PVC strips to keep heat in.

[Tom Sutton]

We have a large number of fire exits within the building but two of these are used to access smoking areas outside and as a result stand open for large amounts of time.
 
Due to the extreme cold the management have fitted interior doorframes to these two doors with PVC strips to keep heat in but I am concerned this may be classed as blocking the fire escape. There are about four strips on each door which overlap each other slightly but do separate if pushed and can be walked through.

I have been asked to respond to the above question and cannot see any major problems providing it is not used by a large numbers of people.  I have seen many exit doors in places of assembly covered by curtains and providing they did not touch the floor was accepted. Can anybody see any problems with this arrangement?

[kurnal]

Depends on the use of the building, the numbers of persons and the situation. Clearly 5mm /person would not be appropriate but if there are plenty of exits I dont see a problem in principle.However if the door is required to be used from a place of assembly under crush conditions I would be concerned.