Swing free for residential care -the right solution?

[Markbr]

Hi everyone. I have recently added a swing free closer to my Holdfire portfolio.

Such devices are promoted alongside mag holders in the new Fire Safety Guidance for Residential Care whereas acoustic devices are, "unlikely to be suitable" :).

We recently fitted a number of these new swing free closers to a prestige residential care home in London and I thought it may be useful for Members to see and comment on our findings.

A swing free is great in principle. Once set, the closing mechanism is "held back" allowing the door to swing freely. If the fire alarm is activated then the closer engages to close the door from any position.

The great thing about these devices is that the door offers no resistance to the resident when trying to open the door and the door can be left open in any position.

So much for the theory.

We fitted 24 of these devices and took time to explain to the reisdents how they worked and what it would mean for them. It took a while to get the residents to understand that the door would close in the event of fire and there would be significant resistance to opening the door, but it would not be locked. Once the fire condition was over the door could be reset by opening fully and then would become swingfree again.

All seemed well until we came back a week later to see how things were going. The result was that almost all the doors were wedged open.

On enquiring why, the results were surprising to us. One reason was that because the doors were swinging freely, any imbalance meant that the door would not stay in its desired position and would gradually swing more open or shut. Another was when windows were open the draughts blew the door closed. These are issues that the staff can monitor but are concerning nonetheless considering the swing free is meant to be the ultimate solution to wedging.

My over-riding concern however is that when the doors are "artificially" swing free, many residents will get used to them being that way. In a fire condition, not only do the doors shut but residents will experience an unusual  force preventing them from opening the door. With the fire alarms going, the door swinging shut and there being something apparently holding the door closed, I suspect most of us would panic let alone an older person with dementia?

My view is that a positive closing device with a hold open function that many residents will use every day has to be better than something that creates an artificial environment?

[Redone]

Hi Mark, I'd rather have the swing free, we have residents that want the door open just a tad, we find over time the 'Dorgard type trash's the carpet when not used with the base plate, which you cannot use for being a bit ajar.

We've addressed this problem with staff training, fast response then silence the alarm while the incident is dealt with, we don't have any residents suffering anxiety for longer than is helped.  Our PEEPs have identified residents who may give us concern, we reassure them asap.

[kurnal]

Markbr
Thanks for sharing the benefit of your experience. I found it very thought provoking as like many others until now have considered swing free the ultimate solution.
I think it still is the ideal solution for bedroom doors. So many people feel shut in when in their room with the door closed, leaving it ajar promotes sociability.  But in high traffic areas- corridors, day rooms, clearly magnetics should rule the day.

[Ken Taylor]

- and the magnets avoid much of that damage by the trolleys, beds, wheelchairs, etc as well as the door-in-the face issue.

[honeyroast]

swing free devices are very expensive, for the money you could install 2-3 Doorgards, magnets are ok but i have seen a number of door warping instances caused by them

Doorgard has the added function of being able to hold the door open at any angle, never seen many problems apart from hoover activation but if sound adjusted properly that shouldn't cause a problem, they have recently changed the rubber stopper part to eliviate carpet wear and tear

i do like the swing free device but how many residential homes do you know that have the money to install it?

[Markbr]

In our experience Dorgards are a false economy. A magnet based system such as Holdfire and swing free closers won't warp the doors and both will easily last 10 years with no maintenance.

Over such a period how much would have been spent on a Dorgard based system in repalcements, batteries and resetting timers every time the clocks change?

[novascot]

It is all very well residents wanting doors left ajar but the liklihood of the doors being left in this position at night will be more likely to happen.
The fatal inquiry for Rosepark will take place soon. Enough said.

[wee brian]

Exactly thats why free swing is the best option

It's what the new ADB calls up for new buildings.

[Markbr]

Wee Brian, you may be right that Swing Free is the best option but I remain to be convinced.

Further to my post starting this chain, I visited a care home on the sussex coast last friday. They already had another manufacturer's swing free's fitted, but many of their doors kept being wedged because they would not stay open for many of the reasons I outlined above.

They wanted us to fit magnetic hold open devices in addition to the swing free closers to hold the doors open!

As a consequence I have initiated a design change on our Holdfire Swing Free closers to overcome this problem. But we are only one of many suppliers of these devices....

ADB also misses the point of ligature risk. Not all care homes are for older people. An overhead closer, swing free or otherwise offers a convenient anchor point to hang from.

[wee brian]

Its an interesting point mark - I suppose free swing with a hold open is ideal but a bit pricey. Hold open on its own would still be a problem for people who are not able to open the door against the resistance of the closer.

ADB does actually suggest that the design should take into account the specifics of the residents. Horses for courses I suppose.

[afterburner]

If someone is intent on self harm by means of a ligature, there are numerous ligature points available in any bedroom / room without using the door closing devices. Where self harm and the need for self closing devices conflict, there are self closing devices available with no exposed operating mechanisms. More expensive, but they meet the demands of non-ligature self closing fire protection.

[Redone]

Just had a company insist swing free or magnetics be fitted to cupboards, rather than the standard S/C device!

Chung Ching

[Markbr]

That's just mad.

Having said that, I notice that the new ADB in relation to new build residential care specifically asks for Swing Free on bedroom doors and electromagnets in corridors.

It seems that those deciding such things were not aware that there have been overhead closers with a hold open faciilty in use for over a decade. At least these don't warp doors unlike some electromagnets that hold at the end of the door.
 
Does this mean that the industry standard Briton 996 for example can no longer specified for use in residential care home corridors?

I have looked through the Part B consultation documents and can find no consulation leading to this daft decision.

Anyone know the history?

[wee brian]

It doesnt say electromagnets  - it says hold open devices in accordance with BS EN 1155

BSEN 1155 specifies requirements for separate hold-open devices and also for hold-open mechanisms incorporated in a door closer.

Perhaps the people deciding such things are more on the ball than you think!

[Markbr]

Wee Brian, you are right of course.

My apologies to those I maligned.

I was the same at school- never properly reading the exam question.....

Thanks, Mark