The Big Interview FIRE DOOR CONTROLS
April 14, 2023 | Time: | Location: | Category: News
Ian Rowe, Founder of Fire Door Controls, tells Ownacarehome about fire door safety in a care home and supported living setting.
Background
Fire Door Controls was founded to provide a specialist supplier and installer service.
What are the key aspects of fire safety in a care home setting including fire doors?
- Having a fire risk assessment which has been checked by a ‘responsible person’ in the last 12 months is vital.
- The care setting should have a fully serviced fire alarm system which has been checked and is in full working order every 3 months. The fire risk assessment will establish the type of fire alarm that is needed, and the fire alarm should be tested weekly with it recorded in the safety log record.
- Ensure that your fire extinguisher equipment has been maintained and are located in the right places.
- Having fully operational fire doors, well maintained and serviced is also a matter that care sector regulators examine and assess as part of safety measures of the care service and care environment. Failure to have well maintained and operational fire doors could result in a downgrading of the care provider service.
- All care home and care setting staff have to have regular evacuation training which is evidenced for the inspection regulators.
How do Fire Doors reduce fire risk in a care home setting?
- Fire doors which are well maintained are extremely important for the safety of residents in a care home and wider care setting, such as supported living, since they slow down the spread of a fire and keep exit routes free from fire and hazardous smoke.
Could you tell us more about ‘free-swing door closers’ and their use in a care home setting?
- The use of free-swing door closers in a care home setting is becoming increasingly more widespread. In addition to the safety aspects free-swing doors offer numerous benefits to care home residents including ease of access and privacy.
- Building Regulations and Guidance also advise the use of free-swing door closers on care home resident’s bedrooms.
- Free-swing door closers ensure compliance with strict fire safety regulation.
How does a free-swing door work?
- A free-swing door closer works by disengaging the closing action unless activated by the fire alarm.
- This allows care home residents to open doors without resistance and move freely through doorways without the door closing on them.
- Care home and supported living residents are also free to leave the door in any position they choose, rather than held in a fixed position which enables a person-centred approach.
Could you tell us more about your fire door service offering?
- Fire Door Controls primarily serves the residential care homes, retirement living and social housing sectors.
- We are a specialist supplier and installer of alarm activated fire door closers.
- With our particular expertise in free-swing fire door solutions we offer independent advice on the full range of market options available.
- This includes hard wired, acoustic and radio activated systems.
- Our primary product is the Freeway Anti-Slam which has been designed specifically with the care home and supported living sectors in mind.
- It includes a number of safety measures which sets it apart from other products, including:
- Anti-slam
- Anti-drift
- Assisted opening
Ian Rowe comments “Working with numerous care home providers, councils and housing associations Fire Door Controls offers professional and unbiased advice along with nationwide supply and installation of fire doors.”
For further information contact us here
