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FIRE SERVICE AND GENERAL FIRE SAFETY TOPICS => Fire Safety => Topic started by: Wils on March 04, 2021, 10:37:49 AM

Title: Omission of bedroom self-closers in residential care homes.
Post by: Wils on March 04, 2021, 10:37:49 AM

Morning all,
I'm interested in your opinions on paragraph 2.46 of ADB vol.2, which states that bedroom fire doorsets do not need to be fitted with self-closing devices if sprinkler systems are fitted.
Does anyone know the background to this?
What is the danger posed by smoke spread before the sprinklers activate?
Have any fire authorities disagreed with the paragraph?

My thanks in advance!

Title: Re: Omission of bedroom self-closers in residential care homes.
Post by: AnthonyB on March 04, 2021, 07:42:42 PM

It appears to substitute the self closers with a management routine to shut them all at night, which wouldn't end well in some homes!

Never been an issue as I've yet to find a sprinklered care home!

Title: Re: Omission of bedroom self-closers in residential care homes.
Post by: colin todd on March 05, 2021, 12:01:31 AM

It was a daft idea in the 2006 revision of ADB and is based in part on the Rosepark findings. It does not apply in Scotland, even though new care homes in scotland must be sprinklered under B regs.

Title: Re: Omission of bedroom self-closers in residential care homes.
Post by: Wils on March 16, 2021, 10:14:14 AM

Thanks very much to you both; I greatly value your opinions and confirms my thoughts. Cards on the table, I'm teaching L4 Dip ADB, consultations, etc. to inspecting officers and I bring this point up as an example of something they might consider worthwhile commenting upon at the consultation stage.