How Fire Auto Doors Help to Prevent Fire Damage Costs Rising
28 September 2012
Fire doors are there for a reason but they are often found propped open (usually by a fire extinguisher). Whilst it is always nice to have a fresh breeze circulating the office the ramifications of wedging open a fire door in violation of the fire regulations set out by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO) could be costly.
Fire doors are there for a reason but they are often found propped
open (usually by a fire extinguisher). Whilst it is always nice to have a fresh
breeze circulating the office the ramifications of wedging open a fire door in
violation of the fire regulations set out by the Regulatory Reform (Fire
Safety) Order 2005 (FSO) could be costly.
In 2010-11 the National Statistics from Communities and
Local Government for Fires in Great Britain reported that 24,900 fires occurred
in buildings other than dwellings. Whilst fires in non-dwelling buildings are
on a downward trend with 6% fewer fires than 2009-10 fatal accidents and
injuries sustained in these fires have increased. In 2010-11 19 people died and
1,200 were injured in buildings other than fires. When fire doors are in place they
prevent the rapid spreading of smoke and fire, allowing employees and customers
to have a better chance to escape without incident.
Ignoring the risk of personal injury, by leaving the fire
door wedged open illegally could mean that in the event of a fire the financial
costs would increase. Without the fire door being used correctly the fire would
spread more quickly causing more extensive damage to the property and important
work documents. It would also mean that your insurance would be null and
voided.
Even without a fire occurring miss-use of the fire door is
costly as a branch of Asda in Slough discovered recently. They were fined more
than £55,000 after a series of fire safety breaches which included fire doors
wedged open.
An auto door closer allows for the fire door to be left open
legally as it shuts at the sound of the fire alarm. This is particularly
helpful in places where there is a high amount of traffic passing through such
as in restaurants and hotels where electrical appliances (3,300 fires) and
cooking appliances (3,300 fires) related fires are likely to occur. It also
means that you can stop sending angry directives around to employees asking
them to keep the fire door shut.
Whilst the majority of non-dwelling fires (21%) occurred in
private garages and sheds where fire auto door closers would not be required
there is still a large proportion of fires occurring in retail distribution,
restaurants, cafes, public houses, industrial premises and recreational and
other cultural services. In these
buildings having a fire alarm door closer would dramatically decrease the damage
sustained.
Fires are unexpected, with 65% of non-dwelling fires started
accidentally, but having fire auto door closers in place allows for the best
possible outcome when they do occur.
