Care homes are being urged to be extra vigilant during Fire Door Safety Week (23-27 September) and check five vital fire safety measures are in place.
Calling in expert advice, scheduling regular fire door maintenance, having the correct kit, and performing regular checks to confirm the equipment has not been altered nor is being propped open top the list of recommendations from door hardware manufacturer HOPPE (UK).
It follows a report from construction safety organisation Collaborative Reporting for Safer Structures UK (CROSS-UK) released earlier this year highlighting inadequate fire door repair.
Rob Adams, technical manager for ARRONE a brand of the HOPPE Group, said:
“Care homes are busy places where the care of some of society’s most vulnerable people understandably comes top. The myriad of advice, standards and legislation can be difficult to navigate for responsible persons in those settings who are not fire safety experts by trade. However, fire safety is part of resident protection and with Fire Door Safety Week upon us it’s a good time to recap on vital measures not to miss.”
HOPPE’s five fire safety measures are:
Consult the manufacturer, or call an expert
If you aren’t sure your fire door is working properly, if it needs repair or replacement, or if you need advice on how to make it more accessible for residents, always consult the manufacturer or an expert. They will know what door hardware is compliant for that specific doorset and will also check it has been tested to BS 8300-2:2018 which covers the design of an accessible and inclusive built environment.
Maintenance is key
Regular checks on equipment prevent costly repair, failure and replacement. During inspection, if any of the hardware is not working properly, shows signs of damage or is leaking grease, you should always consult the door manufacturer for replacements. The fire door has been tested with that specific hardware so anything that needs replacing needs to be like for like. Installing different hardware will invalidate the fire door test evidence and compromise resident safety.
Don’t compromise the door
Making any additions to the door such as putting a hook to pin it open or drilling holes to fix signage will invalidate the fire door test evidence. No matter how small you may think it is, it can interfere with the performance of the door in a critical situation. Use other surfaces for notices.
Ensure you have the correct kit
Consult the manufacturer or a fire door expert if you aren’t sure your kit complies. Door closers in a care home need to suit the occupants of the building and meet BS 8300-2:2018. The expert will also confirm testing to EN 1634-1 on fire resistance of door and shutter assemblies, and EN 15269 on the extended application of test results for fire resistance and smoke control.
Don’t prop open a fire door
Care homes and healthcare settings should be accessible, but this doesn’t mean fire doors should be propped open to allow ease of access. A fire door can only prevent the spread of a fire if the door is closed. If a door needs to be held open, an electromagnetic door closer should be specified which will automatically close if the fire alarm sounds.
Rob Adams added: “Above all, it’s always best not to go it alone when it comes to fire safety, and ensure you have an expert who can check equipment is tested to the correct standards, has the right handles, door closers and other features fitted, and is following a regular schedule of maintenance.
“There are lots of things a responsible person can still do, such as set out a regular maintenance and testing schedule and regularly check fire doors are not being propped open with other objects, nor have additional signs or other kit added.”
For more information, visit HOPPE.
Image depicts Rob Adams, technical manager