FEBRUARY 2020 | 3
News
Read online at www.proinstaller.co.uk
FINGER TRAP PROTECTION DEVICES
According to the NHS, around 80,000 accidents occur each year in the UK involving primarily
children who have trapped their fingers in doors, leading to serious injury, and even amputations.
In addition, an estimated 28,000 children under the age of 15 visit hospitals in the Republic
of Ireland for the same reason, with many more accidents of this nature going unreported.
Injuries of this type can
cause huge distress and pain as
well as ongoing problems with
manual dexterity which can last a
lifetime. In addition, such injuries
can result in costly compensation
claims, which must be met by
insurance companies, building
owners and managers.
Thankfully, there are a number
of products available which help
to reduce the risk of such finger
related injuries in respect of
doors. Known as finger trap pro-
tection devices, they are widely
specified and supplied into many
public buildings by architectural
ironmongers.
These devices are of such impor-
tance that the Guild of Architectural
Ironmongers (GAI) has produced
a CPD seminar on the topic which
was delivered via its IAI Branch
Network throughout 2019. In addi-
tion, the GAI has produced a guide
on the subject for its members.
Definition
A finger trap protection device
is defined in BS EN 16654:2015
as a “Device intended to mini-
mise the risk of crushing injuries
to fingers between (part of) door
leaf/leaves and the door frame
when the door leaf is moving”
Images courtesy of Norseal
Types of devices
There are many different
types of finger protection device
available; some cover the gap
between door and frame, others
are integrated within the door
system itself.
One of the more popular
devices is the roller blind device
which covers the gap at the
exposed side of the hanging stile
and is available for timber and
glazed doors. It is also possible
to cover this gap using devic-
es which are made of PVC or
aluminium, which form a rigid
shield.
The area at the hinge knuck-
le itself can also be protected,
which means the risk of finger
trapping can be reduced at both
sides of the hanging stile.
Finger protection can be inte-
grated into the door itself, either
through a device which can be
integrated into the hanging stile
of the door or else through the
design of the door itself.
The standards
There are two standards which
have been published in respect of
these devices:
• BS 8613:2017 - Finger Protec-
tion Devices for Pedestrian
Doors: Specification, safety
requirements and test meth-
ods.
• BS EN 16654:2015 - Child
protective products. Consum-
er fitted finger protection de-
vices for doors. Safety require-
ments and test methods.
Finger trap protection is also a
compulsory part of BS EN 16005
2012 which is an obligatory
standard under the machinery
directive. This states that “Power
operated pedestrian doorsets shall
be designed so that hazards due
to crushing, shearing, impact and
drawing-in during the opening
and closing cycles are avoided or
so that safeguards against such
hazards are provided.”
The BS 8613 standard cov-
ers test methods for durability,
strength and effective function
of finger trap devices and is for
devices fitted to side hung or
pivoted swing doors. It is there-
fore not applicable to sliding
or revolving doors. Its aim is to
prevent inadvertent injury. There
are devices which are available on
the market place which have been
tested to this standard.
BS EN 16654:2015 is a Euro-
pean Standard which specifies
requirements and test methods for
consumer fitted finger protection
devices. This covers devices that
are designed to be mounted on
hinged doors in the domestic
environment inside buildings in
order to prevent crushing injuries
to children as a result of the door
closing. Finger protection devices
intended to be installed by profes-
sionals or that are an integral part
of the door system are beyond
the scope of this standard. This is
therefore a standard which is not
intended for devices which are to
be used commercially.
Conclusion
Bearing in mind the importance
of fingers and the costs in both
human suffering and financial
terms it is of huge importance
that we do all we can to keep our
fingers intact and in full working
order. There is therefore a need
for increased awareness, specifica-
tion and use of finger protection
devices, particularly in public
buildings.
www.gai.org.uk