Fire Highlights Importance of Correct Choice When Fitting Locks to Flat Entrance Doors

The recent fire in Kingston-upon-Thames, has raised the issue of fitting the appropriate hardware to flat entrance doors. A mother has described how a stranger saved her baby as a fire swept through the top four floors of the 15-storey Madingley block on the Cambridge Estate, in South West London. While the tower was on fire the mother had left her flat to dispose of a nappy when the door closed behind her, locking her child inside. The mother could not leave the building as the child was trapped until two men knocked down the door to gain access. Fortunately everyone escaped from the building. This is a real-life example of a problem that can arise as a result of poor specification, as highlighted at the recent Fire and Rescue Conference in Harrogate. If there is a fire in a block of flats the occupants should be able to reach, in the shortest possible time, a place of relative safety. The key two areas in the block which are considered to be relatively safe are the flats themselves and the stair enclosures. These parts of the block should be protected by fire resisting construction. BWF Technical Manager Kevin Underwood notes that, ‘All flat entrance doors should be fire doors and should be fitted with door closers. When someone leaves the flat the door will close behind them. If the door is fitted with a lock which can only be opened from the outside with a key the person will be locked out of their flat unless they have their key with them.’ ‘The recommendations for flat entrance doors is that they should be held closed with either a latch operable with a handle both internally and externally or a roller bolt. The full dead locking facility should be engaged and be operable with a key externally and a handle or thumb turn release internally. Locks complying with BS 8621 meet these requirements.’ The same advice is given by the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers and Secured By Design.  However, regulations are tending towards risk assessments and ultimate responsibility lies with the ‘responsible person’ designated under the Fire Safety Order. Some useful guidance on the selection of locking hardware can be found in the NHBC Magazine, Standards Extra, which can be downloaded here. Information on flat entrance doors can be found in the December 2008 and December 2004 issues. You will also find the latest June 2010 issue which includes features on decking, sustainable construction, parts L and F and the perimeter sealing of doors and windows. A code of practice for fire door hardware jointly produced by the Door and Hardware Federation and the Guild of Architectural Ironmongers can be downloaded here.