Front door security grills

[Brandon]

Hi, after reading all your posts please find my first one with more to come.

We are a social landlord and our Tenants have started fixing random security iron(?) grill door security covers inside a 4/5 storey block of apartments. The security to the front door is by key pad, covered by CCTV with a day caretaker only.
They have done this all by themselves without consultation and now one has it it is like a virus with more popping up.

My question is..... What is your thoughts on this situation and would the Fire Authorities disprove of these security gates as it could slow/hinder them getting to the seat of the fire if if one occurs whilst unoccupied?

Thanks for reading
Brandon

[kurnal]

If the grilles are only protecting a single dwelling I cannot see any objection to this. Homes and castles spring to mind and provided it does not affect the integrity of the fire resisting flat door the fire authority should not have any grounds for concern.All in my opinion of course.

[Phoenix]

Hi Brandon,

Correct me if I'm wrong but, as I understand it, if one of these tenants has a fire in the middle of the night they will have to get themselves and their family to the front door, open it and then, with the possibility of smoke or even flames around them, remember a code to be able to open the grill to further their excape.

That doesn't sound ideal to me.  It's a bit like something I've come across a few times where people dead lock their front door at night and then put the key away in, say, a kitchen drawer.  It doesn't make for rapid egress.  

But if the grills could be opened by turning or pushing a handle (and these can be shrouded against external operation) then I couldn't see a problem.  Or, maybe simpler, ensure that the code is indelibly written on the back of the front door.

The point you make about fire service access is a very common one.  If the fire service can get in easily, so too can less trustworthy people.  I haven't ridden on a truck for a few years but I believe most carry small angle grinders that they can use to remove the grill.  I would be inclined to approach the local fire station and see if they carry these and ask them to be aware that they may have to use them at your building.  Then they're pre-warned to take them with them when they first enter the building on arrival.

Stu

[nearlythere]

Hi Brandon and welcome to the forum. You will receive much knowledge here but remember to provide much information and you will be rewarded with the expert opinions of the great and mighty. 

Are the grills designed to be closed when premises are occupied?
If so can they be opened from the inside without a key or mechanical digital lock?

[Brandon]

Hi,
Often they are cheap fixes to protect their property, padlocks used to secure unauthorised access and probably to keep them in and feel safe. Are they not cooperating with us in our duty to manage a safe evacuation? We can impart more information on better fire safety issues and making their own evacuation plan through our Tenants local officer.
As with my own home - It is my castle etc etc .......and with the majority of our tenants, the security on the inside is often extreme and not monitored as we have no access.
If the fire authority do not regard this as a step too far then perhaps they can stay. It is a breach of Tenancy to put these up and some Tenants have taken over the lease with them already in place. It has just come to light with a recent FRA review.

Next time I hopefully will be more informative and less mellow(sorry Merlot)
Thanks
Brandon

[Phoenix]

Brandon,

That's an interesting point about co-operation.  I don't think any of the references to co-operation and co-ordination in the FSO are relevant here because we only have one responsible person, and the residents are, as kurnal initially pointed out, kings (or queens!) of their own castles.  Hopefully, someone will come in with a more authoritative view on this.

I think education of the tenants would be a good road to go down and if you have a tenant officer so much the better.  They must be made aware of the danger they are putting themselves in.  Some shots of the (I think) Woolworths fire in Manchester would get the message across.

Stu