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Posted By fireman_bert
Hi
If a emergency exit has a simple barrel bolt on it with no padlock or other sort of lock on it, is this acceptable. It does have standard push bar on it, but obviously if the bolt is in place the door would not open.
I cannot find any reference as to where ther is any guidance on this matter, so any help would be appreciated.
Cheers
Bert
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Posted By Jack
Somebody has presumably identified the need for a crash bar? Unless they were incorrect or the situation has changed it is probably not acceptable.
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Posted By Jonathan Sandler CMIOSH
The reccomedation is for one type of lock on the door, ragland bolt, push bar, etc but it must be unlocked whilst the premise is occupied.
But basicly only one type on the door NO KEYS IN GLASS CASES
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Posted By Jonathan Sandler CMIOSH
Reference Fire Act, Fire Precautions Regs 1998, failing that speak to LPA or insurance comapny, local EHO and HSE Fire Section.
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Posted By S P Walsh
My advice would be dependent on the occupacy of the building and what activities were taking place and the level of risk associated with those activities. Also why does the bolt need to be engaged when people are in the building? If there are no concerns about trespassers then the door could be unbolted during working hours and locked when there is no one in the building. You must have a strict management procedure in place for that though. For a definitive answer I suggest contacting your local Fire Authority and ask one of their fire safety officers to come and have a look and give advice. The HSE will not get involved in fire safety issues as the fire authority is the enforcing body.
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Posted By Frank Hallett
With a nome de plume like "fireman bert" I have to consider this either as a wind-up or that the name is not indicative of any substansive knowledge on this subject!
The clear answer is "Not Acceptable" except for individual instances for which a specific and explicit FRA has been done; and even then it's still considered extremely poor practice as there are a myriad of other ways to maintain security without compromising the Means of Escape route in such a way!
Frank Hallett
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Posted By Andrew Veale
In short the bolt should be removed. The escape should be of single action
device. The bolt seems to have no use what so ever but this would raise
itself on the FRA which must be completed.
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Posted By Kevin Drew
Surely the easy answer is a break glass bolt?
Kevin Drew
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Posted By Gareth Williams
Hi fireman- bert. Following Frank's comments
you have not responded hence are we to trust
that this is not a valid enquiry. However,
on the premises that it is please provide
further information of where the escape door
is situated give the type of building, which
floor, its use, number of occupants, and
type of occupants and I will try to assist
further. The slip bolt in itself is not
necessarily unacceptable however it has to
be looked at in respect of risk.
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Posted By gham
this has come up before
I have been reassured by a local inspecting Fire officer that this is acceptable as long as there is an operting instruction which complies with the safety signs and signals regs ie green backgroud white writing "pull bolt " depending on which way you have to pull it displayed right next to the bolt
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Posted By Frank Hallett
For all those who think that a standard "draw-bolt" might be acceptable except for very, very few cases - A prison may be an accepted exclusion!
First have a browse through the fire and other emergency fatality literature and identify just how many times the quote of " the doors were bolted" or similar observation arises.
Then, locate a building, or part of building, that you aren't 100% familiar with but with an exit that is fitted with a draw-bolt that is routinely or normally "shot" or closed.
After suitable preparation of the exposed workforce, simultaneously turn off all but the emergency lights and simulate an emergency evacuation with the normal number of people likely to use that exit in the normal workplace clothing, inc gloves etc.
De-brief those who participate afterwards.
Then, ask yourself why none of the very wide range of thoroughly effective, proprietary devices that all provide a better level of security with an effective, immediately operable opening device haven't been fitted.
Frank Hallett
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Posted By Paul Bellis
I was always lead to believe that a final exit fire door can be locked during out of hours use -whilst in use it must be kept unlocked.(this includes cleaners and caretakers who may be in the building) Comments above made me re-think this.
on re-reading the regs to make sure - they do state - You should make sure that people escaping can open any door on an escape route easily and immediately, without the use of a key. All outward opening doors used for means of escape, which have to be kept fastened while people are in the building, should be fitted with a single form of release device such as a panic latch, a panic bolt, or a push pad.
Where a door needs to be fastened by a security device, it should be the only fastening on the door and you will have to make sure that all your staff know how it works. Such devices are not normally suitable for use by members of the public. You should display a notice explaining the method of operation and, if necessary, provide a suitable tool so that the device can be operated safely.
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