Found a Hole Drilled Through a Fire Door for a Keypad or Cable? Here's Why That's a Red Flag

TL;DR

• A hole drilled through a fire door for a keypad, reader or cable voids its certification immediately, regardless of who drilled it or why.

• Unauthorised drilling breaches the door's tested performance and is treated as a notifiable defect under BS 8214 and Approved Document B.

• The fix is not to plug the hole. The door needs proper assessment, and in most cases a certified through-door device or full replacement.

• Access control should always be specified using fire-rated, third-party certified through-door devices fitted by a competent installer.

• Responsible persons who ignore a drilled fire door are exposed under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 and the Building Safety Act 2022.

If you've found a hole drilled through a fire door to run a cable or fit an access control keypad, the door's fire certification is very likely void. This is one of the most common defects specifiers and facilities teams uncover during inspections, and it's rarely done maliciously. An electrician, security installer or IT contractor needs to get a cable or reader through the door, so they drill through it the same way they would a standard partition wall. The problem is that a certified fire door is not a standard door. Every component, from the leaf to the intumescent seals, has been tested as a complete system, and an unauthorised hole invalidates that test evidence immediately.

Why a Hole Drilled Through a Fire Door Is a Compliance Problem

A fire door only performs to its rated time, such as FD30 or FD60, because every part of it, including the leaf, frame, hinges, seals and any hardware, was tested together as one certified assembly. Drilling an unauthorised hole through the leaf breaks that chain of evidence. It doesn't matter how small the hole is or how neatly it was made. Once the leaf has been altered outside its certification, it can no longer be assumed to perform as tested, and it becomes a fail on any fire door inspection carried out under BS 8214 or BS 9999.

Access control installers and IT contractors are the most frequent cause of this defect. Card readers, keypads, maglocks and cable runs all need to pass through the door leaf or frame, and without the right fire-rated components, the fastest route is a hole drilled straight through.

Is a Drilled Fire Door Leaf Automatically a Fail?

Yes. Any penetration through a certified fire door leaf that wasn't part of its original tested configuration is treated as an automatic fail during inspection. This applies whether the hole was drilled for a keypad, a cable, a sign, or a spy viewer that wasn't specified as part of the certified door set.

What Access Control Devices Are Actually Allowed on Fire Doors?

Fire doors can carry access control hardware, but only when the specific device has been tested and certified as part of a compatible door set, or when it's a fire-rated through-door device designed for retrofitting. Products such as fire-rated cable transfer devices, certified electric strikes and third-party approved keypads exist precisely so that access control can be added without compromising the door's rating.

What Should You Check Before Fitting a Keypad or Reader?

Before any device is fitted to a fire door, check that it carries third-party certification, such as BM TRADA or a UKAS-accredited scheme, confirming it's compatible with the specific door leaf thickness and core. The installer should also confirm the manufacturer's fitting instructions are followed exactly, since deviating from them, even slightly, can invalidate the certification just as much as an unauthorised drilled hole would. Our fire door installation team can specify and fit compatible hardware as part of a new door set, avoiding this issue entirely.

Is This a Notifiable Compliance Failure?

Yes, in most commercial and multi-occupancy buildings, a drilled fire door is a notifiable defect that must be recorded and actioned under the responsible person's fire risk assessment. Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, and reinforced by the Building Safety Act 2022 for higher-risk buildings, the responsible person has a legal duty to ensure fire doors are maintained in an effective state. A door with an unauthorised hole cannot reasonably be considered effective, so it needs to be logged, assessed and remediated without delay.

What Should You Do Next If You Find This Defect?

Do not attempt to fill or plug the hole as a permanent fix. Filler and sealant are not tested repair methods and won't restore the door's certification. Instead, arrange for a competent fire door specialist to assess the leaf and advise whether remedial works, such as fitting a proper fire-rated cable grommet or blanking plate, can restore compliance, or whether the leaf needs full replacement. Our fire door remedial works service covers exactly this kind of defect, from initial assessment through to certified repair.

Can a Drilled Fire Door Be Repaired, or Does It Need Replacing?

It depends on the size, position and number of penetrations. Small, single penetrations away from the door's edges and vision panels can sometimes be repaired using manufacturer-approved fire-rated fillers or purpose-made grommets, but this must be assessed and signed off by a competent person. Larger holes, multiple penetrations, or damage near hinges or edges usually mean the leaf has to be replaced, since no certified repair method exists for every type of damage.

How to Specify Access Control on Fire Doors Correctly, Before Installation

The best way to avoid this defect altogether is to involve a fire door specialist before any access control or cabling contractor starts work. Specify the exact door leaf model and certification reference so the installer can select compatible hardware, and require sign-off confirming that any penetration was part of the certified door set rather than an on-site improvisation. A passive fire protection survey carried out before other trades start on site will flag existing certification gaps and prevent this exact conflict between security and fire safety teams.

Who Is Responsible When a Contractor Drills a Certified Fire Door?

Legally, responsibility sits with the building's responsible person or dutyholder, not the contractor who drilled the hole. That's why it matters to build fire door checks into contractor inductions and permit-to-work processes for any trade working near fire-rated elements, including electricians, security installers and IT teams.

Getting a Professional Fire Door Inspection After a Drilling Defect Is Found

Once a drilled hole has been identified, a full fire door inspection is the fastest way to establish the true scope of the problem across a site, since a fire door defect found on one door is rarely isolated. Our engineers are BM TRADA Q-Mark certified, so every assessment and remedial recommendation is backed by third-party accreditation your fire risk assessor and insurer will recognise.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does drilling a hole in a fire door void its certification?

Yes. Any hole drilled through a certified fire door leaf that wasn't part of its original tested configuration voids the certification immediately. This applies even to small holes for cables or keypads, since the leaf's fire performance was only tested in its original, unmodified state.

Can I drill a fire door to fit an access control keypad?

Not with a standard drill and no certification check. You can only add a keypad or reader if it's part of a certified door set or uses a fire-rated through-door device designed and tested for that purpose. Always check third-party certification before any hardware is fitted.

What happens if a fire risk assessment finds a drilled fire door?

It will usually be logged as a significant finding requiring action, since a compromised fire door cannot be relied upon to contain fire and smoke for its rated time. The responsible person is expected to arrange remedial works or replacement within a reasonable timeframe, and repeat or ignored findings can lead to enforcement action from the fire authority.

Who is liable if a contractor drills a hole in a fire door?

The legal duty sits with the building's responsible person or dutyholder under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, not the individual contractor. That's why access control and cabling works near fire doors should always be covered by a permit-to-work process that checks for fire door compliance before work begins.

Can a drilled fire door be repaired instead of replaced?

Sometimes. Small, isolated penetrations away from edges and hardware can occasionally be repaired using manufacturer-approved fire-rated fillers or grommets, but this must be assessed and certified by a competent fire door specialist. Larger or multiple holes, or damage near hinges and edges, usually require full leaf replacement.

What is a fire-rated cable transfer device?

It's a certified fitting designed to let cables pass through a fire door or fire-rated wall without compromising the assembly's fire performance. These devices are tested as part of a certified installation, which is why they're the correct alternative to drilling an unauthorised hole for access control or data cabling.

How do I know if my fire doors have unauthorised holes or damage?

A professional fire door inspection is the only reliable way to check, since damage like this is often found on doors that otherwise look fine from a distance. A qualified inspector will check every certified component, including hinges, seals, glazing and any hardware penetrations, against the door's original specification.