Choosing fire door inspection software is about more than replacing paper forms. The right system should make every inspection faster on site, give you evidence you can stand behind, and show clients and building owners exactly what has been checked, what failed and what has been fixed. This checklist covers what UK fire door inspectors, installers and maintenance contractors should look for.
Why fire door records matter more than ever
Fire doors only work if they are installed and maintained correctly, and building owners increasingly need proof. In England, the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 require responsible persons in multi-occupied residential buildings over 11 metres to check communal fire doors every three months and flat entrance doors every year, using best endeavours. Clients now expect a clear, timestamped record for every door, and paper sheets and spreadsheets make that hard to deliver.
The checklist: 10 things to look for
1. Inspection forms built for fire doors
Look for ready-made fire door survey, installation and maintenance templates that cover the door leaf, frame, gaps, seals, hinges, closers, glazing and signage. If you work to a certification scheme such as BM TRADA, check the software supports those workflows.
2. Works offline on site
Plant rooms, stairwells and basements often have no signal. Inspections should save on the device and sync automatically when you are back online.
3. Photo evidence on every door
Photos should attach to the door record automatically, with the date, time and location, so defects and repairs are easy to prove later.
4. Doors located on drawings
Pinning each door to the building drawing removes confusion about which door is which and makes repeat inspections far quicker. Colour-coded pins that show pass, fail or work in progress give managers an instant picture.
5. A door register for every building
You should be able to see every door on a site, its current condition and its full history in one place, filterable by building, floor or status.
6. Remedial actions that get closed
Failed doors should create actions with an owner and due date, and those actions should stay open until someone signs them off with evidence.
7. Automatic repeat inspections
Quarterly and annual checks are easy to miss. Planned preventative maintenance features should create the next inspection job automatically and alert the right people when it is due.
8. Client-ready reporting and portal access
Reports should be professional, consistent and exportable to Word or PDF. A secure client portal, limited to each client’s own sites, cuts down on chasing and builds trust.
9. Door identification with NFC or barcodes
Tagging doors means operatives always inspect the right door and every record is linked to the correct asset.
10. Simple setup and UK support
Check how long setup takes, whether your own forms can be built in, and whether training and support are UK-based.
Questions to ask any supplier
- Can we try the mobile app on a real survey before we commit?
- How are photos, locations and timestamps stored, and can records be altered after sign-off?
- Can clients see their own sites and reports without seeing anyone else’s?
- How are repeat inspections scheduled and who gets notified?
- What does pricing include, and are there setup or storage charges?
How BORIS does it
BORIS was built for compliance-led contractors. It includes fire door survey, installation and maintenance templates (including BM TRADA workflows), offline mobile working, photo evidence, doors pinned to live drawings, automatic repeat inspections, and a client portal. See BORIS fire door inspection software or book a demo.
Frequently asked questions
What should fire door inspection software include?
At minimum: fire door survey, installation and maintenance forms, offline mobile working, photo evidence, a door register, remedial action tracking, repeat inspection scheduling and client-ready reports.
How often should fire doors be inspected?
In England, the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 require responsible persons in multi-occupied residential buildings over 11 metres to check communal fire doors every three months and flat entrance doors annually, using best endeavours. Other buildings should follow their fire risk assessment.
Can fire door inspections be done on a phone?
Yes. Good fire door inspection software runs on phones and tablets, works offline and syncs records, photos and locations when the device reconnects.
