The LWF Blog

Fire Risk Assessment for Healthcare Premises – Electronic door locks – Part 135

April 24, 2023 11:26 am

LWF’s blog series for healthcare professionals aims to give information on best practice of fire safety in hospitals and other healthcare premises. In part 134 of Fire Risk Assessments for Healthcare Premises, LWF began to look at the provision and use of electronic locks on doors. In part 135, we will continue talking about the provision and use of electronic locks on doors in healthcare premises.

Electronically releasing or opening doors on an escape route that actuate when the fire alarm is sounded are normal provision in a healthcare building. However, there may be certain circumstances where this is not desirable or conducive to providing the best care for patients. In the case of accommodation for people with mental illness, automatically opening doors upon actuation of the fire alarm may not be acceptable. Patients would be able to leave without supervision and may not be able to follow the safest evacuation route, or may abscond which could place themselves or others at risk.

In this type of area, where security of the patients is of the utmost importance, staffing levels must be sufficient to facilitate the use of a key operated or other system operated by staff for evacuation. While such a system might mean a slight delay on the commencement of evacuation from the area, this should be made up for with well-trained staff in fire evacuation practices who will be able to organise a controlled evacuation.

The balance between building security and easy escape from fire has always been difficult. However, both objectives can be satisfied with the use of thorough planning and training of staff and quality materials. Any security device that might impede the egress of people making an escape is not acceptable. Such devices might be complex to manipulate or not readily openable. It is important that fire safety and security personnel work closely together to ensure the needs of both elements are fulfilled.

There are security devices which deny unauthorised access while providing quick and easy egress from a building and they may take various forms, however, in buildings where the public are present or where people may be unfamiliar with the building, panic exit bars (push to exit) are commonly seen. In buildings where staff numbers are limited or where most users are familiar with the building and panic is less likely, alternative devices such as push pads or lever handles may be a suitable alternative.

In Part 136 of LWF’s blog series, LWF will discuss electrical locking devices. 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.