Rank: Forum user 
|
At present we are looking at taking over a remote industrial unit and have a query regarding security and fire exits that I'm hoping for some practical suggestions for. The facility would be used as a welding/fabrication workshop so I would consider it to be high risk in terms of fire. To stress we do not yet have any responsibility for the building.
At present, the fire doors are secured from the inside using a baton across the doors and from the outside by locked roller shutters. From my limited knowledge, and I'm willing to be corrected by those in the know, of fire regulations this is acceptable providing that they are removed and appropriately secured to allow for easy escape in the event of an emergency when the building is occupied.
I'm personally not a fan of fire doors being secured in this manner as I feel that having to rely on someone to remember to remove these security measures on a day to day basis is not a good idea so I was hoping for some suggestions of practical alternatives which will meet the appropriate fire regulations and give us the security we require.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super forum user 
|
This question is a perennial on this forum so there are plenty of previous threads to refer to; however there is a distinct difference between a fire door which is designed to hold back fire, smoke and hot gases for a given period, and a fire exit (or final exit) which needn't necessarily be a fire resisting door.
If as I imagine from your description the door is a final exit to a place of relative safety, then you've probably answered your own question in terms of you can basically add whatever security you like so long as during operational hours to door is readily opened without having to use tools, keys etc.
You'll find plenty of free advice on -
http://www.bwf.org.uk/
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Forum user
|
Sorry I may have caused some confusion between the post title and the actual post but to clarify I am talking about a final fire exit to outside the building.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Forum user
|
This is a hardy perennial, I have been involved in some businesses where unless they have the method to protect the fire exit door from outside they invariably return next morning to find they were used as an entrance after hours.
IMPE when I have discussed this with Technical Fire Safety Officers they have no issues, however you must have a robust system to ensure that when occupied the fire exit will operate as intended.
I did almost get round this with one company who linked all of their external roller doors to one key switch, thing broke almost every other day, however when it did work it did the job very well.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Forum user
|
Mark - Your right to be concerned.
A world famous retail outlet tried to use the defence of a padlocked security door as a reason to why it was still padlocked when an actual fire started, someone 'forgot' to remove the security padlock at the start of business!.
Needless to say, they were fined a 7 figure sum for this 'forgetfulness'
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Forum user
|
ctd167 wrote:Mark - Your right to be concerned.
A world famous retail outlet tried to use the defence of a padlocked security door as a reason to why it was still padlocked when an actual fire started, someone 'forgot' to remove the security padlock at the start of business!.
Needless to say, they were fined a 7 figure sum for this 'forgetfulness'
Can you tell me which case this was
as the new look store in london was a 6 figure sum a record of £400.000 £250.000 for not having a suitable risk assessment and £150.000 for not training staff there was re-set alarms, staff not contacting the brigade, there was a green emergency door release on the Wrong side of the door but i cant find anything about a padlock so is this the case you are refering to above or is there another i am not aware of -- Please expand
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Forum user
|
fscott wrote:
At present, the fire doors are secured from the inside using a baton across the doors and from the outside by locked roller shutters. From my limited knowledge, and I'm willing to be corrected by those in the know, of fire regulations this is acceptable providing that they are removed and appropriately secured to allow for easy escape in the event of an emergency when the building is occupied.
.
That is acceptable the first person in opens the shutters the last person out locks them, we use this in some of our buildings
what we do have is the control panal for the shutters it is just inside the first door the person goes into the lobby they can then open the shutters they then have to use the key from the shutters to open the next door in the lobby to access the rest of the building, works a bit like an interlock system, there is also an overide that can be used in an emergency, its to stop staff accessing the building without raising the shutters seems to work and we have never had any complaints
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Forum user 
|
I had problems a few years ago with people using final exit fire doors as normal entry/exit routes and leaving them unsecured which had security issues and resulted in doors being damaged as they blew around in the wind. The final exit fire doors are push bar operated as in the UK what I did was have spring loaded anti tamper ceramic bolts fitted to them, every final exit door is now fitted with a ceramic (Used to be called "Glass Bolts") bolt, a little hammer to break it with and verbal and graphic instructions on how to break the ceramic portion of the bolt. Hope this helps
|
|
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.