The British Standard on activating release mechanisms for doors in the event of a fire was amended last year, to reflect recent research and experience.

Fire doors are typically designed to be kept closed at all times so that heat and fire are contained. However, there are occasions when doors should be held open, either to help people escape or to give firefighters access.

In these instances, it’s common for there to be an interface, or interfaces, between fire detection and alarm system and various forms of door hardware. Typically, such interfaces will hold open self-closing fire-resisting doors; secure doors that are a means of escape; or power sliding doors that might be required to stay open permanently when the fire detection and alarm system is triggered.

To help ensure the safe operation of these interfaces, BS 7273-4:2015+A1:2021 Code of practice for the operation of fire protection measures – Part 4: Actuation of release mechanisms for doors covers the electrical control arrangements for actuation of the mechanisms that unlock, release, or open doors in the event of a fire.

The standard gives recommendations for the design, installation, commissioning, and maintenance of electrical control arrangements. It applies to all aspects of the interface between these mechanisms and fire detection and fire alarm system, including interfaces that incorporate acoustic coupling and radio transmission. As such, the standard covers the safety-critical arrangements that enforcing authorities rely on to ensure a building can be evacuated safely.

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Prompted by research

The 2021 standard is an amended version of the 2015 code, which was itself a second, and fully revised edition of the standard first published in 2007.

The 2021 amendment was prompted by research conducted by the Business Engagement Forum (BEF) – a collaboration between the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and others on initiatives to improve fire safety in Scotland.

Their research concluded that confusion can occur between red break glass call points and door release units on electronically locked doors, leading to unwanted alarms. It led to the recommendation in BS 5839-1:2017 that Manual Call Points are now fitted to manual call points in all new fire alarm systems. In addition, the BEF wanted this issue further highlighted in the next review of BS 7273-4 and suitable recommendations added that would further address the issue.

Greater clarity

In addition, the committee responsible for the standard also wanted to provide clarity on when a door may be secured with a panic bar (or also known as a panic latch). There have been several incidents in recent years where vulnerable people (such as those with dementia) have been able to use a panic latch to access areas they otherwise should not have been able to. These incidents established that the risk of those living with dementia passing through an exit door secured only with a panic latch is not simply hypothetical.

Moreover, when BS 7273-4 was first drafted, the committee acknowledged that the normal means of releasing electronically locked doors could be omitted in certain high-security situations, such as the landside/airside interface at airports, or mental health units, where the release of a patient could result in a risk to the general public. However, at that point, the standard said nothing about the situation in care homes. It’s now quite common practice to use maglocks in care homes. The amended standard now makes it clear that this is acceptable.

Lastly, the amendment also clarifies that the normal green break glass might, subject to a risk assessment, be omitted or subject to a variation in siting: for example, the green break glass is sometimes installed at a high level (around arms reach), the theory being that those living with dementia tend to look ahead or downwards, but not upwards, and are not likely to reach up to operate a green break glass.

In summary, the amendments to BS 7273-4:2015+A1:2021 have helped clarify the expectations of users and matched the standard to the technology available to the fire alarm industry. They’ve also contributed to a standard that will increase fire safety, which is the ultimate objective.

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