The LWF Blog

Fire Risk Assessment for Healthcare Premises – Electronic locking devices– Part 139

May 22, 2023 11:50 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 138 of Fire Risk Assessments for Healthcare Premises, LWF discussed how the risk assessment can show what devices are required and the conditions associated, including electrical locking devices. In part 139, we will continue discussing the use of electronic locking devices.

In a healthcare environment, there may be situations where electronic locking devices are considered necessary for the safety and security of patients, staff and other building occupants. It may be that they are flagged in a risk assessment for a mental health facility or, in some cases, for mother and baby units.

The use of electronic door-locking devices should only be considered by the healthcare building management when their use is unavoidable. The step should only be taken once all other potential security measures have been put into place or deemed unsuitable for the circumstances. As mentioned in part 138 of this blog, such locking devices with a time-delay (or without) are a fire safety hazard for all occupants.

Particular care should be put into any proposal to install electronic locking devices in premises with a number of different occupancies. Their use would result in a complex evacuation system for different groups and would be very challenging to implement successfully by the management team.

High technical standards in relation to the appropriate sourcing of electronic locking devices and equally high standards in respect of maintenance and testing must be in place.

It should be noted that where the management control system involves trained personnel assisting others at the electronically locked doors in a fire situation, it is vital to ensure the relevant personnel are available at all times.

The use of electronic exit door control devices must not be considered for use where the number of trained staff available is low, or where members of the public might be expected to operate the devices without assistance being provided.

BS 8220 contains advice on security for dwellings, shops and offices and distribution and warehousing and does refer to electronic locking devices. However, where mentioned it acknowledges the necessity to put first emergency escape rather than security.

In Part 140 of LWF’s blog series, LWF will talk on the subject of basement escape and protection. 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.