The LWF Blog
Fire Risk Assessment for Healthcare Premises – Electrical locking devices– Part 137
May 9, 2023 11:42 amLWF’s blog series for healthcare professionals aims to give information on best practice of fire safety in hospitals and other healthcare premises. In part 136 of Fire Risk Assessments for Healthcare Premises, LWF discussed the use of electrical locking devices on doors in healthcare buildings from a fire safety point of view. In part 137, we continue looking at time-delay electromagnetic locks on fire doors, before considering the design, installation and management of electronic exit-door control devices.
A time-delay system which prevents the opening of emergency exits for a pre-set time is primarily used for security purposes and is not an advantage from a fire safety point of view. However, there are instances where their use may be considered necessary and as such, they add a layer of complexity to the fire strategy.
It is important that they are not used in public areas and are confined to use in non-public areas and then, only when other options for improving security have been found to be insufficient and their use is unavoidable. Some possible solutions to avoid using time-delay locks on emergency exits might include the relocation of valuable equipment to a more secure area or additional exterior boundary management.
A time-delay unlocking system may be considered necessary in areas such as mental health units and baby units, but the impact upon persons attempting to use the emergency exit in a fire situation should be fully assessed and considered.
It may be that an enhanced fire detection and alarm system would be a suitable addition to healthcare premises in which time delay locks on exit doors are considered necessary. Such systems would be capable of releasing the door lock mechanism automatically if a fire had been detected. A comprehensive fire alarm system would mean that if a fire alert was received close to the doors with door lock mechanism fitted, those doors could be released automatically. If a fire signal was received remotely from the door lock mechanism area, they would remain locked.
It should be noted that access control systems are not the same as exit control systems. A system which controls access would, in normal circumstances, still allow immediate escape from the premises.
The use of exit-door control devices (other than those complying with BS EN 1125 or BS EN 179) may be acceptable to the enforcing authorities for fire safety if the Responsible Person (as indicated in the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005) can demonstrate through risk assessment for the door(s) in question the necessity for the device and sufficient management controls to ensure people can escape safely from the premises in case of a fire.
In Part 138 of LWF’s blog series, LWF will look at how the risk assessment can show the devices are required and the conditions required. In the meantime, if you have any questions about this blog, or wish to discuss your own project with one of our fire engineers, please contact us.
Lawrence Webster Forrest has been working with their clients since 1986 to produce innovative and exciting building projects. If you would like further information on how LWF and fire strategies could assist you, please contact LWF on freephone 0800 410 1130.
While care has been taken to ensure that information contained in LWF’s publications is true and correct at the time of publication, changes in circumstances after the time of publication may impact on the accuracy of this information.