How to Start a Fire Door Inspection Business in the UK

The fire door inspection industry is growing. The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, increased enforcement of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, and heightened awareness following Grenfell have created sustained demand for competent fire door surveyors across the UK.

If you’re considering starting your own fire door inspection business, this guide covers everything you need — qualifications, insurance, equipment, pricing, and finding your first clients.

Is There Demand for Fire Door Inspectors?

Before investing your time and money, you need to understand the market.

Demand is strong and growing:

The Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 require quarterly checks of communal fire doors and annual checks of flat entrance doors in residential buildings over 11 metres
Many buildings have never had a proper fire door survey — there’s a significant backlog
Existing inspectors are often booked weeks or months in advance
Facilities management companies constantly need reliable subcontractors

The economics work:

Day rates typically range from £250–£450 depending on experience and location
Low startup costs compared to most trades — under £1,000 for equipment
No expensive vehicle, workshop, or stock requirements
Flexible scheduling — many inspectors work 3–4 survey days per week

But it’s not for everyone:

Requires genuine technical knowledge — you can’t blag your way through a BS 8214 survey
Physical work — you’re on your feet all day, measuring, photographing, checking hundreds of components
Client management matters — you’re often delivering bad news about non-compliant doors
Reputation is everything — poor work spreads quickly in a small industry

Step 1: Get Qualified

You need to demonstrate competence before inspecting fire doors professionally. Under the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, checks should be carried out by someone with appropriate knowledge and skills. For detailed surveys to BS 8214, clients expect formal qualifications.

The Main Qualification Routes

ABBE Level 3 Award in Fire Door Inspection: This is the industry-standard qualification for fire door inspectors. It’s awarded by ABBE (the Awarding Body for the Built Environment) and confirms you’re competent to inspect fire doors across all property types in line with UK legislation.

Format: 2-day classroom training + portfolio of evidence (up to 12 months to complete)
Cost: Approximately £325–£500 depending on provider
Providers include: BRE Academy, UK Fire Door Training, Global Technical Services, Vraxis Safety Solutions, and others
Assessment: Portfolio submission including assignment workbook, inspection reports, and work evidence. Minimum 75% pass mark.

FDIS (Fire Door Inspection Scheme) Certification: The FDIS route involves completing the FDIS Diploma (DipFD) — a series of online modules — followed by examination to become a Certificated Fire Door Inspector (CertFDI).

Provides both education and a professional certification scheme
Inspectors are listed on the FDIS register, which some clients specifically look for
Ongoing CPD requirements to maintain certification

Which should you choose? Many inspectors hold both. The ABBE Level 3 is the formal qualification. FDIS certification adds credibility and a listing on their register. If you can only afford one initially, start with the ABBE Level 3 — it’s what most tender documents ask for.

Other Useful Qualifications

Fire stopping inspection certifications (expands your service offering)
Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) membership (professional credibility)
Fire Risk Assessor qualifications (useful for diversification later)

Important: Attending a training course alone does not make you competent. BRE themselves state that course attendance contributes toward demonstrating competency but isn’t sufficient on its own. You need practical experience alongside your qualifications.

For a deeper look at qualification routes, see our guide on fire door inspector qualifications.

Step 2: Gain Practical Experience

Qualifications alone aren’t enough. You need hands-on experience before going solo.

Routes to Experience

Work for an existing fire door company:

Learn their systems and processes
Understand what clients actually expect from reports
Make mistakes while covered by someone else’s insurance
Build a portfolio of real survey work

Subcontract initially:

Many established companies need overflow capacity
Lower day rate, but steady work while you’re learning
Builds references you can use when tendering for your own contracts

Offer discounted surveys:

Survey doors for local charities, community buildings, or small businesses
Practice your workflow and reporting under real conditions
Build a portfolio of completed surveys to show prospective clients

Aim for at least 6–12 months of practical experience before going fully independent. When a facilities manager asks “how many doors have you surveyed?”, you need a credible answer.

Step 3: Get Insured

Insurance isn’t optional. Most clients require proof of cover before you can start work, and many tender documents specify minimum coverage levels.

Insurance You Need

Professional Indemnity (PI) Insurance:

Covers claims if your professional advice or survey findings are challenged
Most clients require minimum £1 million cover
Larger contracts (housing associations, local authorities) often require £2–5 million
Cost: From around £150–£400/year for a solo inspector, depending on cover level and provider

Public Liability Insurance:

Covers injury to third parties or property damage during your work
Standard requirement: £1–5 million
Cost: Approximately £100–£250/year

Employers’ Liability Insurance:

Legally required if you employ anyone — minimum £5 million cover (Employers’ Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969)
Not needed if you’re genuinely solo with no employees or subcontractors

Tip: Specialist insurance brokers for fire safety and construction professionals usually offer better rates than generic providers. Combined policies are often cheaper than buying each separately.

For a detailed breakdown, see our insurance guide for fire door inspectors.

Step 4: Set Up Your Business

Business Structure

Sole Trader:

Simplest to set up — register with HMRC for Self Assessment
You’re personally liable for business debts
Suitable when starting out
Lower admin overhead

Limited Company:

Separate legal entity — limited liability protection
Register with Companies House
More administrative requirements (annual accounts, Corporation Tax)
Better for scaling or if you plan to take on employees

Most fire door inspectors start as sole traders and incorporate later if the business grows.

Essential Admin

Register with HMRC (sole trader) or Companies House (limited company)
Open a business bank account — keep personal and business finances separate
Set up basic accounting (FreeAgent, QuickBooks, or even a spreadsheet to start)
Create invoice and quote templates
Register for VAT if your turnover exceeds the threshold (currently £90,000 — check GOV.UK for the latest as this is subject to review)

Step 5: Invest in Equipment

Fire door inspection has low equipment costs compared to most trades.

Essential Kit

Item	Approximate Cost	Notes
Gap gauge set	£15–30	Feeler gauges for measuring door gaps to BS 8214
Tape measure (8m)	£10–20	For leaf dimensions and frame measurements
Torch	£20–50	Rechargeable LED — you’ll use it constantly
Smartphone or tablet	£200–600	For photos and digital survey capture
Spirit level (small)	£15–30	For checking door and frame alignment
PPE	£50–100	Hi-vis vest, safety boots — site requirements vary
Door wedge	£5	For holding doors open during inspection

Survey Software

Paper forms and Word documents are still common, but digital survey tools are rapidly becoming the standard clients expect. The advantages are significant:

Capture data, photos, and measurements in one place on site
Generate professional PDF reports automatically — no desk time writing up
Price remedial works with automatic Bill of Materials generation
Maintain a digital audit trail with timestamps
QR code door tracking for ongoing management

Total equipment investment for a new inspector: typically £500–£1,000.

Step 6: Define Your Services and Pricing

Core Services

Fire Door Condition Surveys:

Full BS 8214 compliant inspection of installed fire door assemblies
Detailed report with photos, gap measurements, component assessment
Compliant/Non-Compliant determination for each door
Remediation recommendations with repair specifications

Routine Inspection Programmes:

Scheduled quarterly or six-monthly inspections
Ongoing client relationship with recurring revenue
Often the most profitable service line once established

Pre-Purchase or Due Diligence Surveys:

Condition assessment of fire door estate for property transactions
Summary report with cost estimates for remediation
Growing market as buyers become more aware of fire safety liabilities

Value-Add Services

Remediation Management: Specifying repairs, coordinating contractors, verifying completed work

Fire Door Asset Registers: Full door cataloguing with QR code tagging and digital records

Staff Awareness Training: Teaching building managers and caretakers to carry out the basic quarterly visual checks required by the regulations

Pricing

Research your local market. Typical pricing models in 2026:

Model	Typical Range	Best For
Per door	£15–30	Large volume surveys, 50+ doors
Day rate	£250–£450	Standard site surveys
Fixed project price	Varies	Complex or multi-site contracts

London and South East rates tend to be at the top end. Rural and Northern areas are lower, but so is competition.

Don’t undercut the market. Low prices signal low quality, attract difficult clients, and make it impossible to deliver thorough work. Price fairly for the value you provide.

For detailed pricing guidance, see our post on fire door surveyor day rates.

Step 7: Find Your First Clients

This is where most new businesses struggle. You’re qualified, insured, and equipped — now you need doors to inspect.

Direct Approaches

Facilities Management Companies:

Constantly need reliable fire door subcontractors
Can provide steady work volume
Lower margins than direct clients, but consistent income while building your reputation

Property Management Companies:

Manage portfolios of buildings that all need fire door surveys
Often have framework agreements you can join
Regular repeat work

Housing Associations and Local Authorities:

Large fire door estates — hundreds or thousands of doors
Strong regulatory pressure to inspect
Formal tender processes, but worth the effort for the volume

Schools, Care Homes, Hotels:

All have fire safety obligations under the RRFSO 2005
Often don’t have existing relationships with fire door inspectors
More informal procurement — a direct approach often works

Marketing That Works

LinkedIn:

Connect with facilities managers, property managers, and building safety managers
Share useful content about fire door compliance — not sales pitches
Position yourself as knowledgeable and helpful

Referral Networks:

Build relationships with fire risk assessors — they identify fire door issues but don’t inspect doors themselves, so they refer work
Connect with remediation contractors — they need inspectors to verify completed work
Ask satisfied clients for introductions

Your Online Presence:

A simple, professional website explaining your services
Google Business Profile listing (essential for local searches)
Case studies or examples of completed work

What Clients Actually Want

When pitching for work, lead with what matters to them:

Reliability — Turn up when you say you will, deliver reports when promised
Clear reporting — Professional, understandable survey reports that they can act on
Quick turnaround — Reports delivered promptly after the site visit, not weeks later
Competence — Evidence of qualifications, insurance, and experience
Flexibility — Ability to work around building operations and resident access

Lead with these, not just your price.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Going solo too early: Get proper experience first. Mistakes on site damage your reputation and create liability. Six months working for someone else saves you years of credibility problems.

Underpricing your services: Cheap prices attract clients who don’t value the work and make it impossible to deliver thorough surveys. Your reports are your product — price them accordingly.

Slow report turnaround: Clients judge you on how quickly they receive reports after your site visit. If you’re spending evenings typing up paper notes, you’re already behind. Digital survey tools that generate reports automatically solve this.

Neglecting admin: Keep on top of invoicing, insurance renewals, and tax returns. Administrative problems have killed many otherwise successful inspection businesses.

Not investing in CPD: Standards change. Regulations update. New guidance gets published. The inspectors who stay current get the best contracts. Budget time and money for continuing professional development every year.

Realistic Financial Expectations

Based on current UK market data:

Year 1 (building up): £20,000–£30,000 You’re finding clients, building reputation, and won’t be fully utilised. Expect 2–3 billable days per week initially.

Year 2–3 (established): £35,000–£55,000 Repeat clients, referrals coming in, 3–4 billable days per week. The business sustains itself.

Experienced specialist: £55,000–£75,000+ Premium rates, efficient workflow, established client base. Some experienced inspectors earn more by specialising in complex buildings or combining inspection with consultancy.

These assume you’re working as a solo inspector. Building a team multiplies revenue but changes the nature of the work — you become a business manager rather than a surveyor.

Factors that affect your income:

Location (London and South East rates are higher)
Efficiency (more doors per day = more income per day)
Client quality (repeat clients reduce time spent on marketing)
Specialisation (complex buildings and sectors command premiums)

Scaling Beyond Solo

If the business grows, you have several directions:

Stay solo, increase rates: Become a recognised expert. Specialise in higher-risk buildings, healthcare, or education sectors. Charge premium rates for premium service.

Build a team: Employ or subcontract other inspectors. Your role shifts from surveyor to business manager. More revenue, more complexity.

Diversify services: Add fire risk assessment, fire stopping inspection, or remediation management. Each service cross-sells to your existing client base.

Getting Started

Starting a fire door inspection business is achievable for anyone willing to invest in proper training and build their skills through experience. The market is growing, startup costs are low, and the work is genuinely important — you’re helping keep people safe.

Your checklist:

Get qualified — ABBE Level 3 Award in Fire Door Inspection as a minimum
Gain 6–12 months of practical experience
Get insured — Professional Indemnity and Public Liability at minimum
Register your business and sort the admin
Invest in decent equipment and survey software
Start building client relationships

The fire door industry needs more competent inspectors. If you’re willing to do the work properly, there’s a place for you.

This guide provides general information about starting a fire door inspection business in the UK. Requirements may vary based on your location, target market, and business structure. Consult with a business advisor, accountant, and insurance specialist for advice specific to your situation.

IgnisTrack is fire door survey software built for inspectors. Digital surveys, automatic PDF reports, Bill of Materials generation, and QR code door tracking — all from your phone. See how it works or start your 14-day free trial.