Testing for care and nursing homes
Our care home fire door testing in London checks every hold-open device and free-swing closer with your fire alarm. We test calmly, room by room, so residents are not upset and every door is proven to close.
Testing doors in care
Many residents cannot open a heavy fire door. Care homes use hold-open devices and free-swing closers so doors stay open or move freely in daily life.
In a fire, every device must let the door go. Care home fire door testing proves that each one releases on the alarm and that the door then closes fully.
A fire alarm sounding can upset people living with dementia. We plan the alarm tests with your manager, often in short bursts and at quiet times.
Staff tell residents before we enter a room. If someone is unsettled, we move on and come back later.
Curious how a standard test works in other buildings? Our fire door testing in London explains each step.
Devices that keep failing may need servicing or swapping. Our care home fire door maintenance keeps them working between tests.
What we test
As well as the usual closing and gap tests, care home doors need extra checks on the devices that hold them open.
Each hold-open must let go within seconds of the alarm sounding. We watch every one and note any that are slow.
These let the door move freely, then close it on the alarm. We check both jobs.
Once released, the door must shut and latch on its own, with nothing in the way.
Seal contact and gap size recorded per door.
Glass is checked for cracks, and beads for gaps. Staff rely on these panels to check on residents.
Chairs, bins and walking frames placed in a door’s path are noted, as they can stop it closing.
How it works
Your manager knows the residents best, so the plan is built with them.
We agree quiet times, rooms to avoid and how residents will be told.
Your alarm engineer sounds the alarm zone by zone.
Each door is tested with a staff member nearby.
Small faults fixed on the day, then everything is written up in the device log.
Other buildings
We test fire doors in these buildings as well.
Your records
You get a device log as well as door test sheets. Inspectors can see that every device was tested, when and with what result.
Common failures
These faults come up most often in care homes. Many are caused by daily care routines, not poor doors.
A device that does not release, often because it is not linked to the alarm. The door stays open in a fire.
The door releases but closes too slowly to latch.
Furniture or equipment placed where the door swings stops it shutting. This is one of the most common failures.
Beds and hoists knock doors and frames, so hinges loosen and gaps grow over time.
Seals worn away by constant use.
Where devices are missing, staff may wedge doors to help residents. The test shows where devices are needed.
Pricing
Doors are priced per door, with a separate rate for each device tested on the alarm.
| Work | Guide price |
|---|---|
| On-site fire door testing | £20–£45per door |
| Hold-open device test with alarm | £15–£35per device |
| Minimum testing visit | £300–£550per visit |
| Service visit (adjust and small fixes) | £15–£35per door, per visit |
Guide prices updated October 2026. Your fixed quote follows a visit or survey.
Every bedroom has a free-swing closer.
£1,350–£3,075
Hold-opens on lounges and corridors only.
£520–£1,180
Each device needs its own alarm test.
Short sessions to suit residents can spread the work over more time.
The rate per door falls as numbers rise.
Adjusting devices during the visit saves a return trip.
Areas covered
We test fire doors in care and nursing homes in every London borough.
Many outer London care homes are in converted large houses with narrow corridors and many small doors. Newer purpose-built homes tend to have more devices on each floor.
For care groups, every home gets the same device log, so head office can compare results.
Central London
North London
East London
South London
West London
Related services
These services help your doors keep passing between tests.
Servicing devices and closers so they keep releasing on cue.
View serviceA full condition check of every door.
View serviceFree-swing closers and new doors where needed.
View serviceSwap doors badly damaged by beds and hoists.
View serviceFAQ
What care home managers and owners ask us about door testing.
Door testing usually costs £20–£45 per door before VAT. Each hold-open or free-swing device tested on the alarm is £15–£35 per device. Small homes have a minimum visit of £300–£550. Bigger homes pay a lower rate for each door. Small fixes, such as adjusting a slow device, can often be added to the same visit, which saves paying for a return trip.
Hold-open devices should be checked whenever the fire alarm is tested, which in many homes is weekly. A full test of every device and door is often done every three to six months. Your fire risk assessment should set the interval for your home.
A free-swing closer lets a fire door move like a normal door, with no effort. Residents can open it easily, and it stays where it is left. When the alarm sounds, the closer takes over and shuts the door. Free-swing closers are often fitted to bedroom doors, where residents want the door open but staff need it to close in a fire.
We plan the visit with your manager to keep upset to a minimum. Alarm tests are short and done zone by zone. Staff tell residents before we enter a room, and we can come back later if anyone is unsettled.
We mark the door as high risk and tell the manager straight away. Often the device needs adjusting or its link to the alarm needs fixing. If it cannot be fixed on the day, staff must keep that door shut until it is repaired.
Chairs, laundry bins and walking frames are often left where a door swings. In daily life this seems harmless, but in a fire the door cannot close. We note every blocked door so staff know which areas to keep clear.
CQC inspectors look at whether the home is safe, and fire safety is part of that. Clear records of tested doors and devices help show that risks are being managed. Keep your device logs with your fire safety file. Records that show a regular routine, with faults found and fixed, are stronger evidence than a single test result.
Yes, ideally. A member of staff should be with us when we enter residents’ rooms. They can reassure residents and tell us about any doors that cause problems day to day. Staff also help us spot doors that are often wedged or blocked during the day, which may need a device fitted.
Yes. We take extra care in dementia units, keeping visits short and calm. We agree the timing with your staff, and we can test in smaller groups of rooms over more than one visit. Familiar faces matter, so we try to send the same tester each time, and we follow any guidance your team gives us.
Testing proves the doors and devices work. An inspection also looks at labels, glazing, damage and paperwork. Many homes book both, so they have a full record of every door. Testing is often done more often, for example every three to six months, while a full inspection may be yearly. Your fire risk assessment will guide both.
Next step
Tell us how many beds, doors and devices you have. We will plan a calm visit with your manager.
