fire door/health and safety legislation

[imamartian]

Is it illegal to wedge/prop open a firedoor?

In particular a firedoor which is the main door to an open plan office.

 

[kevplumb]

dunno if it's illegal bloody stupid deffo

 

[tim west]

Yes, you must NOT wedge open a firedoor, its there to hinder the progress of a fire

 

[Space cat]

I'm not sure whether it's illegal or not but it's a very BAD IDEA!!! Fire doors don't just block fires; they also block the spread of smoke - which can travel faster than you can run! Most of the people who die in fires aren't killed by heat but by smoke inhalation.

But maybe you knew that already. For a definitive answer on the legal question you could try the CAB.

 

[imamartian]

yeah i know it's very stupid, but i need to convince senior management - so i just wanted to know where i stood legally and what legislation, if any. supported my argument.

 

[tim west]

I should have made myself clearer, it IS illegal to interfere with any device used for health and safety protection

this may clear it up for you?

http://www.redboxfire.co.uk/legislation.html

The only device allowed to keep a fire door open in normal conditions ie no fire, are magnetic pads which are linked to the buildings fire alarm system and deactivate the electro magnets when the alarm goes off.

 

[kevplumb]

you could ask the local fire station i'm sure they will know

and no im not taking the

edit

crossed post

 

[tim west]

Its the same as applies to a safety guard around a piece of machinery like for instance a drill, if you interfere with the working of the safety device or try to modify it in any way from its design then you are breaking the law, its not a regulation its actual legislation.

 

[kevplumb]

good point tim i never thought of it that way

 

[noseall]

there will always be instances whereby a self closing door may be physically prevented from shutting.

this is not illegal.

not allowing it to shut, after such activity is.

 

[megawatt]

Tim is quite right it is illegal to tamper with any fire safety device, including fire doors.

 

[tim west]

A self closing door maybe but if that door happens to be a firedoor and it is restricted from operating properly then it is illegal, for instance someone who puts a heavy weight against the door to hold it open would be liable to prosecution.

 

[noseall]

ok all you h&s bods, how long can a fire door be kept open for?

if a long object or stubborn shaped object needs to pass through, how much time does it have?

are you saying that you are only allowed to swing it open and immmediately let it shut again?

for the love of Christ.

 

[tim west]

ok all you h&s bods, how long can a fire door be kept open for?

if a long object or stubborn shaped object needs to pass through, how much time does it have?

are you saying that you are only allowed to swing it open and immmediately let it shut again?

for the love of Christ.

Its a door so you can obviously use it for access, dont forget when using it you are also policing the area for any fire hazard, what i was saying is you cannot permanently hold the door open by mechanical means unless the means are an approved device such as the aforementioned electromechanical pads

 

[noseall]

i thank the Lord and Jesus Christ every day that i work in an environment that is not policed by restrictive h&s nazis.