BPFI Knowledge Centre
Fire Door Registers
Guidance for recording, tracking and managing fire door assets, defects, repairs and lifecycle information within New Zealand buildings.
Introduction
A fire door register provides a structured record of fire door assets, inspection findings, defects, repairs and ongoing maintenance actions.
For existing buildings, a register can become an important long-term compliance and maintenance tool, particularly where doors are subject to BWOF review, routine inspections or ongoing remedial works.
The purpose of a fire door register is to create a clear and traceable record that supports building owners, facility managers, IQPs, contractors and compliance reviewers.
Why Fire Door Registers Matter
Fire doors should be managed as building life-safety assets, not isolated maintenance items.
A register helps create continuity between inspection, repair, maintenance and future compliance review.
Register Purpose
Asset Identification
Each fire door should be identified by location, reference number or asset ID to allow consistent inspection and tracking over time.
Register systems should align with broader Inspection methodologies and support evidence-based lifecycle management processes.
Registers may also include references to completed Repair Methods and defect close-out evidence.
Defect Tracking
Defects should be recorded in a structured way so actions can be prioritised, assigned, completed and reviewed.
Repair History
Repair records provide traceability of completed works, materials used, repair dates and personnel involved.
Lifecycle Management
Registers support long-term maintenance planning, condition monitoring and future inspection consistency.
Recommended Register Fields
A practical fire door register should record enough information to identify the door, understand its condition, track actions and support future review.
Field
Purpose
Register Workflow
A register should support a clear workflow from inspection through to repair, close-out and future review.
01
Identify
Assign each door a clear reference or asset ID.
02
Inspect
Record condition, operation, defects and evidence.
03
Repair
Record remediation actions and supporting evidence.
04
Maintain
Use the register for future inspections and lifecycle review.
Evidence Requirements
A register should not only list defects. It should also provide sufficient evidence to support future review.
Recommended evidence includes:
- Overall door photographs
- Defect photographs
- Before and after repair photographs
- Gap measurements where relevant
- Hardware and seal observations
- Repair dates and personnel records
- Product or material references where available
Digital Register Development
Fire door registers are most valuable when they become living records rather than static reports.
A digital register can support inspection history, defect tracking, photographic evidence, repair close-out, QR referencing, lifecycle management and future BWOF review processes.
Practical Position
Fire door registers help move building management from reactive repair responses toward structured lifecycle management.
A well-maintained register can assist building owners, facility managers and compliance teams to understand what doors exist, what condition they are in, what defects have been identified and what actions have been completed.
This supports more consistent maintenance, better evidence retention and more defensible long-term compliance management.