Fire door inspection checklist (free download)
Fire doors fail quietly. A closer that no longer latches, a door wedged open for deliveries, a new lock fitted with the wrong hardware: none of it is visible until the day the door has to hold back smoke. Routine inspection is how those faults get found first.
This checklist gives every doorset an ID in a register, runs the same checks on each, and lists defects against the door ID with a recommended action, so a facilities manager can turn the results straight into a work order.
Free, no sign-up needed. Edit it in Word, Pages or Google Docs, or print it.
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Fire door inspection checklist
A fire door register with the routine checks for each doorset: label, closing and latching, hardware, seals, clearances and hold-open devices.
1. Site details
2. Fire door register
| Door ID | Level / location | Type | Rating on tag | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
3. Per-door checks
- Compliance tag or label on door leaf and frame, legible Yes No N/A
- Door closes fully and latches from the fully open position Yes No N/A
- Self-closer operating, not disconnected or adjusted off Yes No N/A
- Latch and lock hardware operating, no non-compliant additions Yes No N/A
- Hinges secure, no missing screws Yes No N/A
- Clearances around the leaf within the tested doorset’s limits Yes No N/A
- Smoke seals present and undamaged (smoke doors) Yes No N/A
- No unauthorised holes, vision panels or modifications Yes No N/A
- Door not wedged or held open, except by an approved hold-open device Yes No N/A
- Hold-open device releases on alarm Yes No N/A
- Required signage present Yes No N/A
4. Defects and actions
| Door ID | Defect | Severity | Recommended action | Photo ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
5. Summary and sign-off
What the fire door inspection checklist covers, section by section
1. Site details
Building, inspector and the register version you are working from.
Fields to capture: Building and address; Date of inspection; Inspector and company; Previous register / report reference.
2. Fire door register
One row per doorset, with the result of the checks below. Use the door number on the floor plan or on the door itself.
Fields to capture: a register with columns: Door ID, Level / location, Type, Rating on tag, Result.
3. Per-door checks
Run these on every doorset and record failures against the door ID.
Fields to capture: Compliance tag or label on door leaf and frame, legible; Door closes fully and latches from the fully open position; Self-closer operating, not disconnected or adjusted off; Latch and lock hardware operating, no non-compliant additions; Hinges secure, no missing screws; Clearances around the leaf within the tested doorset’s limits; Smoke seals present and undamaged (smoke doors); No unauthorised holes, vision panels or modifications; Door not wedged or held open, except by an approved hold-open device; Hold-open device releases on alarm; Required signage present.
4. Defects and actions
Each defect against a door ID with a severity and the recommended repair.
Fields to capture: a register with columns: Door ID, Defect, Severity, Recommended action, Photo ref.
5. Summary and sign-off
Door counts by result and the inspector’s sign-off.
Fields to capture: Doors inspected / passed / failed; Comments; Inspector name / accreditation / date.
Tips from the field
- Open each door fully and let it go. Testing from half-open hides closers that cannot overcome the latch from full swing.
- Photograph the tag on every door you pass, not only failures. It is the evidence that the doorset is rated at all.
- Ask about any door you find wedged open. A recurring wedge usually means a hold-open device is needed, which is a recommendation, not just a defect.
- Keep door IDs stable between inspections, even when doors are replaced.
Standards referenced
- AS 1905.1: components for the protection of openings in fire-resistant walls: fire-resistant doorsets.
- AS 1851: routine service of fire protection systems and equipment, including fire and smoke doors.
Check the current edition and your state or territory’s requirements; this template is a starting point, not a substitute for the standard.
Frequently asked questions
What is checked in a fire door inspection?
The compliance tag on the door and frame, that the door closes and latches from fully open, the closer, latch, lock and hinges, clearances around the leaf, smoke seals, any unauthorised modifications, hold-open devices and signage.
Which standards apply to fire doors in Australia?
Fire-resistant doorsets are covered by AS 1905.1. Routine service of fire and smoke doors is covered by AS 1851.
Is a fire door wedged open a defect?
Yes. A fire door must be able to close on its own. If it needs to stand open for normal use, the usual recommendation is an approved hold-open device that releases when the fire alarm operates.
Can I record fire door inspections on a phone?
The download is a Word document. In SurveyThanks the register is a repeating section completed on the device with a photo per door, and the fire door register report renders into your own Word template.
Fill this in on your phone and generate the report automatically
Build these sections as a SurveyThanks form, capture photos and answers on site, and the finished report renders into your own Word template.