Posted By David Allan Peter I share your viewpoint, that when a building is occupied, then fire doors must be unlocked. In an emergency, no one should have to go through a convoluted evolution to open a door. I picked up that one client always left the steel roller shutter door down at one exit, which could only be opened from the outside and of course when we went to open it, it had siezed through lack of use. However, security is an issue with many organisations, with insurance sometimes insisting on a high level to prvent thefts. Back to the balancing act - a fire door is not a fire door when its locked and bolted, nor is it a security door when its not. Fire doors can be fitted with security alarms so they can be left unmanned and a management system must be in place to ensure that they are always unlocked when the building is occupied. Reasonably cheap and generally satisfactory method, needs initial training and monitoring though. Hope this helps David

Posted By Gary Cutter Hi Peter You are absolutely dead right. Fire doors should normally open in the direction of escape. Fastening on doors should be limited to one single acting device, which should not require the use of a key i.e. panic bolt, redland type bolt, single draw bolt, yale lock etc. Perhaps just one of those devices you have described may be ok, provided its easy to operate. Any doubts on acceptability give the brigade a ring and describe the type of occupancy. Hope that helps Gary Cutter Chair Fire Risk Management Group

Posted By Peter J Harvey The types of fastening that I described, were security bolts which moved into the door frame with three positive turns of the handles, one on the top, one on the bottom. The building was a Local authority community Centre used for all sorts of activities. I was interested in the fact that "users" had to remember to unbolt these prior to using the building otherwise, they would not get out in and emergency, especially if you had 30 under fives screaming all around you!! Peter Harvey