Why Your Fire Risk Assessment Shouldn't Dictate Fire Door Remediation, and Should Only Recommend Inspection

Fire Risk Assessments (FRAs) play a vital role in maintaining building safety, but they are often misunderstood. One of the most common misconceptions is that an FRA should dictate or instruct fire door remedial works. In reality, an FRA is a risk-based overview, not a technical inspection. Its findings should highlight potential concerns and recommend further investigation by certified specialists — not prescribe remedial work directly.

Understanding this distinction is essential for maintaining compliance, ensuring accountability, and protecting your organisation from unnecessary costs or incorrect repairs.

What a Fire Risk Assessment Is - and Isn’t

A Fire Risk Assessment is a legal requirement under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. It is designed to identify hazards, evaluate risks, and recommend measures to keep people safe from fire. However, it is a broad management tool, not a detailed technical survey.

An FRA assessor typically inspects a representative sample of the premises, noting visible fire safety issues such as blocked escape routes, missing signage, or poorly maintained fire doors. But they are not performing a full fire door inspection in accordance with BS 8214 or BS EN 1634-1.

In short, a Fire Risk Assessment identifies where potential risks may exist, not the specific technical steps needed to fix them.

To understand the difference, visit our Fire Risk Assessment page.

Why FRAs Should Not Dictate Fire Door Remediation

When an FRA notes that a fire door appears damaged, non-compliant, or poorly maintained, this observation is not confirmation that the door requires remedial work. It is an indicator that further inspection is needed by a competent fire door specialist.

There are several reasons FRAs should never directly dictate or authorise fire door remedial works:

1. FRAs Are Not Detailed Inspections

An FRA provides a general overview, not a component-level examination. Without precise measurements, certification checks, or gap tolerances, it is impossible to confirm whether a door is compliant or non-compliant.

2. Fire Door Standards Require Specialist Knowledge

Fire doors are complex life-safety systems. Assessing them properly involves checking seals, closers, frames, glazing, and certification labels against recognised standards. Only certified fire door inspectors have the training and equipment to do this accurately.

3. Misinterpretation Leads to Unnecessary Costs

If an FRA recommends “immediate remedial action” without a technical inspection, building managers may rush into unnecessary or incorrect repairs. This not only wastes money but can also void existing certifications if unqualified work is carried out.

4. Legal Responsibility Lies with the “Responsible Person”

Under the Fire Safety Order, the responsible person must ensure that all fire protection systems are maintained by competent individuals. Acting on unverified recommendations could breach that duty.

A fire door noted in an FRA should always trigger a formal fire door inspection, not instant remediation.

For professional inspection guidance, see our Fire Door Inspection service page.

The Correct Role of the FRA in Fire Door Maintenance

 An FRA is the first step in identifying potential risks. Its role is to observe, record, and recommend — not to prescribe.

When it comes to fire doors, the correct process should look like this:

Observation: The FRA notes concerns, such as a damaged door leaf, missing seals, or poor closure.

Recommendation: The FRA suggests an immediate fire door inspection by a qualified contractor.

Inspection: Certified technicians assess each door in detail, following BS 8214 and BM TRADA Q-Mark procedures.

Remediation: Based on inspection findings, only then are remedial works planned and completed.

Certification: After repairs, documentation and compliance records are issued to confirm the door’s performance.

This structured approach ensures accuracy, compliance, and accountability throughout the process.

Risks of Letting FRAs Dictate Remediation

When Fire Risk Assessments are used incorrectly to dictate repairs, it can lead to serious operational, financial, and compliance risks.

Unverified Work

Remedial tasks performed without inspection can result in uncertified repairs, compromising the fire resistance of the door and potentially breaching regulations.

Loss of Certification

Installing uncertified components or modifying doors based on assumption can invalidate BM TRADA or FIRAS certification, meaning your door is no longer legally compliant.

Increased Costs

Premature or incorrect remedial works often need to be redone, leading to double spending and unnecessary downtime.

Legal Exposure

If a fire occurs and investigations show that remedial works were not carried out by certified professionals or based on formal inspection data, the responsible person may face enforcement action or prosecution.

To ensure proper compliance, repairs should only be based on findings from an accredited fire door specialist. Visit our Fire Door Remedials page to learn more about how this process should be managed.

The Importance of a Formal Fire Door Inspection

A certified fire door inspection provides the technical data an FRA cannot. It includes detailed photographic evidence, measurements, and compliance grading for each door, following standards such as BS 8214 and BS EN 1634-1.

Inspections are carried out by trained professionals who understand fire door systems, certification markings, and performance ratings. This allows accurate identification of defects, appropriate remedial recommendations, and certified completion.

When an FRA flags potential door issues, the next logical step should always be an inspection — not immediate remedial work.

Learn more about proper inspection practices on our Fire Door Inspection service page.

How to Align FRAs, Inspections, and Remediation

Facilities and compliance managers should establish a clear workflow that keeps responsibilities defined:

• The FRA identifies potential risk areas.

• The fire door inspection confirms technical compliance.

• The remediation team performs certified repairs and documents completion.

This joined-up approach prevents overlap, reduces error, and ensures full traceability for auditors and insurers.

At Protest ES Ltd, we manage the entire cycle — from Fire Risk Assessments through to Fire Door Remedials and Fire Compartmentation — ensuring every recommendation is properly verified and executed by competent professionals.

Integrating with Your Passive Fire Protection Strategy

Fire doors are just one element of your overall Passive Fire Protection (PFP) system. They work alongside fire stopping, compartmentation, and dampers to contain fire and smoke within designated zones.

A well-structured compliance programme integrates all these elements to maintain effective compartmentation and simplify audit trails. For related reading, see our articles on:

• Understanding Passive Fire Protection – PFP Types and Materials for Workplace Safety

• The Hidden Dangers of Neglecting Fire Compartmentation

Conclusion

A Fire Risk Assessment should guide your safety priorities, not dictate technical action. When it comes to fire doors, any observation in an FRA should trigger an immediate inspection, not unverified remedial work.

By separating management oversight (the FRA) from technical verification (the inspection and remediation), you protect your organisation from unnecessary cost, risk, and liability.

Ensure your building’s fire doors are assessed and maintained by certified professionals. Book a consultation with Protest ES Ltd today to keep your workplace fully compliant and safe.