INDUSTRYNEWS • 57
FIRESAFETY&SECURITY • 57
DOOR CLOSERS
Another factor which was
detrimental to the level of fire safety
during the Grenfell Tower fire was
its lack of or damaged door closers.
This resulted in “shortcomings in
compartmentalisation,” meaning
the fire and smoke wasn’t
contained for as long a time as it
should have been.
Just as integral to an effective
fire safety plan is the adequate
operation of door closers. If a door
closer is faulty or damaged, it may
be unable to close a fire door in the
event of a fire.
At the same time, it’s necessary
to check that door closers allow for
free passage. This includes making
sure a door opens with ease and
closes again safely.
As well as being undamaged
and securely fitted, make sure
that if the door is unlatched, for
example, the door closer holds the
door in-line with the frame and the
intrumescent seal. Lastly, it should
be free from oil leakage.
THE COMMON CONSTRAINTS
All fire door equipment and
hardware must be correctly
specified, installed and
maintained in order to perform
adequately. This includes carrying
out regular risk assessments,
too.
After the events of the Grenfell
Tower, it’s more important
now than ever to ensure that
specifications are correct to a
building’s requirements and
‘In order
to remedy
our failing
fire safety
measures
in the UK,
a complete
“culture
change” is
needed’
LOCKSMITHJOURNAL.CO.UK | NOV/DEC 2018
compliant to the relevant codes
and regulations.
Particularly in buildings where
funding may fall short, it can be
difficult to implement high-quality
solutions, instead opting for
cost-efficiency. Whilst opting for
value for your money can seem a
highly tempting route to take, the
finer details can be overlooked
and more worryingly, quality and
function can be compromised.
If you’re unsure on the solutions
or products available, or even
how to implement an effective
fire safety strategy around the
constraints of budget, speaking to
experts can help guide you in the
right direction.
www.allegion.co.uk