hospital kitchen doors being left open

[Mushy]

In the Firecode HTM 05-03 Part H- Reducing UwFS in Hospitals it say that in the case of UwFS due to cooking, the kitchen door should be kept closed...however if this is not practical then a local mains smoke alarm that is not connected to the main fire alarm system should be provided outside the kitchen door to warn staff prior to the main alarm system being actuated (if necessary)

what's the forums views on this?

[Paul2886]

Why not look at reloacating the smoke head outside the kitchen as a first option if this is causing the uwfs

[Midland Retty]

I think it depends - I pressume we are talking here about the kitchenettes found on individual wards as opposed to the main hospital kitchens?

First consideration is the availability and proximity of staff to investigate the alarm, and take any necessary action.

What would happens if nurses or members of staff aren't imediately available - what if there is a medical emergency on the ward which is commiting alot of resources? As we all know hospital wards can be short staffed.

I think the stand alone detector isn't a bad idea, but perhaps it should be linked into a hold open device mounted on the kitchen door - thus if there is any delay in investigating the alarm for any reason and a real fire is in progress atleast the fire door will close without human intervention thus stopping smoke issuing onto the wards.

[Mushy]

Thanks for the replies...

MR maybe you are right...but It doesn't really differentiate between types of kitchens in the hospital itself...EDIT: sorry it does....it mentions Ward Kitchens


Minimising UwFS due to cooking activity

4.5 It is important to ensure that cooking activity is
only ever carried out in designated areas in which
appropriate automatic detection such as heat
detectors, and appropriate ventilation measures,
have been installed.

4.6 Detectors installed in areas adjacent to kitchens
that may be subjected to cooking fumes from the
kitchen should not be of the ionisation chamber
type.

4.7 Doors to kitchen areas should not be wedged or
otherwise held open, since this may permit cooking
fumes to permeate beyond the kitchen and activate
nearby automatic smoke detection. In addition,
this practice may increase the fire risk to occupants
and contravene fire safety legislation.

4.8 In circumstances where it is not desirable or
practical to keep kitchen doors closed, alternative
measures need to be considered. In residential
kitchen areas or ward kitchens, these may include
the provision of local mains-powered, selfcontained
smoke detectors in addition to the main
detection system, located either in or immediately
outside the kitchen. These self-contained detectors
are intended to warn local occupants of the
presence of smoke prior to the main fire detection
and alarm system being activated. This
arrangement should be designed to allow nearby
occupants to close kitchen doors and ventilate the
kitchen in order to avert a UwFS being generated
in the main system. Where such methods are
employed it will be necessary to provide staff
training to highlight the distinction between the
self-contained and main building alarms, and the
actions to be taken in the event of either being
activated.

4.9 In circumstances such as communal kitchens in
staff residences, consideration may be given to
devices that automatically turn on a kitchen
extractor when any cooking appliances are used.
Where such devices are used, the kitchen extractor
should continue to run for a pre-set time period
after all the cooking appliances have been turned
off.

[Midland Retty]

Some wards have small kitchenettes mainly for staff but where meals can be re-heated - toast can be made etc for patients.

I think really eitherway you still want to make sure that fire doors are closed when a fire occurs and it comes back to the issue of either an automatic hold open or swing free device or do you rely on staff to close them if the alarm sounds?.

In my experience its better to factor human intervention out of the equation.