Fire Door Compliance: What’s Changing in 2026
Fire doors save lives. They hold back smoke and flames, giving people in a building time to get out safely. But the way fire doors are tested in the UK is changing, and if you own or manage a building in Cumbria or anywhere else in the country, it helps to know what’s coming and what you should be doing now.
What Is Changing?
For decades, fire doors in the UK have been tested to a British Standard called BS 476 Part 22. That standard is being replaced by a European one: BS EN 1634-1.
The change is happening gradually. It has been phased in over several years, so manufacturers, builders and building owners all have time to adjust. The Fire Industry Association (FIA), the UK’s largest fire safety trade body, has been tracking this transition closely and publishing guidance to help the industry prepare.
Key Dates to Know
For most businesses, September 2029 is the deadline that matters most. But both the FIA and the British Woodworking Federation (BWF) have recommended that building owners start thinking about it now, particularly if you have refurbishment or door replacement work planned in the next few years.
Why Is This Happening?
The tragic Grenfell Tower fire in 2017 exposed serious failings in how building products were tested and approved. The independent review led by Dame Judith Hackitt called for tighter, more consistent standards across the construction industry. Fire doors were part of that conversation.
The old BS 476 test mainly looked at the door itself. BS EN 1634-1 tests the whole assembly: door, frame, seals, glazing and hardware, all as a unit. The FIA has pointed out that this is a welcome change, since poorly specified or incorrectly fitted doors remain one of the most common problems found during fire safety inspections.
Your existing doors are still valid
If your fire doors were tested and certified under BS 476, they remain compliant. You do not need to replace them. The new standard applies when you install new doors or replace old ones.
What Does This Mean for Your Building?
If you run a hotel in the Lake District, manage a care home in Carlisle, or own commercial premises anywhere in Cumbria, the practical side of this is fairly simple. Your current fire doors are fine, as long as they were properly certified when fitted and have been looked after since.
The question is whether they have been looked after. Fire doors take a lot of daily wear, and problems build up gradually: seals get painted over, closers get removed because they annoy people, gaps widen as frames shift. A professional inspection picks up these issues and tells you exactly what needs attention, door by door.
That is what we do. Our fire door inspection service covers offices, care homes, hospitality venues, warehouses and retail premises across Cumbria. We map every fire door in your building, check each one against current standards, and give you a full report with clear recommendations.
The traditional UK test, used since 1987. It tests fire resistance from one side of the door. Less strict furnace controls. Being phased out by September 2029.
The European test now being adopted in the UK. Tests the complete door assembly, including the frame, seals and hardware. Tighter temperature controls. More accurate smoke measurement. Needed for UKCA marking.
Hinges, door closers and frame integrity. Intumescent and smoke seals for correct fit and condition. Gaps around the door to check they are within safe tolerances. Door furniture and glazing for specification compliance. You get an individual report for each door, plus advice on any repairs or replacements needed to keep certification valid.
The 5-Point Fire Door Check
Between professional inspections, there is a simple five-point check that anyone can do. The BWF’s Fire Door Safety Week campaign created it, and the FIA backs it as a basic part of ongoing fire safety management. If any of these checks flag a problem, get in touch and we can take a closer look.
✓Fire Door Inspection Checklist
- Certification. Look for a label or plug on the top or side edge of the door. This confirms it is a certified fire door. If there is no label, report it to whoever is responsible for fire safety in your building.
- Gaps. Check the gaps around the door edges. They should be consistent and no bigger than 3mm. The gap under the door can be up to 4mm. If you can see daylight around the edges, that is a problem.
- Seals. Intumescent seals (the strips around the door or frame that swell in heat to block smoke) should be intact. No damage, no missing sections, and no paint covering them.
- Hinges. Fire doors need three hinges, all firmly fixed with no loose or missing screws. The hinges should be CE or UKCA marked and compatible with the door’s fire rating.
- Self-closing. The door must close fully into the frame by itself, with no sticking or catching. The self-closing device should not be removed, propped open or tampered with.
How Often Should You Check?
The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 set out specific requirements for residential buildings. In blocks of flats, the responsible person must carry out quarterly checks on flat entrance doors and annual checks on all communal fire doors. For commercial buildings, the FIA recommends inspections at least every six months.
Fire door problems are one of the most common triggers for enforcement action under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Doors wedged open, closers removed, seals painted over. A regular inspection routine catches these issues early. If you are not sure where your building stands, get in touch for a professional assessment.
Book a Fire Door Inspection
We inspect fire doors across Cumbria, from Penrith to Carlisle, Keswick to Kendal. Free site survey, a full door-by-door report, and clear advice on any repairs or replacements needed.