Independent Quality Assurance for Fire Doors & Doorsets
Clerk of Works for Construction & Fire Safety 
Ensuring construction work is completed to the required standard is essential for the long-term safety, compliance and performance of any building. Our Clerk of Works service provides independent inspection and quality assurance throughout construction, refurbishment and fire safety improvement projects, giving clients confidence that works are being completed correctly.
At Approved Door Consultancy Ltd, we specialise in inspecting fire doors, mental health doorsets and all other door types to ensure not only the manufacture quality is acceptable, but also to ensure the installations meet the project specification, manufacturers’ installation requirements and recognised industry best practice. Prior to this, we can also review and audit manufacture details to ensure all elements of a proposed fire doorset, and its installation, do actually meet fire certification.
Whether you are building owner, principal contractor, project manager, architect or facilities manager, our Clerk of Works service helps identify issues before they become costly defects, reducing the need for remedial works once a project has been completed.
Not sure what you need? Our specialists can advise on fire door inspections, compliance surveys, replacement doors and action plans.
If you require a fire door inspection or compliance survey, please provide a few details below and our specialists will come back to you with a quote.
What is a Clerk of Works?
A Clerk of Works is an independent quality inspector who monitors construction work on behalf of the client. Their role is to verify that work is being carried out in accordance with the approved specification, drawings, relevant standards and the expected quality requirements.
Rather than replacing the contractor’s own quality control processes, a Clerk of Works provides an additional level of independent oversight, helping to identify workmanship issues early and ensuring defects are addressed before they impact programme, compliance or building safety.
Our Specialist Clerk of Works Services
Unlike general Clerk of Works services, we specialise in the inspection of fire and mental health compliance and safety related elements. This includes; pre-construction, manufacture, installation and sign off.
Our inspectors can include:
- Fire door and fire doorset manufacture and installations
- Fire door remedial works
- Mental Health doorset manufacture and installations
- Mental Health door remedial works
- Passive fire protection installations
- Fire stopping
- Fire exit door manufacture and installations
- Internal timber and steel door manufacture and installations
- Door hardware specification and installations
- Quality of workmanship
- Compliance with manufacturers’ installation instructions
- Compliance with project specifications and drawings
- Identification of defects before project completion
- On site advice and guidance
- Looking ahead to avoid issues and delays
- Ongoing site inspections throughout the construction programme
Our inspections provide an impartial assessment of the work being undertaken, helping clients maintain high standards throughout the project.
Clerk of Works: How It Works
Watch our short video to find out more about our Clerk of Works service, including how we support projects and help ensure work is completed to the required standards. The video also includes a client testimonial sharing their experience of working with Approved Door Consultancy.
Why Independent Inspection Matters
Construction defects are significantly easier and less expensive to rectify during the installation phase than after practical completion.
Independent Clerk of Works inspections can help:
- Improve overall build quality.
- Reduce costly remedial works.
- Identify defects before handover.
- Improve contractor accountability.
- Protect the client’s investment.
- Support Building Regulations compliance.
- Improve fire safety performance.
- Improve security performance.
- Provide documented inspection records.
- Give confidence that manufacture and installations meet the required standards.
By identifying issues early, projects can often avoid delays, disputes and expensive rework later in the programme.
Supporting Principal Contractors
For principal contractors, our Clerk of Works service provides an additional layer of independent quality assurance over the work carried out by subcontractors. Rather than relying solely on internal quality checks, we can inspect completed manufactured items and installations throughout the project identifying defects or workmanship issues while subcontractors are still on site and able to rectify them promptly.
The proactive approach helps reduce the risk of defects being discovered after practical completion, minimises costly call-backs and supports a smoother handover to the end user.
Our detailed inspection reports, complete with photographic evidence and clear observations, can also assist principal contractors when reviewing the quality of subcontractors’ work before releasing retention monies. Whilst decisions regarding retention remain a contractual matter between the parties involved, our independent findings provide objective evidence of any outstanding defects or incomplete works that may require attention before final payment is made.
By identifying issues early and providing clear, documented reporting, we help principal contractors maintain quality standards, improve subcontractor accountability and reduce the likelihood of expensive remedial works later in the project.
Our aim is not to highlight failings, it is simply to ensure every building, project and door we are involved in, is compliant, safe, secure and exactly how it should be.
Fire Door, Fire Stopping & Mental Health Expertise
Fire doors and compartmentation systems are critical life safety components. Even relatively small installation defects can affect their intended performance during a fire.
Mental Health doors rely on their build and installation quality to truly deliver the safety features they are designed to provide to both staff and occupants.
Our extensive experience in fire door inspections, remedial works, fire stopping and mental health doors enables us to identify issues that may otherwise go unnoticed during construction.
We understand the importance of:
- Correct door clearances.
- Appropriate ironmongery installation.
- Frame installation.
- Door leaf condition and build.
- Anti-ligature, anti-barricade and lock back frame functionalities and requirements.
- Intumescent and smoke seal installation and suitability.
- Fire stopping around frames and materials permitted.
- Compatibility of components.
- Manufacturer certification and warranty requirements.
- Long-term performance and maintainability.
This specialist knowledge allows us to provide valuable feedback throughout the construction process.
Detailed Inspection Reports
Following each site visit, we can provide clear inspection reports documenting:
- Areas inspected.
- Items compliant.
- Defects identified.
- Photographic evidence.
- Recommended corrective actions.
- Progress updates.
- Outstanding issues requiring attention.
These reports provide an auditable record of quality assurance throughout the project and can assist project teams in managing corrective actions efficiently.
Who We Work With
Our Clerk of Works service supports a wide range of clients, including:
- Main contractors.
- Principal contractors.
- Developers.
- Local authorities.
- Housing associations.
- NHS Trusts.
- Mental Health providers.
- Private healthcare providers.
- Schools, colleges and universities.
- Commercial property owners.
- Facilities management companies.
- Architects.
- Project managers.
- Building consultants.
Whether your project involves a single fire or mental health door, or a large-scale refurbishment or new build programme, we can provide independent inspections tailored to your requirements. We know not two sites/projects are the same, this is why we tailor our Clerk of Works service to suit you and your project.
Why Choose Approved Door Consultancy?
Our focus is not simply identifying defects – we help clients achieve better outcomes.
Clients choose us because we offer:
- Independent and impartial inspections.
- Specialist fire door and fire stopping expertise.
- Specialist mental health door expertise, including complex components.
- Practical, proportionate recommendations.
- Detailed photographic reporting.
- Extensive industry knowledge.
- A collaborative approach with project teams.
- Commitment to quality, compliance and building safety.
We work alongside contractors and project teams to promote best practice while helping clients achieve the quality standards expected for their buildings.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q. What does a Clerk of Works do?
A. A Clerk of Works independently inspects construction work to ensure it meets the required specification, quality standards, relevant regulations and recognised industry best practice.
Q. Is your Clerk of Works service only for fire doors?
A. No. While we specialise in fire doors, doorsets, fire stopping and mental health doors, we can also inspect general doors, fire exit doors and associated building elements within our areas of expertise.
Q. How often can inspections be carried out?
A. This depends on the size and complexity of the project. We can undertake one-off inspections, key stage inspections or regular site visits throughout the construction programme.
Q. Can you inspect completed projects?
A. Yes. We can inspect completed works, although identifying issues during construction is usually more cost-effective than after project completion.
Q. Will we receive a written report?
A. Yes. We provide comprehensive inspection reports with photographs, observations and practical recommendations, depending on the level of engagement, to assist the project team in resolving any identified issues.
Q. Can your Clerk of Works service help with Building Regulations compliance?
A. Our inspections can support your quality assurance processes by identifying workmanship, manufacture and installation issues that may affect compliance. While we do not replace Building Control or the Principal Designer’s responsibilities, our independent inspections provide valuable assurance that works have been completed to the required standard.
For information about our full range of door consultancy and survey services, please navigate to our services pages.
Contact us to arrange your Fire Door Inspection
Account enquiries: accounts@approved-door-consultancy.co.uk
General enquiries: info@approved-door-consultancy.co.uk
Mike: 07974 662618
Lee: 07768 384816
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