Why Third Party Certified Fire Door Inspectors are Competent Persons and how they can help the Responsible Person ensure compliance with fire safety laws.
- Paul Shadbolt
- Apr 6
- 3 min read
Introduction
Fire door inspections are essential to fire safety, ensuring buildings comply with legal requirements and that fire doors perform effectively in an emergency.
However, compliance is not just about conducting inspections—it requires Competent Persons with the necessary Skills, Knowledge, Experience, and Behaviour (SKEB).

Section 35 of the Building Safety Act 2022 defines a “Competence Requirement” as relating to the “skills, knowledge, experience, and behaviours of an individual”.
The UK’s fire safety framework is shaped by two key laws:
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO), which mandates that fire safety measures be managed by Competent Persons.
The Building Safety Act 2022, which strengthens competency requirements in response to lessons from the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
These laws place a legal duty on Responsible Persons (RPs) to ensure that only Competent Persons carry out fire door inspections. Failure to do so can lead to enforcement action and, critically, the failure of fire doors in a fire scenario.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
The FSO 2005 requires RPs to ensure fire safety measures are maintained by Competent Persons. Without clear evidence of SKEB, an RP is not complying with Article 18 of the FSO.
Enforcement authorities can issue:
• Enforcement Notices (corrective action required)
• Prohibition Notices (restrictions on building use)
• Alteration Notices (demanding safety improvements)
For fire door inspections, Article 18 mandates appointing individuals with verified competency—not just those claiming expertise.
The Building Safety Act 2022
The Act reinforces competency requirements in four key ways:
Building Safety Regulator (BSR) – Section 4: Ensures competency across fire safety roles, including fire door inspectors.
Competence for Designers and Contractors – Section 35: Requires professionals in high-risk buildings to prove their SKEB.
Competency Development – Section 6: Reinforces that compliance is an ongoing responsibility.
Registration of Inspectors – Section 58: Introduces mandatory registration for building inspectors.
Together, the FSO and the Building Safety Act make fire safety compliance impossible without appointing competent individuals.
SKEB: A Framework for Competency
For a Certified Fire Door Inspector, competency means:
a) Skills – Assessing fire doors accurately and identifying non-compliances.
b) Knowledge – Understanding fire safety laws, standards, and Codes of Practice.
These include:
BS 476-22 (Fire resistance testing of doorsets)
EN 13501-2 (Classification of fire performance)
BS 8214:2016 – Code of Practice for timber-based fire door assemblies
BS 9999 – Fire safety in the design, management and use of buildings.
BS 9991 – Fire safety in the design, management and use of residential buildings
DHF’s and GAI’s Code of Practice: Hardware for Fire and Escape Doors 2024
These four Codes of Practice are essential for ensuring consistency and compliance in fire door assessments. BS 8214 provides detailed guidance on the specification, installation, and maintenance of timber-based fire doors. BS 9999 and BS 9991 place fire doors in the broader context of a building’s fire strategy, while the DHF guide ensures that door hardware—often a point of failure—is compliant and appropriate for its function.
In addition to formal standards, knowledge can be continually enhanced through guidance from trade associations such as:
Intumescent Fire Seals Association (IFSA) – offering expert advice on seals and their correct application.
Architectural and Specialist Door Manufacturers Association (ASDMA) – providing technical insight on fire door construction and performance.
Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) – issuing critical guidance on the specification and installation of fire-rated glazing in doorsets.
These organisations contribute significantly to the inspector’s ongoing professional development and help ensure that inspections remain current with industry best practices.
c) Experience – Proven ability to evaluate fire doors in real-world conditions.
d) Behaviour – Acting with independence and integrity, being suitably insured and demonstrating a commitment to life safety.
Common Compliance Challenges
There is a common compliance challenge where confusion prevails between three roles:
None certified Fire Door Inspectors – have theoretical qualifications but lack 3rd party practical audits, CPD assessments, and are probably not insured nor authorised by an accredited scheme to inspect fire doors.
Fire Door Maintainers Who Survey – trained in remedial work but do not conduct full compliance inspections and are probably not insured to do so.
Certified Fire Door Inspectors – hold 3rd party certification, are examined and obliged to undergo a practical assessment, are PI and PL insured and, with full SKEB competency, can ensure full legal compliance.
Only a Certified Fire Door Inspector is likely to meet the legal definition of a Competent Person under the FSO and the Building Safety Act

Fire door compliance is a legal obligation, not an optional measure. By engaging the right professional—one who applies current Codes of Practice and draws on specialist industry knowledge—the Responsible Person can ensure that fire doors function correctly and are statute compliant. In doing so, they meet their legal obligations, reduce liability, and most importantly, protect lives.
If you find this article of interest, please contact us for more information at https://afdi.org.uk/contact/

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