A fire door only works closed. The self-closing device is what makes that happen automatically, and it is the single most commonly failed component in our door surveys.
Under the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, responsible persons for buildings over 11 metres must carry out quarterly checks of communal fire doors. The self-closer is the first thing to check, because it is the first thing to fail.
The common failures
- Closers disconnected or removed because the door was “too heavy” for residents
- Closers that no longer fully engage the latch from any open angle
- Incorrect tension, so the door slams or fails to close the final few centimetres
- Hold-open devices not linked to the alarm
The quick test: open the door to 5 degrees, 45 degrees and fully open, and let go each time. It should close and latch fully from every position, every time. If it doesn’t, record it and get it remediated, it is a recordable finding under the Fire Safety Order.
