FIRE SAFETY
Safeguarding Schools with Reliable Fire Door Hardware
Where school groups are faced with budgetary constraints , decision makers can ’ t afford to neglect fire safety . Sue Corrick of Allegion UK explains how responsible persons can use term breaks to extend the service life of fire doors in school buildings .
» OVER AN ACADEMIC YEAR , MOST schools receive between 13-15 weeks of school holiday . For students and staff alike , each term break represents a precious period of recreation and recuperation , but for most education facilities , holidays and half terms present an opportune time to complete much needed refurbishment and remedial work .
Fire safety is a core area for concern in particular , where according to the Fire Industry Association ( FIA ), one in 20 schools experience fire in their buildings . Fires can cause school buildings immeasurable damage , and in response - and as stated under the Regulatory Reform ( Fire Safety ) Order 2005 - designated responsible persons must conduct ongoing risk assessments to help identify potential hazards within their premises .
Yet , in 2022 , research conducted by Allegion UK into the impact of fire doors in education facilities found that almost half of decision makers had encountered issues with fire doors in their buildings , with over half of respondents also revealing they were not aware of fire door maintenance procedures . As such , responsible persons are urged to make the most of their allotted time and budgets during term breaks , extending the service life of fire door hardware to help ensure students , staff and visitors are safe and secure when doors once again open for the new term .
School Life
School buildings are inherently diverse environments . While no two facilities may be the same , it is a legal requirement under British and European law for all academic settings to possess operational fire door sets . New regulation continues to draw focus on fire safety in school buildings too , with guidance from the Building Safety Act shining the light on higher-risk buildings of 18 metres in height ( or at least seven storeys tall ), with certain education facilities meeting the criteria and thus required to register as high-risk by 1st October 2023 .
Naturally , school classrooms and corridors are often bustling with movement and during term time , in high traffic areas , fire doors can be used anywhere between 100s to 1000s of times each day . Over time , daily use inevitably leads to wear and tear on fittings and in some cases , fire doors may even experience levels of misuse and abuse .
Take the end of each school day for example , where fire doors and their hardware are frequently put to the test as students ( and staff ) aim to leave the premises quickly . When doors are opened and closed with force , hardware elements can become tired , with poorer quality or incorrectly specified door hardware more prone to damage . To help prevent excessive wear and damage in busier areas , schools may benefit from electromagnetic hold-open devices , which combine wall magnets with existing door closers to aid ease of access and reduce any unnecessary roughness . Similarly , door closers with backcheck control will slow the motion of a door , preventing or minimising contact damage .
In the circumstance of a fire , it ’ s critical that a fire door closes independently and to completion . Damaged door hardware compromises the performance of a fire door , and as such , designated responsible persons , as part of their responsibilities , must ensure escape routes are clear and fire door sets are operating as intended , making note of and replacing any damaged door hardware in the process .
Sources : https :// www . ifsecglobal . com / fire-protection / what-can-be-done-to-better-fire-safety-in-schools / | https :// www . legislation . gov . uk / uksi / 2005 / 1541 / contents / made https :// www . gov . uk / government / publications / fire-safety-risk-assessment-educational-premises | https :// www . briton . co . uk / content / dam / briton / downloads / M2531 % 20- % 20Education % 20Guide % 20FINAL . pdf | http :// firecode . org . uk / Code _ of _ Practice _ hardware _ for _ fire _ and _ escape _ doors . pdf
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SEPTEMBER 2023
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