Open door policy
May 1st 2009

The words safe and secure are often used together and in many instances the two concepts are entirely compatible. However, when it comes to escape doors they are quite separate issues, says Andy Stolworthy.

Uder the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, anyone who has some level of control over commercial premises must take reasonable steps to reduce the risk from fire and make sure that occupants can escape in safety in the event of a fire, transferring a wide range of responsibilities from agencies such as the Fire Service to building owners and operators.

As well as conducting risk assessments on buildings under their control, the designated person is required to ensure that routes, doors and hardware meet escape requirements while continuing to function as specified when installed.

Responsibility for the provision of safe escape exits begins, however, at the stage of specification. Approved Document B is the fire safety approved element of the current Building Regulations and section B1 covers means of warning and escape, requiring that: "The building shall be designed and constructed so that there are appropriate provisions for the early warning of fire and appropriate means of escape in case of fire from the building to a place of safety outside." Section 5 of the document gives guidance on doors and escape routes stating that: "Doors on escape routes should be readily openable if undue delay is to be avoided." "Readily openable" are the important words in terms of hardware: escape hardware is just that and its primary function is not just building security. Any locks fitted to escape routes must be easily opened from the escape side and involve a single mechanism with a simple operation not requiring a key. While electrical locks can be fitted, they must be fail safe or unlock on operation of the fire alarm system, power failure or system error and on activation of a local release unit. Additional locks are allowed for out-of-hours security, but safe use of these must be controlled by adequate management procedures when a building is occupied.

Fire resistant doors, and the associated hardware, serve three principal functions: to restrict the initial development of a fire by reducing the amount of oxygen available, to restrict the spread of fire, and to protect escape routes.

Doors are often tested with the minimum of hardware, usually three hinges, a door closer and a lock or latch. During the test the deadbolt will often not be thrown. The purpose of this is to demonstrate that the door can fulfil its fire-resisting role without a latch. The doorset maintains its fire integrity by not allowing flame or hot gases to pass.

Hardware has its own specific function in a fire situation: it is imperative to ensure that the fire-resisting door stays closed in its frame. Essential items include hinges that both attach the door to the frame and help prevent bowing, a door closing device and/or a latch or lock.

Other items of hardware may be installed but it is these essentials that are directly associated with the fire performance of the doorset. If other components are added, they must not compromise the ability of the door to withstand fire attack.

Ensuring that hardware products meet the required standards at specification stage is only one part of the equation. They must also be fit for purpose in terms of the specific application. Here issues such as the type of use the door will be put to play a part. High usage will demand durability to avoid the danger of excessive wear causing component failure at a critical time. Hinges and escape or panic devices must always be of sufficient strength to remain effective for a reasonable working life both to maintain safety levels and to minimise the need for costly maintenance.

Experience of different escape scenarios has identified specific product requirements, resulting in the development of two European standards: BS EN 1125 and BS EN 179. The former applies for building users unfamiliar with means and route of escape, and the latter users familiar with escape routes and means.

In order to ensure correct hardware specification, there are mandatory requirements: Escape doors must be easily opened from the escape side without a key (Document B) Where a building is designed for 60 or more occupants, EN 1125 approved hardware should be fitted (Document B) Escape doors must have suitable hardware (Reg Reform Order) Hardware must be safe in day-to-day use and in a fire situation (Construction Products Regulation) Devices to both EN 1125 and 179 can be certified to meet these essential requirements and can therefore display the CE mark.

Whilst CE marking escape hardware is not currently mandatory in the UK, compliance with the Construction Products Regulations is and the use of CE marked products is the most practical way to demonstrate compliance.

The primary function of escape hardware is just that – escape.

While it has an additional role to play in fire resistance, it has little relevance to building security. When the building is unoccupied, the focus can switch to security and Approved Document B does allow additional hardware to be fitted subject to control by management procedure. However, perimeter doors should never be secured out of hours using hardware where its primary function is escape.

Andy Stolworthy is product manager for UK security solutions provider, Adams Rite