What is likely happening
A fire door only works if it closes and latches by itself. Propped doors, broken closers, and damaged latches are common and let smoke and fire spread.
What you can safely check
- Remove wedges and hold-opens that are not connected to the alarm.
- Open the door fully and let it go; it should close and latch.
What an inspector will look at
- Closer and latch
- Frame, gaps and seals
- Labels and hardware
Does this affect compliance?
Many buildings, including hospitals and residential buildings in some cities, have fire door inspection or self-closing requirements.
When it becomes urgent
More urgent on stairwell and corridor doors.
We can help with this
Fire and life safety inspections is something Insparisk does nationwide. Delivered through licensed fire protection professionals in the Insparisk Network and managed by our team. To see the local rules for your building, open this in the interactive Problem Solver.
Request fire and life safety inspectionsTalk to an advisorGeneral guidance only, not a substitute for a licensed inspection or emergency services. For any gas odor, carbon monoxide alarm, fire, or trapped occupant, call 911 first.