What it actually says.
Since 23 January 2023, if you are the Responsible Person for a residential building over 11 metres tall, the law requires you to inspect every fire door in the common parts at least quarterly, and every flat entrance door at least annually.
The aim is to make sure the most important passive fire protection feature in the building actually works the moment it is needed.
Five things you must do.
Quarterly common-parts inspections
Every fire door in the common parts must be checked at least every three months. Stairs, lift lobbies, corridors, refuse stores, plant rooms, riser cupboards. The check must verify the self-closing device is working, not just the leaf and the frame.
Annual flat entrance inspections
Every flat entrance door that opens onto a common part must be checked on a best-endeavours basis at least once every twelve months. The closer is part of the check. Refusals are routine and must be logged the same day.
Best-endeavours access
Best endeavours means a documented attempt, not a successful access. Reg 10(5) requires the date of each attempt, the steps you took to gain entry, and the steps you took to try again. The audit trail is the only evidence the duty was met.
Information to residents
Inform every resident that fire doors must be kept shut, that self-closing devices must not be tampered with, and that faults must be reported. New residents on move-in, every resident in scope within a rolling 12-month cycle from when the regulation came into force.
Records retained indefinitely
Keep records of every inspection, every defect found, every remedial action taken, and every access attempt. The local Fire and Rescue Authority can request these records at any time. There is no statutory retention period; in practice, indefinitely.
Reg 10 sits inside criminal law.
A breach of Regulation 10 is enforced through the Fire Safety Order 2005. It is a criminal offence prosecuted by the local Fire and Rescue Authority. The exposure does not end at the fine.
Reg 10, mapped to the platform.
Automatic quarterly scheduling
Every common-parts door scheduled on a rolling 90-day cadence with engineer assignment.
Best-endeavours tracking
Access refusals logged with timestamp and resident response so the audit trail shows you tried.
Append-only audit log
Every inspection, every defect, every remedial action retained indefinitely. Golden Thread compliant.
Compliance dashboard
Live pass/fail status across the portfolio, broken down by building, block, and floor.
Resident information module
Configurable resident-facing pages with QR plaques scannable from any flat entrance door.
Branded PDF reports
One-click export ready for the enforcement officer, the insurer, or the BSR.