After the Repairs: How to Check Fire Door Remedial Works Were Done Properly

TL;DR

• Finding fire door defects is only step one. The job is not finished until someone checks the repairs actually worked.

• Match every defect on the inspection report to a specific fix, with photos of the finished door.

• Ask what products and parts were used, and whether they suit that door.

• Test the basics yourself: does each door close, latch and sit evenly in its frame?

• Keep the close-out evidence with your inspection records, then put the next inspection in the diary.

Fire Door Safety Week ends today. For five days, a lot of people have looked closely at their fire doors, and many will have a list of defects to deal with. That is good news. But a list of defects is only the start.

In our experience, the step that gets skipped most often is the last one. The repairs are booked, a contractor attends, the invoice arrives, and the job is marked as closed. Nobody goes back to check the doors against the original report. This guide explains how to sign off fire door remedial works with confidence, and what evidence to keep once they are done.

Why "Job Complete" Is Not the Same as "Fixed"

A fire door is an assembly. The leaf, frame, seals, hinges, closer, glazing and gaps all have to work together. A repair to one part can be done neatly and still leave the door unable to do its job.

Here are a few examples of what can go wrong after remedial works:

• A closer is adjusted, but the door still stops just short of latching.

• A replacement seal is fitted, but it is not suitable for that door or that gap.

• An oversized gap is packed out with a material that has not been tested for the purpose.

• A damaged hinge is replaced, but with a hinge that does not match the rest.

None of these would stand out from the corridor. All of them could mean the door is not performing as it should. That is why the sign-off step matters as much as the inspection itself. If you are still at the earlier stage, our guide on what fire door remedial works mean after a failed inspection covers what happens first.

Five Checks Before You Sign Off

You do not need to be a fire door specialist to ask good questions. These five checks will tell you a lot about whether the work was done properly.

1. Every Defect Has a Matching Fix

Put the original inspection report next to the contractor's completion notes. Each defect should line up with a specific action, door by door. If a defect has no matching entry, ask why. It may have been missed, or it may need a different approach, such as a full replacement. Our article on remedial works versus full door replacement explains how that decision is usually made.

2. Photos of the Finished Door

Photos of the problem are useful. Photos of the finished repair are essential. Ask for clear before and after images of each door, showing the specific area that was worked on: the seal, the hinge, the gap, the closer. These photos become part of your evidence if you are ever asked to show how your fire doors are maintained.

3. The Right Products and Parts

Ask what was used. Replacement seals, hinges, closers and gap treatments should be suitable for that door and compatible with how it was tested and certified. A good contractor will be happy to tell you. If the answer is vague, that is worth following up. For more on seals in particular, see our simple guide to getting fire door seals right.

4. The Door Closes and Latches on Its Own

This is a check anyone can do. Open each repaired door fully and let it go. It should close by itself, from any angle, and latch without a push. The gaps around the edges should look even. If a door stops short, drags or bounces back, it is not finished yet. Our guide on fire doors that are not closing properly covers the usual causes.

5. A Clear Completion Record

Finally, ask for a written record that brings it all together: which doors were worked on, what was done, what was used, who did it and when. This should be something you can file and find again, not a line on an invoice.

What to Keep Once the Work Is Done

The close-out paperwork is not just for your peace of mind. Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the responsible person has to keep fire safety measures in efficient working order and in good repair. Being able to show how and when defects were put right is a big part of that.

A tidy close-out file for each round of remedial works usually includes:

• The original inspection report

• The contractor's completion record, door by door

• Before and after photos

• Product details for any replacement parts

• Any items left open, with a reason and a plan

Keep this with your wider fire door records so the full history of each door sits in one place. We wrote about that in more detail earlier this week in fire door records: what to keep and why it matters.

What Happens After Sign-Off

Signing off a round of repairs is not the end of the story. Fire doors are used every day, and everyday use is what wears them down. The aim is to keep a simple cycle going: inspect, repair, record, and repeat.

How often your doors should be inspected depends on your building, how the doors are used and your fire risk assessment. Busy doors on escape routes will usually need more attention than a quiet store room door. Whatever interval you settle on, put the next inspection in the diary before you close the file on this one.

It also helps to agree how new damage will be reported between inspections. A door that gets hit by a trolley on Tuesday should not have to wait months to be looked at.

How PES Can Help

At Protest ES Ltd, we carry out fire door inspections and complete the fire door remedial works that follow. Every job is handed back with a door by door record and photos, so you can see exactly what was fixed and keep the evidence on file. If you already have a report with defects still open, send it over and we can help you work through it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who should sign off fire door remedial works?

Ideally, someone competent who did not carry out the repairs, such as your fire door inspector, checks the finished work against the original report. At a minimum, the person responsible for fire safety in the building should review the completion record and photos before closing the job.

Do I need a re-inspection after remedial works?

It depends on the scale of the work and what your fire risk assessment and inspector recommend. For larger programmes, a follow-up check of the repaired doors is good practice. For a handful of small fixes, a clear completion record with photos may be enough until the next routine inspection.

What evidence should a contractor provide after fire door repairs?

You should expect a door by door record of the work done, before and after photos, details of any products or parts used, and the date and name of whoever did the work. Any defects that could not be fixed should be listed with a reason.

What if a repaired door still does not close properly?

Raise it with the contractor straight away and do not mark the job as complete. A fire door that does not close and latch on its own cannot do its job. It may need further adjustment, a different part, or in some cases a replacement.

Can any contractor carry out fire door remedial works?

Fire door repairs should be carried out by someone competent, with the right knowledge of how fire doors are tested and certified. Using unsuitable parts or methods can affect how the door performs, even if the repair looks tidy.

How long should I keep fire door remedial records?

There is no single rule for every building, but it makes sense to keep them for as long as the doors are in service, alongside your inspection history. That gives a full picture of each door over time.

What should I do now that Fire Door Safety Week is over?

Pick one action and give it an owner and a deadline. That might be booking an inspection, chasing open remedial works, or pulling your records into one place. Then keep the cycle going: inspect, repair, record and repeat.