Question 1

What is a fire door certificate?

Accepted Answer

A fire door inspection record is documentation showing your fire doors have been inspected and reviewed against fire door standards. It helps the Responsible Person evidence their Regulation 10 duties, but it is not an official certificate and does not itself transfer legal responsibility for compliance.

Question 2

Why do I need a fire door certificate?

Accepted Answer

Fire door certificates are required under the Building Safety Act 2022 for many property types. They provide legal compliance, insurance protection, and demonstrate due diligence in fire safety management. Many insurance companies now require valid fire door certificates.

Question 3

How much does a fire door certificate cost?

Accepted Answer

Our fire door certificates cost £25 per door with 3rd party verification from trained certified fire door specialists, compared to typical traditional surveyor quotes of £300+. We offer transparent pricing with no hidden fees.

Question 4

How long is a fire door certificate valid?

Accepted Answer

Fire door certificates are typically valid for 12 months from the date of issue. However, validation periods may vary depending on property type, risk assessment, and local authority requirements. We recommend annual inspections to maintain compliance.

Question 5

What is inspected during a fire door assessment?

Accepted Answer

Our comprehensive inspection covers door construction, frame integrity, seals and gaps, hinges and hardware, door closer functionality, locks and latches, glazing compliance, and overall condition. We also check for proper installation and any signs of damage or wear.

Question 6

What is the Building Safety Act 2022?

Accepted Answer

The Building Safety Act 2022 introduces enhanced fire safety requirements for residential and commercial properties. It mandates professional fire door inspections, proper documentation, and stricter enforcement. Property owners must demonstrate compliance through certified inspections.

Question 7

Do you cover all London boroughs?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we provide fire door inspection services across all 32 London boroughs, from Camden to Croydon. Our certified inspectors are familiar with local requirements and can provide same-day service in most London areas.

Question 8

How long does the inspection process take?

Accepted Answer

Our streamlined process typically takes 2-3 days from booking to certificate delivery. The self-inspection takes about 15-20 minutes per door, followed by professional verification within 24-48 hours. You'll receive your certificate immediately upon approval.

Question 9

Is a fire door certificate a legal requirement?

Accepted Answer

Yes, under the Building Safety Act 2022 and Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, property owners are legally required to ensure fire doors are properly maintained and inspected. While the law doesn't explicitly require certificates, having them provides essential proof of compliance and protects you legally. Building Safety Act enforcement applies to residential buildings over 11 metres or 5+ storeys, and failing to maintain fire door compliance can result in fines up to £5,000 or imprisonment in severe cases.

Question 10

What are the penalties for not having a fire door certificate?

Accepted Answer

Penalties for fire door non-compliance under Building Safety Act 2022 include fines up to £5,000 for individuals and up to £20,000 for organisations. In cases of serious breaches leading to injury or death, penalties can include imprisonment up to 2 years. Insurance claims may be invalidated without proper fire door certification, and property sales can be delayed or prevented. Local fire authorities can issue enforcement notices requiring immediate remediation at significant cost.

Question 11

Who is responsible for fire door compliance in a leasehold property?

Accepted Answer

In leasehold properties, responsibility depends on door location and lease terms. Generally, leaseholders are responsible for fire doors within their flat (entrance door opening into their property), while freeholders/managing agents handle communal area doors. However, entrance fire doors to flats are often shared responsibility - the door itself may be leaseholder's responsibility while the frame and surrounding structure remain freeholder's. Always check your specific lease agreement, as terms vary significantly between properties.

Question 12

How does the Building Safety Act 2022 affect me?

Accepted Answer

Building Safety Act 2022 significantly increases fire safety obligations for property owners, particularly in buildings over 11 metres or with 5+ storeys. You must ensure regular fire door inspections are conducted by competent persons, maintain comprehensive digital records of all inspections and maintenance, implement a Building Safety Case if applicable, and demonstrate proactive fire safety management. Non-compliance can result in substantial fines, criminal liability, and difficulties selling or insuring your property.

Question 13

Do I need certificates for internal flat doors or just entrance doors?

Accepted Answer

Typically, only entrance fire doors to flats require certification, as these are the primary fire safety barriers between your property and communal areas. Internal doors within flats are usually standard doors unless specifically designated as fire doors in building plans. However, HMOs (Houses in Multiple Occupation), converted properties, or buildings with specific risk assessments may require internal fire doors with certification. Check your building's fire risk assessment or consult with your building management to determine specific requirements for your property.

Question 14

Can I do the inspection myself?

Accepted Answer

Yes, with R-10 you can complete the initial inspection yourself using our guided inspection framework. Our platform walks you through a comprehensive checklist covering all Building Safety Act 2022 requirements. However, to obtain a legally valid certificate, your self-inspection must be verified by our trained certified fire door specialists within 24-48 hours. Our report costs £25 per door; specialist surveyor inspections are typically quoted at several hundred pounds per door.

Question 15

How quickly can I get a certificate?

Accepted Answer

R-10's streamlined digital process delivers certificates in 2-3 days typically. You complete the self-guided inspection in 15-20 minutes per door, our certified specialists review and verify within 24-48 hours, and you receive your digital certificate immediately upon approval. For urgent requirements, priority verification is available for expedited processing within 12-24 hours. Certificates are delivered digitally via email and accessible in your dashboard for unlimited downloads.

Question 16

What happens if my door fails inspection?

Accepted Answer

If your fire door fails inspection, our specialists provide a detailed report identifying specific non-compliance issues with clear remediation guidance. You'll receive actionable recommendations prioritised by risk level, estimated costs for repairs or replacements, and access to our network of approved fire door installers if needed. Once repairs are complete, you can re-submit for verification at no additional cost. We support you throughout the remediation process to achieve compliance as quickly and cost-effectively as possible.

Question 17

Do you provide remedial advice?

Accepted Answer

Yes, comprehensive remedial advice is included with every inspection. If issues are identified, our certified specialists provide detailed guidance on exactly what needs fixing, why it's important for fire safety, estimated timescales for repairs, and approximate costs to budget appropriately. We can connect you with our network of approved fire door installers and provide follow-up verification once work is completed. Our goal is not just compliance but helping you understand and maintain fire safety standards long-term.

Question 18

Do I need different certificates for different door types?

Accepted Answer

Each fire door requires its own individual certificate, regardless of type. Whether FD30 (30-minute rated) or FD60 (60-minute rated), flat entrance doors or communal area doors, single doors or double doors - each must be inspected and certified separately. Our £25 pricing is per door, with volume discounts available for multiple doors: 10-20 doors receive 10% off, 20-50 doors receive 15% off, and 50+ doors receive 20% off. This makes portfolio-wide compliance affordable and manageable.

Question 19

What about fire doors in commercial properties?

Accepted Answer

R-10 provides fire door certificates for both residential and commercial properties. Commercial properties often have more complex requirements under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, including higher inspection frequencies, more stringent documentation requirements, and potentially higher fire ratings (FD60 or FD90). Our certified specialists are qualified to assess commercial fire doors and provide certificates meeting all commercial compliance standards. Contact us for commercial property portfolio pricing and bespoke inspection schedules.

Question 20

Are there different requirements for HMOs?

Accepted Answer

Yes, HMOs (Houses in Multiple Occupation) have enhanced fire safety requirements under HMO licensing regulations. Fire doors are typically required between different occupancy areas, including bedroom doors in some cases, communal area doors, and kitchen access doors. HMOs require more frequent fire door inspections (typically every 6 months), enhanced documentation for licensing compliance, and stricter enforcement from local authorities. R-10 certificates meet all HMO licensing requirements and provide the comprehensive documentation needed for licence applications and renewals.

Question 21

Do new-build properties need fire door certificates?

Accepted Answer

Yes, even new-build properties benefit from fire door certification. While new-builds should have compliant fire doors installed, installation defects are surprisingly common, Building Control approval doesn't guarantee ongoing compliance, and annual inspections are required to maintain certification. Many new-build buyers obtain baseline certificates immediately after completion to document initial condition and identify any installation issues while under warranty. This protects both the property value and ensures safety from day one.

Question 22

Why is your service so much cheaper than traditional surveyors?

Accepted Answer

R-10's digital model keeps costs low while maintaining a rigorous review process. You complete the inspection using our guided framework, eliminating surveyor travel time and call-out fees. Our certified specialists verify digitally, removing expensive on-site visits. We use efficient technology platforms instead of manual paperwork, and our volume model spreads specialist costs across thousands of inspections. Despite lower costs, you still receive 3rd party verification from trained certified fire door specialists, a reviewed inspection report with comprehensive documentation. We simply eliminate unnecessary overhead, not quality or compliance.

Question 23

Are there any hidden fees?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely not. Our £25 price includes everything: comprehensive inspection framework access, 3rd party specialist verification, digital certificate meeting all legal requirements, unlimited certificate downloads, and ongoing support. There are no travel fees, no call-out charges, no report generation fees, and no hidden administration costs. The only additional cost would be if you choose expedited 12-hour priority verification, which is completely optional. What you see is what you pay - transparent pricing is core to our mission of making fire safety accessible to everyone.

Question 24

Do you offer refunds if I'm not satisfied?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you're not completely satisfied with our service for any reason, you can request a full refund within 30 days of your order date, either at paddle.net or by emailing info@r-10.co.uk. Our orders are handled by our reseller Paddle.com, the Merchant of Record, which processes refunds back to your original payment method. Note that when a purchase is refunded, the related inspection credit is withdrawn and any certificate issued for it is revoked. Full details are in our Refund Policy at /refunds.

Question 25

What makes a door a 'fire door'?

Accepted Answer

Fire doors are specially constructed to resist fire and smoke spread for specified time periods (typically 30 or 60 minutes). Key features include: fire-resistant core materials (solid timber or composite), intumescent strips that expand when heated to seal gaps, smoke seals to prevent smoke penetration, self-closing mechanisms to ensure automatic closure, fire-rated glass if glazed, and minimum 3 hinges (unlike standard doors' 2 hinges). Fire doors must be tested and certified to British Standard BS 476 or European Standard EN 1634, with a certification label usually found on the door's top edge.

Question 26

How can I tell if my door is a 30-minute or 60-minute rated door?

Accepted Answer

Fire door rating should be marked on the certification label, usually located on the door's top edge or hinge edge. Look for 'FD30' (30-minute rating) or 'FD60' (60-minute rating) designation. If the label is missing or painted over, you can often determine rating by door thickness: FD30 doors are typically 44-45mm thick, while FD60 doors are 54mm+ thick. However, visual assessment isn't definitive - if uncertain, consult your building's fire risk assessment or original building plans. Our inspectors can identify ratings during assessment and advise if replacement is needed due to missing certification.

Question 27

What are intumescent seals and why do they matter?

Accepted Answer

Intumescent seals are critical fire door components containing special materials that expand when exposed to heat (typically around 200°C). As they expand, they seal gaps between door and frame, preventing fire and smoke penetration. Properly functioning intumescent seals are essential for fire door effectiveness - even a small gap can compromise the entire door's fire rating. Common failures include seals being painted over, damaged during decoration, missing after door adjustments, or degraded with age. Our inspections specifically check seal integrity and positioning, as this is one of the most common compliance failures we identify.

Question 28

What does 'best endeavours' mean for fire door compliance?

Accepted Answer

Under UK law, 'best endeavours' means taking all reasonable steps to achieve fire door compliance. For Regulation 10 inspections, this includes documenting your inspection attempts and findings, taking action to address identified issues promptly, keeping records that demonstrate your compliance efforts, and using competent persons or services for inspections. R-10 certificates provide the documentation needed to prove best endeavours.

Question 29

Can I legally inspect my own fire doors in the UK?

Accepted Answer

Yes. UK fire safety legislation does not mandate that fire door inspections must be carried out by certified professionals. The Fire Safety Order 2005 requires a 'competent person' – someone with sufficient training and knowledge. R-10 provides the guidance, checklists, and independent specialist review you need to conduct documented DIY inspections that help evidence your Regulation 10 duties.

Question 30

Does GOV.UK guidance require professional fire door inspectors?

Accepted Answer

No. GOV.UK guidance states that inspections must be carried out by a 'competent person' which does not require formal qualifications. A competent person is someone with sufficient knowledge of fire door requirements, understanding of what to inspect and why, ability to identify defects and their severity, and knowledge of appropriate remedial actions. R-10 provides guided inspections ensuring you meet competent person requirements.

Question 31

What's the difference between DIY inspection and professional surveyor inspection?

Accepted Answer

Key differences: Cost - DIY with R-10 is £25 vs £200-500 for traditional surveyors. Turnaround - typically 24-48 hours with R-10 vs 1-4 weeks for surveyors. In both cases, the Responsible Person retains legal responsibility for compliance; a report simply helps evidence checks that were carried out.

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