Posted By Adrian Clifton
I am hoping that someone can cast a ray of light on the following please.

We recently had a visit from our local fire and rescue services to one of our residential care homes for the elderly.

During his walk round he made comment that ceramic Redland bolts should only be fitted to childrens homes. He now seems to be insisting that all of these bolts be removed and replaced with an alternative system.

Bearing in mind that we have several such homes in our portfolio, this could prove to be costly. Has anyone else come across this situation before and, if yes, how was it resolved?

Your help in this matter, as always, is welcomed.

Posted By Messy Shaw
As a former Fire Service inspecting Officer now operating in the field of FRAs and training, I have never been too happy with the idea of Redlam type frangible glass bolts in sleeping accommodation and/or if likely to be used by people unfamiliar with the building.

It is likely that during a fire at night. persons may well be evacuating the building without shoes or socks. To expect them to walk over an area where a Redlam type bolt has been broken whilst in a panic or disorientated may cause laceration injuries to their feet, slowing down their escape and anyone else's who now has to help them out.

Of course, this should not be taken as a hard and fast rule as every situation should be considered individually. However, this might well be the approach this fire inspector is taking.

In any case, he will be writing to you with details of what he wants. Perhaps you could post them here (with details of what type of notice he has issued) when/if you receive it. Until then, if you are happy with your systems, do nothing.

Posted By clairel
My first observaton is that I am suprised people are talking about evacuation in a care home. I have many different types of care homes as clients in many different counties and all of them operate horizontal evacuation, so the image of elderly people struggling with these bolts and walking barefoot over glass baffles me a little. It wouldn't happen.

Secondly, fire doors that are very easy to open can be a real nuisance in homes where residents have dementia and are frequently prone to wandering off.

In my experience fire officers from different regions seem to give different advice and have different opinions on many things. If your local fire officer has an issue in a way it is tough, you'll just have to do what he says. No different than HSE inspectors that have a bee in their bonnet about certain things, you just have to smile and say ok, cause it's too much trouble to argue the point.

Having said that I don't think a single one of my homes uses these bolts. I only ever come across them in factories. Personally I'd rather they had push bar doors there too. But I can't insist otherwise.