COMMERCIAL SECURITY & SAFETY
CONSIDERATIONS FOR COMMERCIAL HARDWARE
ยป FROM SCHOOLS AND COUNCILS TO offices and factories , a commercial or public building must follow the legal requirements set out for the safety of those inside the building . It is also key to consider not just safety , but also security and the ease of use for those entering and exiting the building each day .
As a leading distributor of window and door hardware , Carl F Groupco have put together the top considerations when installing hardware in commercial or public buildings .
Emergency and Panic Exit
The safety of those in the commercial or public building should always be first priority . Emergency escape door locks and bars , like the FUHR emergency and panic exit multipoint door locks allow easy escape in the event of an emergency . It is important to supply and fit fully tested hardware sets which includes the door lock , cylinder such as the CES free movement cylinder and panic bar such as the CISA FAST touch panic exit bar and not mix and match untested hardware sets .
Being aware and compliant to the standards applicable to the building type and use is also essential . British Standards for emergency and panic doors in commercial settings are split into two categories . BS EN 179 applies to nonpublic buildings where potential users have been fully trained on exits and how to operate the door . This is an emergency exit and small push pads , such as the Strand Antipanic push pad can be used . BS EN 1125 applies to public buildings or other premises where occupants may not be familiar with exit routes and hardware devices . This is a panic exit and hardware must be more visible and clearly signed with a full door width panic bar , such as the Strand Anitpanic modular touch bar .
Safety Safety encompasses not only safe exit in an emergency situation , it is important to consider keeping the occupants inside the building safe while using the doors and windows . For offices over one storey , or university accommodation , window restrictors such as the CFGLock + Cable Restrictor prevent the window opening more than 100mm , ensuring occupants are at no risk of falling . The Res-Lock Concealed Locking Restrictor provides a more hidden approach , with hardware concealed with the window frame , deterring potential tampering .
Security Another factor to take into account when selecting hardware is the security accreditations it is supplied with . There are many legal standards a piece of hardware must adhere to , but there are also additional security and quality measurements that many distributors and manufacturers choose adhere to . For example , at Carl F Groupco , we are members of the Secured by Design initiative , which is a police programme that works to provide safe areas for people to live and work . This initiative enables us to display the Secured by Design mark on recognised , tested security components , making selecting those of higher security easy . Carl F Groupco would always recommend fitting window and door sets that are fully tested to PAS 24 requirements to ensure compliance .
Access
Additional considerations when choosing hardware for public places is to consider who will regularly be accessing the property . This may alter the types of hardware you choose . For example , in a school setting with younger children , hardware may need to come with additional security features to avoid easy access to outside spaces , or have the ablity to limit access from visitors .
If the property is being accessed by multiple people at once , it would be useful to consider using some form of electromechanical door locking system with integrated access control options such as key fob , key pad code , or fingerprint . This allows for all employees or users to have access , in a way that you can monitor entry and exit to the property , while restricting access to unauthorised visitors . The FUHR multitronic 881 door lock kit supplied by Carl F Groupco provides powerful electromechanical locking and flexible access control technology , adaptable to suit project requirements .
Selecting door and window hardware for commercial and public properties must be done carefully , to ensure any hardware selected abides by current legislation and requirements . Beyond that however , key factors of the type and use of the property tend to alter the needs again .
www . carlfgroupco . co . uk
40
MAR / APR 2022
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