Fire Doors and Hot Weather
Discussion
It's hot and we have no AC in the office. Some staff have propped open a fire door. Other staff have complained that this is illegal/dangerous/must be stopped.
We are all very sweaty. I am left with making this important decision for today.
What are the legal (and other) issues with propping open the fire door (to the carpark) during the work-day?
Common Sense: It's the outside door, it's not stopping a fire spreading internally and it will be closed at the end of the day when we go home.
We are all very sweaty. I am left with making this important decision for today.
What are the legal (and other) issues with propping open the fire door (to the carpark) during the work-day?
Common Sense: It's the outside door, it's not stopping a fire spreading internally and it will be closed at the end of the day when we go home.
The only issue would be a potential issue from a security perspective.
External fire doors don't add anything the to the fire compartmentation, they're usually not even fire rated so there would be no effect on fire safety by leaving them open.
Your work colleagues are getting confused with internal fire doors.
External fire doors don't add anything the to the fire compartmentation, they're usually not even fire rated so there would be no effect on fire safety by leaving them open.
Your work colleagues are getting confused with internal fire doors.
As has been said, they're confusing the Fire Escape with a Fire Resisting Door. The former is primarily a security concern as unless it is a Fire Resisting Door and designated as a true Fire Door for containment purposes, it's merely an additional exit for people where any other exits may be blocked.
I'd just be sacking their sorry asses for being jobsworths and meddlers.
I'd just be sacking their sorry asses for being jobsworths and meddlers.
Pegscratch said:
As has been said, they're confusing the Fire Escape with a Fire Resisting Door. The former is primarily a security concern as unless it is a Fire Resisting Door and designated as a true Fire Door for containment purposes, it's merely an additional exit for people where any other exits may be blocked.
I'd just be sacking their sorry asses for being jobsworths and meddlers.
Thank them for raising the question, state the reason. Say as they are so concerned, there is fire-training, mandatory, in their own time at 7pm tonight for 2 hours.I'd just be sacking their sorry asses for being jobsworths and meddlers.
The Surveyor said:
The only issue would be a potential issue from a security perspective.
External fire doors don't add anything the to the fire compartmentation, they're usually not even fire rated so there would be no effect on fire safety by leaving them open.
Your work colleagues are getting confused with internal fire doors.
But of course, OP knows all that, given his/her position. Yes?External fire doors don't add anything the to the fire compartmentation, they're usually not even fire rated so there would be no effect on fire safety by leaving them open.
Your work colleagues are getting confused with internal fire doors.
Not really sure why these regulations apply to an occupied building in the daytime. No one is going to sit there behind a fire door in the event that the worst happens. After Grenfell every door in my block was replaced with an almost identical one that had some expanding material round the edge to seal any gaps in the event of a fire with closers that appear to close the door very smoothly then slam as hard as possible at the end. All air vents in the hallways were also sealed up and we were told to remove door mats. It does make more sense to minimise any chance of fire spreading but this is as much to save the building as much as the occupants otherwise the common sense strategy with 6 floors and smoke alarms you could get 40 people out safely.
Pica-Pica said:
The Surveyor said:
The only issue would be a potential issue from a security perspective.
External fire doors don't add anything the to the fire compartmentation, they're usually not even fire rated so there would be no effect on fire safety by leaving them open.
Your work colleagues are getting confused with internal fire doors.
But of course, OP knows all that, given his/her position. Yes?External fire doors don't add anything the to the fire compartmentation, they're usually not even fire rated so there would be no effect on fire safety by leaving them open.
Your work colleagues are getting confused with internal fire doors.
A potential issue, if it is a fire escape door, is if it only opens to 90° and part of the passage is blocked by a box of paper or similar.
It could also be argued that having the door already open would be beneficial in the event of an evacuation.
Although not significant for compartmentation, an open door could encourage a draught, exactly what your colleagues desire, but a distinct problem if a fire breaks out. There is a reason that windows should be shut, if possible, prior to fire evacuation, having a door propped open comes in the same category.
It could also be argued that having the door already open would be beneficial in the event of an evacuation.
Although not significant for compartmentation, an open door could encourage a draught, exactly what your colleagues desire, but a distinct problem if a fire breaks out. There is a reason that windows should be shut, if possible, prior to fire evacuation, having a door propped open comes in the same category.
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