Hi Gilby,

Assuming you are in the UK, Approved document B for the Building Regulations 2010 states that 

Electrically powered locks should return to the unlocked position in all of the following situations.

a. If the fire detection and alarm system operates.

b. If there is loss of power or system error.

c. If the security mechanism override is activated.

Security mechanism overrides for electrically powered locks should be a Type A call point as described in BS 7273-4. The call point should be positioned on the side approached by people escaping. If the door provides escape in either direction, a call point should be installed on both sides of the door

This is under section 5 on page 48.

If your doors were fitted prior to the building regs, the only requirement, I believe, would be under the Fire Safety Order which is "emergency doors must not be so locked or fastened that they cannot be easily and immediately opened by any person who may require to use them in an emergency". In that case, while it may not be best practice, you may be fine as long as the doors can be unlocked in the event of the push button being defective. 

If someone with more experience could correct me if im wrong, that would be great.

Regards

Mathew

Edited by user 13 July 2023 07:15:43(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Hi all, I have worked on a number of sites over the years working in both H&S and Facilities roles, all of which had the alarm connected to the door mechanisms so in the event of an activation, all door mechanisms unlocked. If you rely on buttons to unlock the door, does this not mean the door still remains locked after the alarm has activated, so doesn't necessarily satisfy the requirements for the door to return to the unlocked position when the alarm is activated. I realise it is unlikely, but what happens if the button fails?  

Its best practice that doors open with the sounding of the fire alarm system but its not a requirement.

Take Peter Gotch's example - where Official Sensitive (there's no such marking as Official Secret) work is taking place, or a bank, or a data centre. They will not always want all parts of the building opened whn the alarm operates

Then think of most businesses. Would you want an intruder to drop a smoke pellet into your letterbox and to walk thru unlocked door at 3am? I wouldnt!!!

Approved Doc B* and British standards give advice how to comply with the law of the land - which for England and Wales is the Fire Safety Order. Under the FS Order, (as has been stated earlier) the only significant requirement is that doors should not need keys to open in an emergency.

So be very careful about the 'all doors unlock' idea where that includes final exits and make absolutely sure the business fully understands what this means for security before you action it

However, door locking overrides should be fitted for all electrically locked doors where passes, ID cards or codes are needed to open. Exceptions to this rule will be places of legal custody (Prisons, detention centres and mental health) plus extremely secure buildings (Military and similar) where a key operated override may be acceptable subject to a RA


*Most of ADB is advice except for the functional requirement pages 

Also worth noting that the Approved Document needs to be read in full not cherry picked.

As example it specifically says that certain parts do not apply to prisons - for fairly obvious reasons!

But before the section that Mathew quoted there is

Door fastenings

5.7 In general, doors on escape routes (whether or not the doors are fire doorsets) should be either of the following.

a. Not fitted with a lock, latch or bolt fastenings.

b. Fitted only with simple fastenings that are all of the following.

i. Easy to operate; it should be apparent how to undo the fastening

ii. Operable from the side approached by people escaping.

iii. Operable without a key.

iv. Operable without requiring people to manipulate more than one mechanism.

Doors may be fitted with hardware to allow them to be locked when rooms are empty.

In places such as hotel bedrooms, locks may be fitted that are key operated from the outside and manually opened from the inside.

If a secure door is operated by code or combination keypad, swipe or proximity card, biometric data, etc., a security mechanism override should be possible from the side approached by people escaping

So, it is about having a fire risk assessment that justifies a proportionate approach.

No multistorey shop is going to leave all its exit doors open in the event of the fire alarm going off - just tells the criminal to set off the fire alarm and have free access when all the staff are at the muster point!

...and hence 5.7 above is about making sure that those inside can get OUT - but doesn't say that someone should then be free to get in with no restrictions.

P