A clear understanding of every element of the fire door assembly — what it does, how it contributes to fire and smoke performance, and what happens when it is defective or incorrectly replaced.

• The door leaf — construction, core composition and certification label
• The door frame — rebate, threshold and relationship to gap performance
• Intumescent strips — how they work and why specification matters
• Smoke seals — types, function and correct installation
• Hinges — minimum three, fire rating and weight matching
• Self-closing devices — types, power classification and fail-safe requirements
• Glazing, ironmongery and signage — what is and is not compliant

Before any maintenance work begins, a systematic assessment of the door is required to identify all defects, understand their severity, and plan the maintenance task correctly.

• Reviewing available documentation — what to check before you start
• Systematic visual assessment — both faces and all four edges
• Measuring gap tolerances — correct technique and acceptable limits (3mm)
• Testing the self-closing device — the multi-angle test
• Classifying defects by severity — Critical, Major, Minor
• Identifying when a defect is beyond maintenance and requires specialist assessment
• Recording pre-maintenance condition — photographic evidence best practice

The most frequently performed maintenance tasks on fire doors involve seals and strips. Doing this work correctly — with the right products, in the right positions — is critical to preserving the door's certified performance.

• Verifying the correct seal specification before ordering replacements
• Removing and replacing intumescent strips — groove preparation and fitting
• Removing and replacing smoke seals — brush seals, compression seals and drop seals
• Why 'similar' is not good enough — specification must match test evidence
• Minor surface repairs to the door leaf — compatible materials only
• What leaf damage cannot be repaired and must be referred for replacement
• Checking gap tolerances after seal replacement and adjusting if needed

Hardware maintenance and replacement is the area where certification is most frequently voided. Every component replacement must use a manufacturer-specified equivalent — 'it fits' is not sufficient.

• Hinge maintenance — tightening fixings, identifying worn or deformed hinges
• Hinge replacement — specification matching, fire rating and correct fixing
• Self-closing device adjustment — permitted range and limits
• Self-closing device replacement — equivalent specification and power classification
• Latch and strike plate maintenance and replacement
• Hold-open device servicing — confirming fail-safe function and alarm connection
• Glazing bead and glazing maintenance — when to refer to a specialist

One of the most important decisions a maintenance operative makes — and one of the most common sources of error. This module gives you the knowledge to make it correctly every time.

• What repairs are acceptable without voiding certification
• Leaf damage that cannot be repaired — core penetrations, structural damage
• When leaf dimensions have been altered beyond acceptable limits
• Frame damage that requires replacement rather than repair
• Situations where no certification evidence is available
• Cumulative deviations — when multiple minor issues combine to void performance
• How to communicate a replace recommendation clearly to the Responsible Person

Correct records protect the maintenance operative, the Responsible Person, and the building's occupants. Under the FSO and the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, maintenance records are a legal requirement — not optional good practice.

• What must be recorded for every door maintained
• Legal record-keeping obligations under the FSO and FS(E) Regulations 2022
• Photographic evidence — before, during and after maintenance
• Recording component replacements — product references and specification evidence
• How to document a replace recommendation and follow up
• Record retention and how long to keep maintenance logs