Posted By Tony Brunskill Mark, My understanding is that: Fire doors can be kept open provided there is a mechanism in place to release the doors in the event of an alarm - Example - Hotel corridors using magnalocks. Magnetic devices which relaease the door linked to the fire monitoring systems. Fire doors should open in the direction of travel. I believe it is the building regualtions that govern this but I would review the recent Fire Reform Guidance as well. Lighting of Fire exit signs depends on the design of the system. Some remain on at all times others are linked to a trip and activate with the fire monitoring systems. Those that do not remain on all the time normally have a "Tell Tale" which indicates the light is functioning correctly. These are an aid and should not be relied on entirely. If you are lucky enough to have a Fire Certificate or Fire Precautions Log Book check them as thay may detail the maintenance and inspection procedures. Regards Tony

Posted By shaun mckeever 3) Should lit fire exit signs be lit all the time or just in fire evacuation scenarios? 1) Fire doors are intended to prevent the spread of fire, smoke and other products of combustion. If they are wedged open then they cannot perform this function. Occasionally it is inconvenient to keep fire doors shut so devices are available to enable fire doors to be kept open but will enable the doors to shut on operation of the fire alarm. Devices include electro-magnetic devices linked to the fire alarm, battery operated 'dorgard' deices or suction devices which gradually release the door a minute or so after it has been opened. 2) In a nutshell fire exit doors can open inwards although it is preferable that they open outwards. Sometimes this is not always practical. 'Guidance' in various documents suggests that doors that open inwards should not be for more than 60 persons as indicated by Simon above. 3) There are basically two types of escape lighting - maintained and non-maintained. Maintained lighting is the type used to illuminate exit signs in licensed premises such as cinemas and are permanently lit. These are places in which members of the public are likely to be in significant numbers. If the signs are unlit this should become apparent immediately and action should be taken to rectify the problem. If the lit signs you are referring to are in an office or similar environment then generally there is no requirement to use maintained lighting but there is a requirement to ensure the signs are adequately illuminated at all material times.

Posted By Mark Eastbourne Thank you Tony, Simon and Shaun, they were brilliant responses and answered my questions completely. Thank you for you time! Mark

Posted By GT Hi Mark, Just to add to the thread. Please be careful in terms of what fire/ exit doors you are referring to. Final exit doors onto external fire escapes may need to be maintained as self closing other than for the upper most door. They are not operated on detection systems similar to those mentioned. On the other hand if the final exit door is from a single storey building then subject to the correct assessment can be wedged in an open position. You have already been given good guidance on the other apsects of the question Also be careful with doors opening inward, there is no allowance made for them to open inward because of them opening into traffic flow (in respect of numbers over 60 ) one would recess the door in order to open outward. GT

Posted By Jeffrey Watt Mark A fire safety colleague from the NHS estate told me somthing interesting about maglok style door retainers. He said that doors held open continually end up warping slightly because the door closer keeps constant tension on the top of the door and the maglok an opposing tension on the bottom of the door. When the doors closed there was a gap that would allow smoke through. He said this was countered by ensuring that the doors were released from the maglok every night, even for a short period.

Posted By Simon Watson In relation to Marks response to the magloks and the doors warping this is a major problem however it can be simply rectified, Where the self closer is pulling the door shut you need to ensure that the maglok or which ever opening device you are using is connected to the door on the opposite side of the door so you have the pushing and pulling forces at the same part of the door. I.e both at the top of the door or both at the bottem of the door. NOT top and bottem which causes the warping.