Final exit fire doors

Colin Foster
Member - 2 posts

a final exit door can be opened for ventilation purposes unless it is under an external fire escape staircase. As for the door furniture, it should withstand opening / closing and resetting sequences. (Simple test to apply, if the actual door did not exist, it was just an opening in the wall, would you ask for the door from a fire safety point of view or a security point of view. If the door is for security, to stop access through a fire exit route the door can stand open and security is provised by other means ..... normally the employees in the room challenging anyone wandering in the open exit. If the door is for safety there will be some reason for it staying closed, the external staircase being the obvious problem)

Charles Houston
Member - 5 posts

I am installing an auotmatic door opening devise on the main double door entrance to a sheltered accommodation block for the convienence of wheelchair users. Is it permissible to have the doors open in rather than out.

Iain Sanderson
Member - 29 posts

Generally any doors across escape routes only require to open in the direction of exit if the occupant capacity of rooms using the route exceed 60. The exception to this would be factory premises. However, a fire risk assessment may indicate the need for the doors to open in the direction of escape if a higher risk of fire than would normally be expected existed in the premises.

Charles Houston
Member - 5 posts

Thanks for this - the premises is assessed as low-normal and the automatic device will default to open on activation of the AFA

Iain Sanderson
Member - 29 posts

The default to open should also be on failure of the power supply to the automatic device.

Claire Fuller - Workplace Law Network
Online advisor - 35 posts

Fire safety consultant Alan Cox has this advice:

There is generally no problem leaving a final fire exit door open, however it is generally better to control ventilation by other means e.g. fixed ventilation system, windows, fans etc. If opening a fire exit door is the only alternative available the following provisos should be considered:

• It does not compromise security or other legislation e.g. food safety, dust.
• It is not under or adjacent to a fire escape stairs.
• Where automatic fire detectors are fitted some smoke detectors can give false alarms if thrips (small insects) enter the detection chamber. This is quite common in areas adjacent to fields and open spaces.
• There should be no problem with the hardware as even if it was of a low specification it is unlikely that the use in this situation would cause undue wear.

C M
Member - 6 posts

I work in an upper room in a warehouse, formerly offices, now used for storage and quality control inspection. There is a fire escape door which opens onto an external staircase, leading to the car park. Can I use this door to enter/leave the building?

Thanks.

Colin Sanders
Member - 4 posts

CM no reason why you shouldnt use this door as the access to your place of work, many fire exits are infact the way in which persons normally enter a building. Only consideration would be from a security angle, if you can get in so can others, consider a locking device that is secure from the outside but can be easily opened without a key or code from within. As a fire exit it must always be usable from within

C M
Member - 6 posts

Thank you, Colin.

At present, the door has a standard "bar" which opens it from the inside. However, the other doors in the building have a magnetic lock fitted to them, controlled by a fob, on the fire escape doors, there is a fire alarm style green box with push-break glass in it for emergency use. I'll suggest this to the management.