work?

In normal use, a fire door behaves like any other door. The difference becomes clear as soon as the fire breaks out.

1. Intumescent Seals Activate – As heat rises, the seals around the door leaf expand, closing gaps and preventing fire from passing through.
2. Smoke Seals Work Continuously – Cold smoke seals block smoke at normal temperatures, stopping it from spreading before fire even reaches the door.
3. Self-Closing Device Ensures Protection – The door automatically returns to the closed and latched position after every use. A door that is propped open or fails to close fully offers no fire protection.

Fire Door Ratings

Fire door ratings indicate how long the complete assembly has been tested to resist fire under controlled conditions.

The correct rating for any given location is determined by the building’s fire strategy, layout, and use.

Most residential buildings, like social housing, and standard commercial premises like offices require FD30S doors as a minimum.

If you are unsure what rating is required in your building, our installation and inspection teams verify that every door carries the appropriate rating for where it is fitted — not just that a door is present.

Fire Door Types – Internal Fire Doors vs External Fire Doors

The fire door installation and fire door maintenance requirements for both internal and external options are consistent.

Quick-Reference Guide to Fire Door Components

A fire door assembly is only as strong as its weakest component.

The table below sets out every element that must be present, what it does, and how it most commonly fails.

Our installation and inspection teams check every one of these on every door.

Visit our dedicated Fire Door Inspection page to learn more about what our inspectors check and why to book a free consultation.

Fire Door Regulations

Fire door regulations in the UK are primarily governed by Building Regulations Approved Document B, which sets out the requirements for fire door placement, performance, and specification in new and refurbished buildings.

For buildings already in use, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requires the responsible person to maintain fire safety measures — including fire doors — in effective working order. This means regular inspection and prompt remediation of any defects found.

The Fire Safety Act 2021 and Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 introduced specific additional requirements for multi-occupied residential buildings:

• Quarterly checks of all fire doors in common areas for buildings over 11 metres
• Annual checks of every flat entrance door leading onto a common area
• Written records of all inspections, available for audit by the fire authority
• Prompt remediation of any defect identified — waiting for the next scheduled inspection is not sufficient if a problem has been reported

Failure to comply can result in enforcement notices, significant fines, or criminal prosecution.

The responsible person — whether that is a landlord, housing association, employer, or facilities manager — carries personal liability for compliance.

To comply with UK regulations, a fire door must:

✔ Be the correct fire rating (FD30 / FD60)
✔ Have fully functioning self-closer
✔ Have 3 fire-rated hinges
✔ Have no more than 3mm gaps around edges
✔ Have 8–10mm gap at the bottom (depending on type)
✔ Have intumescent and smoke seals
✔ Have correct signage
✔ Be kept closed, not wedged open
✔ Be installed and certified by competent persons

Which British Standards Apply to Fire Doors?

• BS 8214 — Timber-Based Fire Door Assemblies
  Guidance on correct installation, maintenance, and use of fire doors.
• BS 476 (Parts 20 & 22) — Fire Resistance Testing
  Tests how long a fire door resists fire:
  • BS 476-20: general fire resistance testing
  • BS 476-22: testing door and shutter assemblies
    Most older UK fire doors were tested under this standard.
• BS EN 1634-1 — Modern Fire Door Testing
  European/UK standard for fire resistance of door sets; most new fire doors are tested to this.
• BS 9999 — Fire Safety in Design & Management
  Provides guidance on fire door use in buildings, including signage, function, and escape routes.
• Approved Document B — Building Regulations
  Legal requirements for fire door placement and performance in new and refurbished buildings.

Fire Doors by Building Type

The fire door requirements for your building depend on who occupies it, how it is used, and what the regulations say about buildings of that type.

Here is a brief overview of the three sectors we most commonly serve:

Each sector has its own dedicated page covering the specific PFP requirements in full — see social housing, care homes, and offices.

Fire Door Services with Surrey Fire & Safety

• Qualified fire door specialists — not generalists. Fire doors are a specific discipline, where every single detail matters.
• BAFE accredited and FIA affiliated — independently verified, not self-assessed.
• 25+ years of experience across commercial, residential, and industrial buildings.
• Full service — supply, installation, inspection, maintenance, repairs and more; all under one roof.
• Clear, actionable reports — photographic evidence, condition ratings, and prioritised recommendations.
• Honest advice — we tell you what can be remediated and what needs replacing, and explain why.
• Fast, reliable service across Surrey, London, and the South East.

Fire Door Services – Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a fire door inspection or a full survey?

An inspection checks doors against their existing specification and flags defects. A survey goes further – establishing what rating each door should be for its location in the first place, which is the right starting point if your building hasn’t had its fire doors formally assessed before, or if you’re not confident the original specification was correct.

How often does a fire door need to be inspected?

For multi-occupied residential buildings over 11 metres, the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 require quarterly checks of fire doors in common areas and annual checks of flat entrance doors. Other building types should follow the frequency set out in their fire risk assessment, which varies by occupancy and risk level.

Who is responsible for fire door compliance in my building?

The “responsible person” under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 – typically the landlord, employer, housing association, or facilities manager with control of the premises – carries personal liability for keeping fire doors in effective working order. This responsibility cannot be delegated away simply by appointing a contractor; records and remediation still need to be actively managed.