A fire risk assessment considers the overall fire risk and fire-safety arrangements for the premises. A fire door inspection examines individual door sets in greater detail. An FRA may identify the need for a separate door inspection, while a door survey can provide evidence that informs the FRA.
What a fire risk assessment does
The FRA considers the premises as a whole: people at risk, fire hazards, means of escape, compartmentation, fire doors, warning arrangements, smoke control, emergency lighting, management systems and other relevant measures. It identifies significant findings and the actions needed to manage risk.
What a fire door inspection does
A door-by-door inspection focuses on the visible condition and operation of each door set within the agreed scope. It records defects to the door leaf, frame, gaps, seals, hinges, closer, glazing and other relevant components and provides a more detailed schedule than would normally sit inside an FRA.
Why an FRA cannot always replace a door survey
An assessor may identify obvious fire-door defects during an FRA, but an FRA is not necessarily a detailed inspection of every door. Where the condition of a number of doors is uncertain, where Regulation 10 duties apply, or where a reliable defect schedule is needed, a dedicated inspection can be the appropriate next step.
Why a door survey cannot replace an FRA
A door inspection does not assess the whole building. Good fire doors do not answer questions about escape routes, compartmentation elsewhere, resident information, smoke control, emergency lighting, management arrangements or the overall risk conclusion.
How the two should work together
The best outcome is a joined-up record. The FRA identifies the significance of fire doors within the building strategy; the door inspection provides detailed evidence; and completed remedial work is then reconciled with both records so that known defects are not repeatedly carried forward.