Automatic release of doors during fire alarms Options  Watch this topic  Print this topic » Normal Threaded

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Admin		#1 Posted : 27 February 2009 15:52:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest		Posted By A Campbell Might be into realms of building regs but here go's... We have recently installed a new fob security system that has emergency break glass system to open in case of emergency. In the event of a fire alarm, should the doors be linked to the system and automatically release the locking mechanism or the reliance on people to break glass to over-ride the locks to escape is acceptable? Thanks in advance Tony
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Admin		#2 Posted : 27 February 2009 15:57:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest		Posted By Flic Our doors remain locked in a fire alarm. Each has a green box beside it for you to break the glass and release the door. I specifically tell every person about this on induction into the workplace. Flic
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Admin		#3 Posted : 27 February 2009 16:07:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest		Posted By A Campbell Thanks Flic, Reason I asked is to try and take into account of human behavior in fires as passed discussion with fire trainers always told me that they often found people (usually dead) behind a locked or blocked door. During the heat of a fire a alarm where heat & smoke is involved is this taken into account to reasonably expect them to operate break glass systems? In addition... the fire service would effectively have to 'break in' compartment to compartment in order to conduct a search or investigate cause & fight a fire?
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Admin		#4 Posted : 27 February 2009 23:34:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest		Posted By MungoDundas .. Yes and your 'security' consultant should have advised you of same! .. FA release must be automatic. The green breakglass is in case of mad axe wielding nut or similar. ..
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Admin		#5 Posted : 02 March 2009 09:36:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest		Posted By Coshh Assessor It may be that the doors don't unlock during a test (sounding the alarm) but do when the alarm is set off properly (by a break glass or a detector)?
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Admin		#6 Posted : 02 March 2009 10:09:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest		Posted By A Campbell Not sure 100% Although I did try the doors whilst the alarm point was activated at random locations within the building, so likelihood is no.
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Admin		#7 Posted : 05 March 2009 10:36:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest		Posted By Charlie0538 Hi, I felt compeled to reply to this as we have the exact same systems in place. Our system is linked directly to the fire alarm and test or live activation all the doors open regardless. We also have emergency door release boxes next to all affected doors. This is really the best practice and we did look at alternatives before coming to this conclusion. Thanks Charlie
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Admin		#8 Posted : 05 March 2009 13:31:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest		Posted By A Campbell Just wondered if there is a BS standard for fitting such devices?
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Admin		#9 Posted : 06 March 2009 09:56:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest		Posted By Juan Carlos Arias Send me your e-mail address i might have some iinteresting info on that
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Admin		#10 Posted : 31 March 2009 11:23:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest		Posted By Sharon I have just installed the same system at our place and our system is linked directly to the fire alarm system. We also have green emergency door release boxes next to all affected doors.
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Admin		#11 Posted : 31 March 2009 11:32:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest		Posted By Tanya Boyce we have the same system and out doors release automatically with green break glasses next to the door incase of failure. Earlier this year an electriocal disruption caused the doors to fail during a non emergency situation - the chaos it caused with people completely ignoring break glasses was huge. If this had been a fire situation with the added panic the outcome could have been disasterous. And yes we explain the break glass system at induction. Also we have high security on our building but in fire situation the safety comes first and we secure the building later
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Admin		#12 Posted : 31 March 2009 11:52:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest		Posted By joolz040770 We have these doors and they are linked to the fire alarm system - if the alarm goes off, then the doors automatically release. This is needed because in a smoke filled room how could you find the break glass unit? I would strong advise to link to the fire alarm system. If not, you need to make staff aware of procedures and ensure your Fire Risk Assessment is updated accordingly.
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Admin		#13 Posted : 31 March 2009 13:34:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest		Posted By water67. Hi, normal practice would always be "fail to safe" thus door would open when the alarm goes off. Unless you have a compelling reason for the doors not to open, this should be in place. In most instances this can be over ridden when the building is empty, thus a false alarm during such periods wont compromise the property/security. Cheers.
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Admin		#14 Posted : 31 March 2009 13:54:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest		Posted By Kevin Brown Fail to safe - the doors would unlock on activation of the alarm system but would remain closed to form a barrier to smoke and toxic combustion gases. Normally the doors would have some means of self-closing to maintain the barrier. Safety always outweighs security where lives are atrisk.
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Admin		#15 Posted : 31 March 2009 14:43:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest		Posted By Simon Walsh. From my previous existance as a fire safety inspector for the fire authority in all instances I have come across door release has been wired into the fire alarm and would deactivate when the alarm sounds.
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Admin		#16 Posted : 31 March 2009 19:33:00(UTC)
Rank: Guest		Posted By Phil Rose Ours are the same as Tanya's - fail to safe AND green break glass in addition Phil
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