Five checks on a fire door

A fire door is an ordinary-looking door that has been built and fitted to hold back fire and smoke for a while. It only does that if every part works. Most faults can be spotted in a minute, with no tools.

1. Does it shut? Open the door wide and let go. It should swing closed by itself, all the way, until the latch clicks. If it stops short, or it needs a push, the closer is too weak or the door is catching somewhere. A door that only shuts when you help it will not shut in a fire.

2. Is the gap even? Look at the gap between the door and its frame, on both sides and along the top. It should be narrow and the same all the way round. A wide gap lets smoke through. A gap that is tight at the bottom and wide at the top suggests the hinges have dropped. Do not paint over a seal, and do not try to tidy it away.

3. Are the seals in place? Many fire doors have a strip set into the edge of the door or the frame that swells in heat. Look for it. If it is missing, torn or painted thick, the door will not perform as designed. Check at the bottom too, where a lot of damage happens.

4. Are the hinges sound? There should be at least three, all the same type, all with every screw in place. A missing screw or a loose hinge lets the door sag. If the door has been rehung, look at what was used.

5. Is it in one piece? Check the door itself for holes, large splits and cut-outs. A letterbox cut into a flat door, a hole for a new lock or a patch where a sign was removed can all weaken it. Glass in a fire door should be set in a proper frame, and the glass should not be cracked.

A sixth point sits outside the door: nothing should be holding it open. A wedge, a bin or a hook on the wall turns a fire door into a doorway. If a door has to stay open for people to move around, ask about a device that releases when the alarm sounds.

If you find a fault, note it and photograph it. Small ones, like a loose screw or a tight hinge, are often quick to fix. A door that is cracked, burned or has been cut about may need replacing, and that is a job for a competent fitter who knows what the door was.

If you have many doors, a survey is quicker than checking them one by one. We number every door and photograph every fault, so you can see them all on one list. Even so, the five checks above are worth doing yourself on the doors you use every day.