Automatic Door Release Mechanisms |
Automatic Door Release Mechanisms / Hold Open Devices for Self Closing Fire Doors
Introduction
The following guidance note is produced to give advice on the suitability and use of automatic door release mechanisms. It aims to set acceptable standards of safety at the same time leaving scope for flexibility and the exercise of judgement is in relation to individual circumstances.
General Principles
The holding open of self-closing fire doors should be discouraged in most cases however where they cause serious restriction in the free movement of people within a building, you may need to consider and install, where appropriate, automatic door release mechanisms.
A site-specific risk assessment should be carried out and the following criteria should be appropriately applied: -
2. All doors fitted with automatic releases should be actuated by an appropriate fire detection and alarm system. BS5839 Parts 1 or 6 detail an acceptable standard.
3. If devices are fitted to fire doors protecting the means of escape then the automatic detectors should be positioned in accordance with British Standard Part 1, for a Type L3 system as minimum, for example suitable detectors on the means of escape routes and in adjacent rooms opening onto those routes. If the means of escape route is fire protected then either smoke or heat detectors are considered suitable in the adjacent rooms, whilst if the route is unprotected, only smoke detectors should be used.
4. The practice of using dedicated smoke detectors either side of corridor doors that are to be held open by a door release mechanism should be discontinued. This is because studies have found that smoke entering the corridor from an adjacent room may not have sufficient buoyancy, movement and directional flow to actuate the dedicated detector heads.
5. All automatic door releases should be triggered by each or any one of the following:
i. The detection of smoke by automatic detection; or
ii. The actuation of an alarm by a manual fire alarm call point; or
iii. Failure of the fire warning system.
6. Each automatic door release should be provided with means of manual operation from a position at the door, closing door by hand/foot is considered suitable.
7. In sleeping risk premises each door fitted with an automatic door release should be closed at a predetermined time each night and remain closed throughout sleeping hours. The method of achieving compliance with this will be a matter for the management regime of the work premises/workplace. Any remote or unsupervised release of self-closing fire doors may injure occupants. The responsible person should only carry out fire alarm tests and/or remotely release self closing fire doors if arrangements, so far as is reasonably predictable, are in place to safeguard the occupants from injury. For instance an occupant being struck by a door closing.
8. The release mechanisms should be operated at least once a week.
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