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Last reviewed: 10 June 2026

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Competence and evidence

Fire Door Competence & Evidence Guide 2026

How buyers, Responsible Persons and property managers can ask better questions before appointing fire door installers, inspectors or remedial contractors.

Fire door work is safety-critical. Before appointing someone to inspect, install, repair, replace or alter a fire door, buyers should ask whether that person is competent for the specific task and what evidence will be left behind.

Use the buyer questions Find an installer preparation guide

Who this guide is for

  • Buyers and specifiers

    Ask better questions before appointing someone to work on a fire door and record the answers.

  • Responsible persons

    Understand how competence evidence may support appointment decisions and wider fire-safety management.

  • Property managers and managing agents

    Build a clearer procurement and record-keeping process for fire door installers, inspectors and contractors.

  • Landlords and housing providers

    Understand why fire door appointments need task-specific competence, not just a general trade reference.

  • Installers, inspectors and contractors

    Understand what buyers and duty-holders may ask for and why documentation matters.

Competence is task-specific

A person may be competent for one fire door task but not another. The question is whether they are competent for this door, this building and this scope of work.

Ask for evidence before appointment

Before work starts, ask what skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours support the appointment, and what documents will be provided.

Record the answers

Write down what was asked, what evidence was received, who was appointed and why. This does not prove compliance, but it may help show how the decision was made.

Do not rely on badges alone

A certificate, membership or logo is not enough by itself. Check scope, experience, limitations and the documents the provider will leave behind.

Why competence matters

Appointing someone to work on a fire door is not just a purchasing decision. It is a safety-critical appointment.

Fire doors are life-safety products. They may form part of a building's fire precautions, escape routes, compartmentation or smoke-control arrangements.

Buyers are not simply buying a door leaf or a day rate. They are appointing someone to work on part of the building's fire-safety arrangements.

That appointment decision should be evidenced. Competence should be relevant to the actual task, door type, building type and scope — not assumed from a general trade label or a vague assurance.

Under UK fire-safety law, duty-holders may need to appoint competent assistance where appropriate. What counts as competent depends on the task, the premises and the evidence available at the time.

Key takeaway: The question is not "are you qualified?" but "are you competent for this specific fire door task, and how can you evidence that?"

What SKEB means

SKEB stands for Skills, Knowledge, Experience and Behaviours. It is a practical way to think about competence beyond a certificate or badge.

Skills: practical ability to inspect, install or repair the relevant fire door system for the task in hand.

Knowledge: understanding of fire door systems, standards, manufacturer instructions, product evidence, compatible components and limitations.

Experience: relevant previous work on similar doors, buildings and scopes — not just attendance on a course.

Behaviours: honesty, record keeping, refusing unsafe shortcuts, explaining limits, escalating uncertainty and not making unsupported compliance claims.

Education and training can support Skills and Knowledge evidence, but SKEB uses Experience rather than treating training as a substitute for relevant work history.

Key takeaway: SKEB is broader than a certificate. It asks whether the person can do the specific task properly and responsibly.

Competence is not one-size-fits-all

A person may be competent for one type of fire door work but not another. Inspection, installation, remedial work, replacement, flat entrance doors, communal doors, FD30, FD60, smoke control, glazing, access control and complete doorsets can involve different competence needs.

A general joiner, general builder, handyman or facilities contractor should not be assumed competent for all fire door tasks without checking scope, evidence and limitations.

Competence should be checked against the actual work required: the door location, rating if known, building type, occupancy, access constraints, existing defects, product evidence and the documents the appointing party needs afterwards.

Where a provider offers multiple services, ask which named person or team will do which part of the work and whether each part is within their competence.

Key takeaway: Competence follows the task, the door and the building — not the job title on the quote.

Buyer questions before appointment

Use these grouped questions when comparing installers, inspectors, surveyors or remedial contractors. Prefix labels help you record answers under Skills, Knowledge, Experience, Behaviours, Evidence and records, and Scope and limitations.

  • [Skills] Who will actually do the work?
  • [Skills] What fire door work are they competent to do?
  • [Skills] Are they competent for this door type and building type?
  • [Skills] What training or assessment supports that competence?
  • [Skills] Are they competent for installation, inspection, remediation or only part of the scope?
  • [Knowledge] What standards, guidance or manufacturer instructions will you work to?
  • [Knowledge] What product evidence will you rely on?
  • [Knowledge] How will you check compatibility of the door leaf, frame, closer, seals, hinges, glazing and ironmongery?
  • [Knowledge] How will you decide whether repair or replacement is appropriate?
  • [Knowledge] What are the limitations of your quote, inspection or report?
  • [Experience] Have you completed similar work in similar buildings?
  • [Experience] Have you worked on flat entrance doors or communal doors before?
  • [Experience] Have you worked in occupied residential buildings?
  • [Experience] Can you describe similar door types or project scopes?
  • [Experience] What problems have you commonly found on this kind of work?
  • [Behaviours] Will you tell me if something is outside your competence?
  • [Behaviours] Will you record defects and limitations clearly?
  • [Behaviours] Will you avoid unsupported "make compliant" claims?
  • [Behaviours] Will you explain exclusions in writing?
  • [Behaviours] Will you refuse shortcuts that could affect fire performance?
  • [Evidence and records] What documents will you provide before appointment?
  • [Evidence and records] What documents will you provide after the work?
  • [Evidence and records] Will the quote identify door locations and scope?
  • [Evidence and records] Will you provide photographs, completion records, inspection findings or handover evidence?
  • [Evidence and records] Will the report explain limitations?
  • [Scope and limitations] What is included and excluded from the quote or inspection?
  • [Scope and limitations] What assumptions are you making about existing doors, frames or site conditions?
  • [Scope and limitations] What will you not inspect, install or repair under this appointment?
  • [Scope and limitations] What further investigation or specialist advice may be needed?

Key takeaway: Good appointment decisions usually come from specific questions, not generic assurances.

What buyers should record: Competence Evidence Record

A practical record of what was asked, what evidence was considered and why an appointment decision was made.

This record does not prove compliance by itself. It helps document the appointment process and the evidence considered at the time.

Use it before appointing an installer, inspector, surveyor, remedial contractor or supplier. Update it if scope changes or if new evidence is received.

Keep copies with project files, inspection records, quotes, reports and fire-safety management documents where appropriate.

For a printable version with blank answer lines, use the Fire Door Competence Evidence Record.

  • Date
  • Building or address, or project reference
  • Buyer or duty-holder name
  • Contractor or company name
  • Named person or team doing the work
  • Role: installer, inspector, surveyor, remedial contractor or supplier
  • Scope of work
  • Door locations
  • Door type
  • Required rating if known
  • Smoke-control requirement if known
  • Evidence requested
  • Evidence received
  • Training or qualification evidence
  • Relevant experience evidence
  • Insurance evidence
  • Standards, guidance or product evidence to be used
  • Quote exclusions
  • Limitations stated
  • Documents promised after work
  • Decision made
  • Reason for appointing or rejecting
  • Person making decision
  • Review date

Key takeaway: Recording the appointment decision does not guarantee compliance, but it may help show what was considered when the decision was made.

Why records may matter later

If there is a later dispute, incident, enforcement investigation, insurance question or legal claim, the issue may not only be what work was done.

Questions may include what the buyer or duty-holder knew, what they asked, what evidence they requested, who they appointed, whether warning signs were ignored, and what records were kept.

A competence evidence record may help show the appointment process, but it does not guarantee compliance, remove legal duties or provide legal protection.

Post-Grenfell, fire safety accountability is under serious scrutiny across the built environment. The Metropolitan Police has reported that Grenfell charging files are being submitted to the CPS for charging decisions. This is accountability context only. It does not predict prosecutions, imply guilt or suggest that keeping records alone will prevent enforcement action.

Records may help show what was asked and considered at the time. They are not a substitute for competent work, suitable products, proper installation, inspection, maintenance or legal advice.

Key takeaway: Good records may help explain appointment decisions later, but they do not replace competent work or legal duties.

Red flags before appointment

Some warning signs suggest a provider may not be taking fire door competence, scope or evidence seriously enough.

Be cautious where answers are vague, documents are missing, or the provider seems unwilling to explain limits.

These signs do not automatically mean someone is unsuitable, but they should prompt further questions or another option.

Warning signs

  • "We make everything compliant" with no detail
  • No named person responsible for the work
  • No written scope
  • No product evidence
  • No manufacturer instructions
  • No record of components proposed or used
  • No willingness to document work
  • No clear exclusions
  • Reluctance to explain competence
  • Price-only quote with no scope detail
  • Refusal to discuss limitations
  • Suggesting shortcuts around closers, seals, glazing, frames or hardware without explaining compatibility or evidence

Key takeaway: If a provider cannot explain competence, scope and evidence clearly before appointment, proceed with caution.

Good contractor behaviours

Competent providers often show similar behaviours before and during fire door work.

These behaviours do not guarantee compliance, but they may indicate a more responsible approach to scope, evidence and record keeping.

  • Explains limits clearly
  • Puts scope in writing
  • Identifies assumptions
  • Requests reports, photographs or a site visit where needed
  • Checks compatibility of components and product evidence
  • Uses manufacturer evidence and instructions where relevant
  • Documents work and findings
  • Says when specialist advice is needed
  • Avoids blanket compliance claims
  • Treats records as part of the job

Key takeaway: Responsible providers usually explain what they can do, what they cannot do, and what they will document.

How this applies to different types of work

Competence questions should match the work being appointed. Use the relevant guide for task-specific detail.

Installation

Installation competence should cover the complete installed fire door system, compatible components, manufacturer instructions and completion records. See the Fire Door Installation Guide.

Inspection

Inspection competence should match the inspection scope, door types, reporting format and limitations. See the Fire Door Inspection Guide.

Remediation

Remediation competence should cover whether repair is appropriate, product compatibility and post-work evidence. See the Fire Door Remediation Guide.

Flat entrance doors

Flat entrance doors may need competence in access, resident communication, evidence review and occupied-building working. See Flat Entrance Fire Doors.

Communal doors

Communal fire doors may involve higher-use environments, inspection programmes and ongoing records. See Communal Fire Doors.

Cost and quote comparison

Price comparisons should include scope, competence evidence and documentation — not price alone. See Fire Door Installation Cost guide.

Installer enquiry preparation

Before requesting quotes, gather door locations, reports, photos, defects and scope details. See Find a Fire Door Installer.

Key takeaway: Ask competence questions that match the actual task, then use the relevant guide for deeper detail.

Common fire door competence mistakes

  • Asking "are you qualified?" but not asking competent for what

    Qualification language is too vague. Ask about the specific task, door type, building type and scope.

  • Accepting a badge without checking scope

    A certificate or membership may not cover the work you are appointing. Check what it applies to and what it excludes.

  • Failing to identify who is actually doing the work

    The company name on the quote may not be the person on site. Ask who will attend and what their competence evidence is.

  • Comparing price without comparing competence

    A lower quote may omit scope, documentation, compatible components or competent inspection.

  • Not recording answers

    If answers are not written down, it may be harder later to show what was asked and considered at appointment.

  • Not keeping reports, photos or evidence

    Quotes, inspection reports, photographs and completion records may be important parts of the evidence trail.

  • Assuming a general trade skill equals fire door competence

    Joinery, building or facilities experience does not automatically mean competence for a specific fire door task.

  • Accepting "make compliant" without basis

    Compliance language should be supported by scope, product evidence, standards referenced and clear limitations.

  • Ignoring limitations

    If a provider will not explain what they cannot do, what is excluded or what needs further investigation, treat that as a warning sign.

Frequently asked questions

What does competent mean for fire door work?

In general terms, a competent person is someone with sufficient training, experience, knowledge and other qualities to do the task properly. For fire door work, that usually means competence for the specific task, door type, building type and scope — not just a general trade skill or vague assurance.

What does SKEB mean?

SKEB stands for Skills, Knowledge, Experience and Behaviours. It is a practical way to assess whether someone can do a specific fire door task responsibly. Education and training can support Skills and Knowledge evidence, but Experience and Behaviours also matter.

Is a qualification enough?

Not usually by itself. A qualification or certificate may help demonstrate part of a competence case, but buyers should also ask about relevant experience, scope, limitations, product evidence and the documents the provider will leave behind.

Can a general joiner install a fire door?

A joiner may be competent for some fire door work, but competence should not be assumed from the trade label alone. Ask what fire door installation experience they have, what product evidence they will use, what components are included and what completion records they will provide.

What should I ask a fire door installer?

Ask who will do the work, what door and building types they have worked on, what standards and manufacturer instructions they will follow, what product evidence they will rely on, what is excluded, what documents they will provide, and what they will do if evidence is missing or defects are found.

What evidence should I keep?

Useful evidence may include quotes, scope descriptions, training or experience information, insurance details, product evidence, inspection or completion records, photographs, limitations stated in writing and your own record of why someone was appointed or rejected.

Does a competence record prove compliance?

No. A competence evidence record documents what was asked and considered at appointment. It does not prove that work was compliant, remove legal duties or guarantee that a decision will be accepted by an insurer, regulator or court.

How does this matter for Responsible Persons?

Responsible Persons may need to make sure fire-safety matters are properly managed, which can include appointing competent assistance and keeping suitable records. Competence evidence may help show how appointment decisions were made, but it does not replace ongoing checks, maintenance, remedial action or legal duties.

Should I ask for insurance?

Yes. Insurance is one part of the appointment picture. Ask what cover applies to the work, but do not treat insurance alone as proof of fire door competence.

What if a contractor refuses to answer competence questions?

That is a warning sign. Fire door work is safety-critical, and buyers are entitled to ask about scope, evidence and limitations before appointment. If clear answers are not provided, consider another provider or seek competent advice.

Does this website approve installers?

No. This website does not currently approve, vet, certify, list or recommend installers, inspectors or contractors.

How does Grenfell affect accountability?

Post-Grenfell, fire safety accountability is under serious scrutiny. The Metropolitan Police has reported that Grenfell charging files are being submitted to the CPS for charging decisions. This is context about scrutiny and record keeping. It does not predict prosecutions, imply guilt or mean that keeping records alone will prevent enforcement action.

Source references

This page refers to the following sources. We do not reproduce copyrighted standards text. Always consult the original publication for authoritative requirements.