Fire doors are one of the most effective fire safety features in any building and are often the first line of defence when a fire breaks out.
Designed to prevent the spread of fire and smoke, they play a vital role in protecting lives, safeguarding escape routes and giving firefighters valuable time to respond.
For a fire door to perform its life-saving function, it must be correctly specified, installed, maintained and managed throughout its lifetime. Even minor damage or alterations can prevent a fire door from working effectively in an emergency.
As part of the national Fire Kills campaign, Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service (WFRS) is supporting Fire Door Safety Week 2026 by encouraging building managers, landlords, tenants and all building users to check the condition and operation of their fire doors and report or repair any issues identified.
Fire doors are commonly found in flats, care homes, healthcare settings, schools, offices and other commercial premises. They are designed to hold back fire and smoke for a specified period, helping to protect escape routes and prevent the spread of heat and smoke throughout a building.
Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service's fire safety team works with organisations, including businesses owners, landlords, housing providers, healthcare providers and other responsible persons to help ensure compliance with fire safety legislation. The team carries out inspections, enforcement activities where necessary, while also providing guidance and support to help organisations understand and meet their fire safety duties.
Through this work, the Fire Safety Enforcement team helps ensure that key fire safety measures, including fire doors, are properly maintained and capable of protecting occupants when they are needed most.
Councillor Robert Gisbourne, Portfolio Holder for Fire & Rescue, Community Safety and Flooding at Warwickshire County Council, said:
"It cannot be underestimated what a difference an effective fire door can make during a fire.
"Fire doors are an essential part of a building's fire protection measures. They help to compartmentalise a building by containing fire and smoke within one area for a period of time, which can protect escape routes, support safe evacuation and allow firefighters to tackle a fire more effectively.
"Many people don't realise that a fire door is not necessarily a fire exit door. Fire doors are often identified by signs such as 'FIRE DOOR KEEP SHUT' and are found throughout many buildings, particularly flats, workplaces and public buildings.
"Simple checks and regular maintenance can make a significant difference. Fire Door Safety Week is an opportunity for everyone to take a closer look at the fire doors in the buildings they live, work and visit in and report any concerns."
Paul Morley, Area Manager for Protection and Prevention at Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service, added:
"A fire door is something many of us walk past every day without a second thought. It looks like any other door and, in most buildings, it will never be needed. However, when a fire occurs, it becomes one of the most important safety features in the building. It helps contain fire and smoke, protects escape routes, and provides valuable time for people to evacuate safely and for firefighters to respond.
“However, that protection only works effectively if the door is fit for purpose and this is a key part of the work carried out every day by Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service's Fire Safety Inspectors. They visit flats, care homes, hospitals, schools, offices and workplaces across the county, working with business owners, landlords, housing providers and other responsible persons to ensure fire safety measures, including fire doors, will perform when they are needed most.
“Fire Door Safety Week provides an ideal opportunity for anyone responsible for a building to carry out some simple checks. Walk through your premises, inspect your fire doors, ensure they close fully into the frame, and report or repair any defects.”
Fire Door Safety Week promotes a simple five-step fire door check that anyone can carry out. These checks can help identify potential issues and indicate when further advice should be sought from the WFRS Fire Safety Enforcement team or a competent fire safety professional.
The five-step fire door check:
Check for certification
- Is there a certification label or plug on the top, or occasionally the side, of the door showing that it is a certificated fire door?
Check the gaps
- Are the gaps around the top and sides of the door consistently less than 4mm when the door is closed?
Check the seals
- Are the intumescent and smoke seals around the door or frame present, intact and free from damage?
Check the hinges
- Are there three or more hinges fitted securely with no missing or broken screws?
Check the door closes properly
- Open the door halfway and let it close by itself. Does it shut fully onto the latch without sticking on the floor or frame?
Anyone who identifies concerns about a fire door should report them to the building owner, landlord or responsible person as soon as possible.
To find out more about Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service's Fire Safety Enforcement team and the support they provide to businesses, landlords and building owners, visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/fire-safety-businesses