ALL ABOUT THE DOOR
the doorway with single operation and without prior knowledge of its operation .
Over the winter months , many of the challenges that care homes face are heightened . Infections , cold weather and increased footfall further intensify the need to review the safety and security of facilities and , in doing so , decision makers can lean on the support of door hardware . As families celebrate the holidays , care homes can experience increased visitor footfall and , with that , they must contend with an amplified exposure to pathogens . To combat this , the installation of electromagnetic door controls can alleviate the pressure on key entry points by holding doors open and removing the need to touch door furniture upon entry , further minimising the risk of contamination - alongside the use of regular infection control methods , ( i . e ., hand washing and disinfection ). Being linked to the buildings fire alarm system , in the event of a fire , an electromagnetic door closer will automatically close the door to help contain the fire .
Feeling the squeeze
Under the Health and Safety Act 1974 , building managers have a general duty to maintain their property and provide a safe working environment . For care homes , this is no different . With many across the country legitimately marked for improvement by the CQC , the need to enhance service standards and , in some cases , the condition of facilities , is evident .
Over time , ageing door hardware can become outdated or damaged in care facilities , potentially risking the integrity of the building ’ s fire safety and operation . Whereas the impetus to raise standards is there , the cost of maintenance projects can sometimes feel off-putting and present a stumbling block for many . Again , the colder months ( and today ’ s unstable financial climate ) present additional and uncontrollable costs to care homes , and while various organisations await vital government support , decision makers must find astute resolutions when it comes to hardware maintenance , so to not risk compliance and further financial setbacks .
Outside of straight-forward maintenance procedures , care homes must look to add better functioning components to their older systems when required . This process is termed retrofitting and , in the context of door hardware , is the replacement of
ironmongery , designed to make a building more efficient . Retrofit projects combine key maintenance projects with cost-saving and , when approached professionally , can make a considerable difference to a care home ’ s operation , but only when completed with high quality , like for like alternatives . Although low-cost substitutes may seem appealing to under-pressure facility managers at first glance , it ’ s easy to get stung by low-quality , unsuitable hardware that doesn ’ t last as long and may need replacing again shortly after installation when it performs worse than the original .
With this in mind , there is a call for better tailored solutions to be installed throughout modern care home environments . For this , increased subject knowledge is key and , upon identifying problems with doors and their hardware , decision makers are urged to seek professional advice and guidance where necessary . In doing so , care home facilities can further ensure their hardware meets the needs of their occupants and the standards set by the CQC , all while retaining the high levels of safety and care that is expected from the sector .
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https :// www . gov . uk / guidance / check-your-fire-safety-responsibilities-under-the-fire-safety-order https :// www . legislation . gov . uk / uksi / 2005 / 1541 / contents / made | https :// www . hse . gov . uk / legislation / hswa . htm
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