Beyond the check
What happens when a fire door needs attention?
For Responsible Persons and compliance teams overseeing thousands of fire doors across multiple flats, floors, and blocks, finding a problem is just the beginning. Managing what happens next becomes a complex compliance trail.
Which doors need attention, and what action has been taken? Crucially, is there evidence to show the issue has been resolved?
Compliant fire doors help contain fire and smoke, protecting escape routes and giving occupants vital time to evacuate – and, most importantly, save lives. During this year’s Fire Door Safety Week, CCS helps turn “Check it, close it” into clear action by providing a traceable digital history of every inspection, issue, and remedial action, because protection starts at the door.
ASSESSING CONDITION: Establishing where the door stands
For a fire door already in service, CCS RFID technology can be retrofitted subject to supporting evidence, linking the physical door to its individual digital record. An inspection using a mobile device establishes the door’s condition and creates a reliable starting point for its digital history.
The CCS RFID tag can record the inspection status as Pass, Fail, Overdue, or Unchecked. Where a door fails, the identified defects are captured. Where access has not been achieved, the door remains Unchecked, rather than being recorded as though an inspection has taken place.
This is particularly relevant to flat entrance doors. Under Regulation 10 of the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, Responsible Persons in relevant residential buildings over 11 metres must use best endeavours to check flat entrance fire doors at least every 12 months and keep a record of the steps taken where access has not been granted.
The CCS solution supports capturing this digitally with time-stamped photographic evidence.
Failing to meet fire safety duties can lead to enforcement action and, in serious cases, prosecution, reinforcing the importance of clear evidence of inspection and maintenance.
REPAIR: Managing what needs attention
One failed door may be straightforward. Ten, fifty, or hundreds across different buildings are a different challenge.
One UK university Facilities Manager, who wishes to remain anonymous, describes the system as giving its estates team “full visibility of every fire door across the campus.”
The CCS Site Status Summary Report provides a clear view of fire door status across multiple buildings, showing where doors have failed and why. Teams can use this to plan remedial work.
Where repair in situ is appropriate, government guidance states that the work should be undertaken by a competent contractor as soon as reasonably practicable, taking account of the risks identified.
A specific CCS repair report records the work against the individual door, including who carried out the repair, photographs, details of the remedial work, and any components changed – all digitally.
“Having the ability to prove to Health & Safety and Fire Risk Assessors that regular maintenance inspections and repairs are being undertaken is invaluable.”
Health & Safety Officer at a Local Authority (Anonymous)
VERIFY: Confirming the outcome
Recording a repair as complete is not the same as confirming the subsequent condition of the door.
Using CCS, the door is reinspected and the result added to its individual record alongside the original inspection findings, repair report, and photographs. The result is a continuous, defensible audit trail of what failed, what was done about it, and whether the door subsequently passed inspection.
REPLACE: What if repair is not appropriate?
Not every failed fire door can be repaired. Where replacement is required, the digital record for the new doorset can begin at manufacture.
Through its Data Partner Programme, CCS supports UK fire door manufacturers in incorporating RFID tags at the point of production. Manufacturing data, certification, and drawings, where applicable, can then be added before it reaches site.
Installation information and photographs can be added, followed by subsequent inspection and maintenance information.
A digital history can begin as soon as RFID technology is fitted and being fitted during manufacture, can support cradle-to-grave traceability. Where evidence is recorded against the individual door throughout its lifecycle, the principles of the Golden Thread can also be supported.
CONNECT: Working with established systems
The latest development from CCS is a Customer Application Programming Interface (API), designed to work with customers’ existing technology.
Many customers use other systems to manage their properties, assets, and compliance information. Through the CCS API, these systems can securely access agreed site and address information. The connection is read-only, meaning the information can be viewed but cannot be changed, removing the need to enter the same details more than once.
The aim is straightforward. Reduce repeated data entry and improve consistency between systems in real time.
Access remains customer-specific, revocable, and read-only. CCS has also achieved Cyber Essentials certification, providing further assurance around the cyber-security measures used to protect the platform data and customers.
Effective fire door compliance comes down to having the right information, at the right time, and being able to prove it.
Tel: 0161 646 0110 | Email: sales@ccs-fire.com | www.ccs-fire.com
