Note for Guidance

The Fire Safety Advice Centre

Automatic Door Release Mechanisms / Hold Open Devices for Self Closing Fire Doors

Introduction

The following guidance note is produced to give advice on the suitability and use of automatic door release mechanisms. It aims to set acceptable standards of safety and at the same time leaving scope for flexibility and the exercise of judgment in relation to individual circumstances. Before you make a decision on automatic door release mechanisms have you considered swing free closers, these exert no forces on a door leaf during normal operation. They may include internal sensors or be linked to the fire alarm system. When activated by the sensor system, or in the event of power failure, the closer system shuts the door in the same way as a normal closer.

General Principles

The holding open of self-closing fire doors should be discouraged in most cases however where they cause serious restriction in the free movement of people within a building, you may need to consider and install, where appropriate, automatic door release mechanisms.

A site-specific risk assessment should be carried out and the following criteria should be appropriately applied: -

1. The door release mechanism should conform to an appropriate standard or be accredited as part of the European Construction Product Directive.
2. All doors fitted with automatic releases should be actuated by an appropriate automatic fire detection and alarm system. BS 5839 Parts 1 or 6 detail an acceptable standard.
3. If devices are fitted to fire doors protecting the means of escape then the automatic detectors should be positioned in accordance with British Standard 5839 Part 1, for a Type L3 system as minimum, for example suitable detectors on the means of escape routes and in adjacent rooms opening onto those routes. If the means of escape route is fire protected then either smoke or heat detectors are considered suitable in the adjacent rooms, whilst if the route is unprotected, only smoke detectors should be used.
4. The practice of using dedicated smoke detectors either side of corridor doors that are to be held open by a door release mechanism should be discontinued. This is because studies have found that smoke entering the corridor from an adjacent room may not have sufficient buoyancy, movement and directional flow to actuate the dedicated detector heads.
5. All automatic door releases should be triggered by each or any of the following: -
   1. The detection of smoke by automatic detection; or
   2. The actuation of an alarm by a manual fire alarm call point; or
   3. Failure of the fire warning system.
6. Each automatic door release should be provided with means of manual operation from a position at the door, closing door by hand/foot is considered suitable.
7. In sleeping risk premises each door fitted with an automatic door release should be closed at a predetermined time each night and remain closed throughout the sleeping hours. The method of achieving this may be either automatic or manual, depending on the type of release mechanism installed, but compliance with this will be a matter for the management regime of the premises/workplace. Any remote or unsupervised release of self-closing fire doors may injure occupants. The responsible person should only carry out fire alarm tests and/or remotely release self-closing fire doors if arrangements, so far as is reasonably practicable, are in place to safeguard the occupants from injury. For instance an occupant being struck by a door closing.
8. The release mechanisms should be operated at least once each week to ensure that: -
   1. The mechanisms are working effectively, and
   2. The doors are not warped and close effectively into their frames
9. The release mechanisms should operate within 20 seconds of the fire alarm operating.
10. Doors fitted with release mechanisms should be provided with appropriate sign. Automatic Fire Door Keep Clear.
11. The devices must be tested weekly, in association with the testing of the fire alarm system, and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. A record should be kept of all testing and maintenance activities. Doors fitted with such devices should be kept closed during periods when the fire alarm system is isolated for maintenance purposes.

Self-Contained Release Devices (SCRD)

SCRD are not normally directly connected to a fire alarm system and it is important that additional points are taken into account and/or considered when these types of devices are to be installed. These points are set out below:

1. Acceptance depends upon the outcome of a site-specific risk assessment. They should not normally be used on doors protecting single stairway buildings or protecting other critical means of escape.
2. The fire alarm system should have a secondary power supply to a standard as detailed in BS 5839: Parts 1 or 6.
3. The fire alarm audibility level at the position of any acoustically actuated device must be sufficient to ensure that the mechanisms will release the door upon the actuation of the fire alarm system.
4. The management of the premises/workplace should ensure that there are procedures in place, either manual or automatic, to de-activate any or all of the devices in the following circumstances: -
   1. When there is a fault in the fire warning system
   2. When the fire alarm system is isolated for any reason e.g. Maintenance
   3. Any other circumstances when the sound of the fire alarm will not trigger the device
5. Self-contained devices should have their batteries replaced at least every 12 months or when the low voltage-warning device sounds.

The above information is from a guidance note issued by Chief & Assistant Chief Fire Officers Association's NFSC on 20 March 2003

Costs

There was a time when cost of a fire safety solutions was never considered and the fire safety schemes were simple based on the current codes. It was up to the employer to consider this aspect and obtain the best cost effective solution. Since the introduction of risk assessment and the numerous solutions available to the fire safety profession it is now incumbent on the person conducting a fire risk assessment to consider costs. This can be achieved by comparing prices on the net and arriving at an average price and you must also consider the cost of installation. In this case a starting point and an idea of various types could be the Fire Door Retainers page at SafeLincs

Further Information

BS 7273-4:2007 - Code of practice for the operation of fire protection measures. Actuation of release mechanisms for doors

BS EN 1155:1997 Building hardware. Electrically powered hold-open devices for swing doors. Requirements and test methods

This handout provides a general overview and basic information on this topic. It may not apply to everyone, consequently to find out if this guide applies to you and to get more information on this subject, study all the relevant legislation, guides and British/European Standards. Also you should seek advice from an expert on the subject or your local Fire Safety Officer or Fire Safety Professional.

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This page was last checked and modified on Thursday, 8 July, 2010 22:26