Clearview National September 2019 - Issue 214 | Page 60

FIRESAFETY& SECURITY
> Continued from page 58
On the other hand, if the
closing force is too low, the door
may never fully shut which could
also compromise resident safety.
It is also important to think
about aesthetics and whether
or not the chosen door closer
will be suitable for the space.
Specifying cam action slide arm
closers is a great solution as they
are less intrusive and more design
led compared to traditional arm
closers. They are highly efficient
and can keep opening forces to a
minimum, making it easier to use
for all residents.
Although aesthetics and
usability are important, safety
should be paramount. To make
sure safety is maximised, you
should also look to specify
adjustable powered door closers
or surface units that include
concealed fixings. Concealed
fixings eliminate the ability to
tamper with or remove the door
closer, should the temptation
arise, which could pose
considerable danger to residents if
a fire were to break out.
Whilst changes to an
approved specification can
be made for a number of
reasons, are there any long-
term factors that should
be considered prior to any
deviation from the original?
Value engineering is often
identified as the key driver
behind specification switches,
with financial pressures leading
to elements of the building being
altered from the original product
specified in an effort to reduce
initial costs. While this may reduce
short-term pressures, it could
then increase the long-term costs
involved with maintaining the
building as a whole. This is because
doors and door hardware are
amongst the most heavily used
elements of a building and will be
subjected to thousands of open/
close cycles a year, and potentially
millions throughout its lifetime.
It is also important to
remember that if any door
hardware needs replacing,
including fire door closers, as
part of regular servicing and
60 » SE P 2019 » CL EARVI E W- UK . C O M
‘we need to make
sure that we are
taking a considered
approach to
specifications
and keeping the
safety of residents
at the forefront
of our minds’
maintenance, the replacement
parts must meet the requirements
of both the original specification,
and the current legislation. If parts
are unsuitable, it could lead to the
door failing to perform. This will
ultimately put residents at risk,
as well as resulting in additional
costs if the new door closers are
unsuitable.
Looking forward, what can
specifiers do to ensure a
robust, safe specification?
As I have already mentioned,
keeping to regulations and
ensuring that the specified door
closer is user friendly in daily life
are both key considerations to
ensure resident safety. To ensure
a robust specification, it is advised
that a trusted supplier is engaged
with early on in the process —
helping the correct solution to
be identified and for detailed
information to be included in the
specification.
As an industry, we need to
make sure that we are taking
a considered approach to
specifications and keeping the
safety of residents at the forefront
of our minds.
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