Understand your Regulation 10 duties
Since 23 January 2023, Regulation 10 of the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 has placed direct, legally binding duties on the Responsible Person of every residential building above 11 metres in height. For most buildings this means a quarterly visual inspection of every communal fire door and an annual (best endeavours) check of every flat entrance door — every year, on the record, with results retained.
Failing to discharge these duties is a criminal offence under the Fire Safety Order 2005, prosecuted by the Fire and Rescue Service. Yet many Responsible Persons are still unsure what the regulations actually require, who can carry out the checks, and what evidence is needed to demonstrate compliance.
This course gives you that clarity. It explains the legislation in plain English, walks through exactly what a Regulation 10 check involves, shows you what to look for and what to record, and — crucially — sets out where the awareness check ends and a competent inspector takes over.
Legal Requirement
The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 came into force on 23 January 2023. Responsible Persons in residential buildings above 11m must conduct quarterly fire door checks — and must use competent persons to do so.
Two checks, two frequencies
Regulation 10 splits your fire door duty into two clear tasks. Each has its own frequency, its own scope, and its own record-keeping requirement. Knowing the difference is the first step to compliance.
Quarterly check
Every fire door in the communal areas of the building — landings, corridors, lobbies, plant rooms, bin stores. Visual inspection of condition, gaps, seals, hinges, signage and self-closing function.
between checks
Annual check (best endeavours)
A "best endeavours" check of every flat entrance door, recognising that access depends on the cooperation of leaseholders and tenants. Records must show what was attempted as well as what was checked.
between attempted checks
Learning outcomes
By the end of this course you will be able to:
Identify whether your building falls within scope of Regulation 10
Explain who the Responsible Person is and what duty they hold under the regulations
Distinguish the quarterly communal check from the annual flat entrance door check
Carry out a basic visual fire door check covering condition, gaps, seals, hinges and self-closing function
Identify common defects that should trigger a competent inspector or remedial action
Apply the "best endeavours" principle correctly when residents refuse access
Maintain compliant records that demonstrate Regulation 10 has been discharged
Communicate fire door compliance information to residents as required by Regulation 10
Seven modules — approximately 2 hours
Each module ends with a short knowledge check. Work through the course at your own pace and return to any module as many times as you need within your six-month access window.
1 The Legislative Framework Understand how the Grenfell tragedy reshaped UK fire safety law and where Regulation 10 sits within the legislation that now governs residential buildings.
- The post-Grenfell legislative timeline — Hackitt Review, Fire Safety Act 2021, Building Safety Act 2022
- The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 — Article 17 maintenance duty
- The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 — what each regulation covers
- Where Regulation 10 fits — and the buildings it applies to
- Penalties for non-compliance — fines, prosecution, criminal liability
- Enforcement — the role of the Fire and Rescue Service
2 Who Is the Responsible Person? The first question every Regulation 10 duty hinges on — and one that is more complicated in mixed-use, leasehold and managed buildings than people often assume.
- The legal definition of the Responsible Person under the FSO 2005
- Multiple Responsible Persons — when more than one duty-holder exists
- The role of managing agents, freeholders and Right To Manage companies
- Cooperation duties between Responsible Persons
- Delegation versus accountability — what can and can't be passed to others
3 Buildings In Scope of Regulation 10 Not every residential building falls within Regulation 10. Confirming scope is the foundation of your compliance position.
- The 11-metre threshold — measured from ground level to top storey floor
- Residential buildings with two or more sets of domestic premises
- Mixed-use buildings — when residential triggers the duty
- What counts as a communal fire door
- What counts as a flat entrance door under the regulations
- Buildings between 11m and 18m versus higher-risk residential buildings (HRBs)
4 The Quarterly Communal Door Check A practical, step-by-step walkthrough of what a Regulation 10(3) check involves — what to look at, what to look for, and what good looks like.
- Identifying every communal fire door in your building
- Visual inspection of the door leaf — both faces and edges
- Checking gap tolerances by eye — the 3mm rule
- Inspecting intumescent strips and smoke seals
- Checking hinges, hinge fixings and the self-closing device
- Signage — Keep Shut, Keep Locked Shut and missing labels
- Common defects you should never walk past
- The 90-day interval — how to schedule and avoid drift
5 The Annual Flat Entrance Door Check The hardest duty to discharge — because it depends on resident cooperation. This module explains the "best endeavours" principle and how to evidence it.
- What the annual check covers — the resident-side and the corridor-side
- The "best endeavours" principle and what it requires of you
- Resident communication strategies — letters, notices, repeated attempts
- Evidencing refusals and missed appointments
- Working with leaseholders on remedial works
- Cooperation duties between Responsible Persons in mixed tenure blocks
6 Defect Recognition and Escalation Where the awareness check ends and a competent inspector takes over. Knowing your limits is part of discharging the duty correctly.
- Critical defects — what triggers immediate escalation
- Major defects — what should be referred to a competent inspector
- Minor defects — what can be addressed through routine maintenance
- The boundary between awareness and competence — knowing when to stop
- Procuring competent fire door inspection — what to ask for
- Tracking remedial action through to closure
7 Records, Resident Information and Compliance Evidence A check that isn't recorded is, in practical terms, a check that didn't happen. Regulation 10 places real record-keeping and resident-information duties on the Responsible Person.
- What every check record must contain
- Photographic evidence — best practice for date, location and condition
- Record retention periods and storage
- The resident information duty — what must be communicated
- The "Fire Safety Instructions" notice and how to display it
- Demonstrating compliance to the Fire and Rescue Service on inspection
Who should take this course?
This qualification is for anyone responsible for, or supporting compliance with, Regulation 10 in residential buildings above 11 metres. It is an awareness-level course — not a substitute for the Level 3 Award in Fire Door Inspection where formal competent inspection is required.
Responsible Persons
Freeholders, landlords and duty-holders who carry direct legal liability under the Fire Safety Order.
Block and building managers
Property managers, managing agents and on-site building managers running compliance for residential blocks.
Housing association staff
Compliance, asset and neighbourhood teams responsible for fire door duties across residential portfolios.
Concierge and front-of-house
Building concierge teams who carry out routine visual checks on communal fire doors.
Local authority housing
Council housing officers and estate teams discharging Regulation 10 across local authority stock.
RTM and resident directors
Right To Manage company directors and resident-led freehold companies carrying duty-holder responsibility.
Assessment — one component
Assessment is by a single online multiple choice paper. Results are instant. Pass and your NFAQ digital certificate is issued within three working days of completion.
Multiple choice assessment
What the assessment covers
Learners who do not pass on their first attempt receive feedback identifying the topic areas to review before resitting.
NFAQ digital certificate
NFAQ Award in Regulation 10 Fire Door Awareness (NFAQ-R10-AW)
Your NFAQ digital certificate is issued within three working days of passing the assessment. Each certificate carries a unique reference number instantly verifiable at nfaq.co.uk/verify — providing evidence to the Fire and Rescue Service, insurers and tenants that staff carrying out Regulation 10 checks have the requisite awareness training.
Frequently asked questions
Does this course make me a competent fire door inspector?
Does Regulation 10 apply to my building?
Can a concierge or non-specialist member of staff carry out the quarterly check?
What if a resident refuses access to their flat entrance door?
Can I enrol multiple staff members at once?
How long does the course take?
Get your team Regulation 10 ready
Enrol today and complete your Regulation 10 awareness training in a single sitting. Six months' access, fully online, NFAQ digital certificate on completion.