UK fire door inspection organisation, the Fire Door Inspection Scheme (FDIS) has revealed three quarters of the fire doors inspected in the UK by its approved inspectors did not meet the required standard.

The FDIS’s data, based on more than 100,000 fire door inspections carried out by its approved inspectors in 2021, found that 75% of fire doors failed to meet the required standards, putting lives at risk in the event of a fire.

Buildings that had the highest number of fire door inspection failures included healthcare buildings, local authorities and housing associations, and private housing.

As these buildings’ fire doors are subject to higher use and traffic than other building types, regular inspection and maintenance is key to ensuring they remain fit for purpose throughout their lifespan.

Louise Halton, FDIS Scheme Manager, said: “With the vast majority of fire doors in the UK failing inspections, it’s sad to say that a tragedy is simply waiting to happen, especially so in buildings that are home to vulnerable residents. But this situation is entirely preventable and, at this stage, still reversible.

“A fit for purpose fire door can save lives, so now is the time for all of those responsible for fire safety to urgently inspect fire doors in their buildings and act immediately if faults are identified.

“It’s crucial that reputable and trained fire door inspectors, such as those approved by the FDIS, carry out fire door inspections. However, the ongoing reporting of maintenance issues with fire doors is a role for us all — every building user should play a proactive role in reporting any faults to ensure they are quickly addressed so that the building’s safety is maintained.”