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firesafety&security
EGRESS ADVICE FOR LOCKSMITHS
Three quarters of fire
related fatalities occurred
in dwelling fires in 2013,
according to government
figures.
Here, Ian Bartlett, Head of
Product Management for ASSA
ABLOY Security Solutions,
Security Solutions explores
why all buildings must be
designed and constructed
with egress in mind, and
considers how locksmiths are
ideally placed to facilitate best
practice within both Houses
of Multiple Occupancy (HMO)
and single occupancies.
Fire doors and escape
routes are a vital part of
any fire safety legislation.
Locksmiths, being involved
in the initial installation and
often the ongoing service and
maintenance of fire doors
and exit routes are in an ideal
position to offer guidance on
the regulations surrounding
fire safety and egress.
Essentially, a locksmith has a
responsibility to supply and
install the correct hardware in
any first fit or retrofit project,
as well as ensuring it continues
to operate properly and is
fit for purpose to ensure the
safety of building users.
The first step for a locksmith
is to have some understanding
of the legislation covering
egress, such as the relevant
British or European Standards
or Regulatory Reform (Fire
Safety) Act 2005. This will
enable them to install a
masterkey system or product
that first and foremost adheres
to the necessary standards.
The relevant legislation is
designed to protect residents
in the event of an emergency
and focuses on ensuring that
they can use egress routes to
quickly and safely evacuate
buildings. As well as the legal
implications, failure to comply
will put lives at unnecessary
risk, which is why it’s crucial
that locksmiths are aware of
this area of legislation.
The type of dwelling being
constructed or designed will
inform the relevant safety
standards. Much legislation
applies to both Houses
of Single Occupancy and
HMOs, yet there are separate
considerations that must
be taken into account when
providing hardware for a
HMO.
HMOs are residential
properties where common
areas exist, shared by more
than one household. Every
year, the fire brigade is
called out to over 60,000 fires
nationwide that occur in the
home. There has been over
500 fatalities and over 10,000
people have been injured in
these accidents. A quarter of
these deaths and one-third of
the injuries occur in HMOs.
In 2012, a landlord of a three
storey HMO was fined £36,000
for serious breaches of the
Reform (Fire Safety) Act 2005.
After a dwelling fire at the
property, it was found to have
inadequate means of egress, as
well as inadequate fire doors
in place. Tony Crook, of the
To read more, visit www.locksmithjournal.co.uk
Lancashire Fire and Rescue
Service said: “The omission
of fire safety precautions had
the potential to cause death or
serious injury to nine people,
including children.” Simple
safety precautions, such
as a clear egress route and
hardware complying with the
relevant British Standards, is
one way to reduce risk posed
to others.
When designing an egress
route in a HMO, it is important
that security does not
compromise safety. Keyless
egress routes are one way to
ensure this.
Locks that comply with the
BS 8621 standard have some
distinct advantages over
conventional BS 3621 standard
locks. They have all the security
benefits of locks complying
with BS 3621, as well as the
ability to exit without the use
of a key. This is ideal for egress
routes and when a quick exit
may be required. Mortice locks
can also be fitted with a thumb
turn on the inside, allowing
occupants to escape from the
inside of the building without a
key, but without compromising
the security of the building.
When installing keyless exit
doors, care must be taken to
ensure that windows are not
in close proximity, as an open
window could be used to gain
entrance from the outside.
There are similar concerns
when planning an egress
route in a House of Single
Occupancy. In domestic
settings, security is of the
upmost importance, and it
may not be practical to use
a BS 8621 lock if living with
children, as having a keyless
egress route could enable
children to exit the home
without permission. Therefore
locksmiths should be securing
a main entrance and exit
door with a British Standard
night latch or night latch and
key operated lock. However
for safety during a fire it is
also advisable to be able to
disable the lock from the inside
without the use of a key.
As in HMOs, all fire resistant
doors must also comply with
EN 1634, therefore providing at
least 30 minutes fire resistance.
These doors will slow the
spread of fire, allowing a
greater period of time to
escape from a building.
In the event of emergency,
all residents regardless of
accommodation type, should
be assured that they will be
able to exit the building quickly
and safely. If locksmiths
adhere to the Regulatory
Reform (Fire Safety) Act 2005
as well as the relevant British
Standards, the lives of family
and fellow residents should
not be a concern. Egress is a
serious issue and should not
be considered lightly - it could
be the difference between life
and death.
For further information,
visit www.assaabloy.co.uk/
Security-Solutions or tweet
@ASSAABLOYUKLtd or
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ASSAABLOYUK
THE NOV/DEC 2014 ISSUE
SPONSORED BY DAVENPORT BURGESS
57