How Quickly Should A Fire Exit Be Repaired?

Published on: 15th October 2026

When a fire exit is damaged or develops a fault, it is important to know how quickly it should be repaired.

UK fire safety legislation requires fire exits and emergency doors to be repaired as soon as reasonably practicable once a fault is identified. However, there is no universal legal deadline of 24 or 48 hours. The required response depends on the level of risk and the impact the fault has on people’s ability to escape safely.

Urgent vs. Non-Urgent Repairs

Immediate action (same day or emergency repair):

Required if a fire exit cannot be opened, is locked, fails to latch, or is completely blocked.
If a quick fix is impossible, you must use temporary safety controls or restrict access to the area until it is safe.

Prompt action (within a few days to weeks):

Required for minor wear, cosmetic damage, or non-critical faults that do not stop the door from opening and letting people escape safely.

Factors That Decide the Speed

Level of risk: Buildings with vulnerable people such as care homes or hospitals need much faster repairs than a low-occupancy office.
Impact on escape: If the fault stops the door from opening or puts people directly in danger, it is an emergency.
Interim measures: If you put temporary safety plans in place, it may slightly reduce the panic of a delay, but repairs should still happen fast.

You can learn more about official expectations in the Fire Safety Guidance from the UK government.

Don’t Leave A Faulty Fire Exit Waiting

There is no fixed number of hours or days that applies to every fire exit repair. The key requirement is to identify the risk, take appropriate action and repair the fault as soon as reasonably practicable.

Where a permanent replacement can’t happen immediately, a temporary door solution can provide a practical answer. TEMP-DOR provides a fast, professional alternative to boarding up an opening or leaving a vulnerable doorway out of use.

With an adjustable frame and escape hardware compliant to BS EN 179, TEMP-DOR can be installed quickly across a range of standard structural openings, helping to restore the security and functionality of a damaged doorway while permanent repairs are arranged.

Available for same day collection or next day delivery, there is no need to wait for the perfect permanent solution – put a suitable solution in place now.