The simple answer is -
no!If a flat entrance door met the fire safety standards in place when it was installed, and it still:
- closes properly,
- sits well in its frame, and
- shows no obvious signs of damage,
then it is likely to be adequate.
The absence of certification, smoke seals, and even intumescent strips does not automatically make a door unfit for purpose. What matters is whether the door still does its job in a fire: holding back flames and smoke long enough for occupants to escape.
The past couple of years have seen plenty of perhaps excessive interpretations of FSER 2022, for example:
- Replacing perfectly functional older timber doors just because they don’t look like modern fire doors.
- Advising full-scale replacement programmes where only minor repairs were needed.
- Paying external contractors for quarterly inspections when the law only requires basic visual checks that can be carried out in-house.
The updated guidance brings much-needed proportionality back into fire safety.
The FSER 2022 apply to all buildings in England that contain two or more domestic premises with common parts (for example, a block of flats or a converted house with shared corridors or stairways).
Under Regulation 10, the Responsible Person must:
- Provide information to residents reminding them to keep fire doors shut, not tamper with closers, and report damage promptly.
- Carry out regular checks:
> Communal fire doors (stairways, lobbies, corridors): at least every 3 months.
> Flat entrance doors (in buildings over 11m, usually 4+ storeys): at least every 12 months.
Failing to meet these duties isn’t just bad practice - it’s a criminal offence if it puts people at risk.
The updated guidance stresses that checks should be simple, visual, and carried out regularly by building managers, caretakers, or other trained staff. You don’t need a specialist contractor to confirm that a door shuts properly or that there are no major, obvious defects.
But when defects are found - gaps too large, closers not working, or damaged glazing - the Responsible Person must act quickly, whether that means repairs or replacement. And where widespread problems exist, commissioning a formal audit by a competent third party may be the safest route.
One area of confusion has been the difference between certified, notional, and nominal fire doors. In brief:
- Certified doors - labelled and tested to current standards.
- Notional doors - built to earlier standards, still often adequate if maintained.
- Nominal doors - assessed on condition and performance, not paperwork.
The key point is, a door’s functionality matters more than its label.
The government guidance is clear: you don’t need to rip out every door that lacks a modern certificate. What you do need is a consistent, competent system of checks, inspections and record-keeping.
In our Fire Door Awareness course, learners are taken step by step through the anatomy of a fire door. This means understanding every component - from the frame, hinges and glazing, through to seals, closers, and signage - and how each one contributes to keeping fire and smoke at bay.
By working through practical examples, learners gain the confidence to distinguish between minor wear and tear that can be managed, and serious defects that require urgent action or replacement.
Learn more about the course here:
