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Release of access control doors in the event of a fire alarm activation
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Posted By Valerie Lawton
My organisation is putting proposals together for a new Fire Management document. Within the draft version it states that "Access controlled external doors to our premises will not automatically open in the event of a fire for security reasons however internal doors will."
I have already started to research this subject with local Fire Officers. Has anyone any further ideas where I can locate hard copy information/guidance on this subject.
Help and assistance would be most appreciated
Valerie.
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Posted By Stephen J W Clegg.
Hello Valerie.
The Fire Service have been known in the past to issue a contravention notice on premises that have this arrangement i.e. Controlled exit doors that do not fail safe.
Your appointed Fire Marshall(s) should prevent people from re-entering the building, including the uninvited by physically policing the exit points until the all clear is given and the security of the building is restored, this should be reflected in your RA.
Hope this helps.
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Posted By David Thomas
I think that irrespective of what the company document may say you should have a hard time convincing any Fire Alarm or Access Control the rightness of the statement.
Some years ago companies made these decisions and got away with it but now it is normally expected that doors must "fail safe" or deactivate when instructed.
One alternative is to have a large highly visible pushbutton that will release the door latch electrical circuit or retaining magnet.
I know of an incident where a final exit door was configured to have access swipe card use on exit as well as entry. This worked fine until one day a lady evacuated the building via that door but in the panic of the moment had left her access card on her desk. She then found herself in a lobby which was protected by 2 locked doors and no way out. Luckily it was a false alarm but the reverberations of that one lasted for over 6 months.
Fire Alarm and Access Control systems are there to protect Life and Property - in that order.
regards
dave
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Posted By James Goodstadt
Hi,
If your means of escape is adequate without using the controlled doors they do not need to open on alarm.
For example if you have normal push bar doors nearby.
To prove it to be acceptable, you will have to show you comply with the requirements of the building regulations (Approved Document B) - assuming this is the legislation you are complying with (i.e. not a special premises).
Once you have the facts about the quantity and location of your escape doors, occupancy levels etc, discuss with the local fire officer, they should be amenable to discussions - and if you can show you comply while maintaining the security on the final doors, they should not be able to slap a notice on you.
The building I used to work in used to have doors which you had to swipe in and out of, for security. Each turnstile had a push bar door in the vicinity. This was acceptable.
Regards
James
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Posted By Terry Smyth
External security doors are generally linked to the fire alaram system via an interface which controls the electro magnetic lock (EML) which secures the door.
On activation of the fire alarm system the doors are still secured by the EML, however the EML may be released by activation of the fire alarm call point adjacent to the secured door to de-activate the EML and allow the door to open.
Such doors and metods of actiovation require additional instructional signage to ensure that the operating procedure is understood.
Regards
Terry
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Posted By Gavin
Valerie
The doors do NOT need to automatically open - you can use either the green pushbutton to exit or break glass to exit control overrides. This ensures your security but does not restrict access.
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Release of access control doors in the event of a fire alarm activation
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