Locking mecahnisms on Gates

[Geoff]

Hi,

For those of you who deal with nursing care premises, do you know of any mechanism that can be placed on an outside gate that would help prevent EMI residents (and those with dementia) being able to open the gate and run off, and also satisfy the need for the gate to be immeidately openable in the event of a fire?


Any help greatfully received.

Geoff

[afterburner]

Geoff,

if this an 'outside' gate (therefore presumably in the open air), why does it need to be 'immediately openable from the inside'?

Is it very close building being evacuated? Is it at some remove from the building? where is the fire evacuation 'Assembly Point' (if there is a danger of residents wandering or running off?

This could rely on the outcome of different outcomes of a risk assessment. What are the risks (in terms of fire safety) if a delay is necessary at the gate, considered alongside the risks to residents if they 'run off'.

It may be that the risks of the latter outweigh the risks of the former.

[CivvyFSO]

Geoff, RRFSO Guidance Note No. 1 explains in reference to article 15 (Procedures) that an outside area can possibly be seen as a place of reasonable safety. That being the case, so long as there is provision to further the escape from that area if deemed necessary, then I would suggest that it opens up a large array of possibilities. I would, however, avoid anything that involves remembering to take a key outside.

[Username]

Geoff, we have a dementia wing (15 residents) whose garden has a wooden fence with a gate in it. The gate is constructed in the same way as the fence, ie hard to see. The gate is kept shut by using a kingpin "break glass" type bolt, but that in turn is within a hinged box made of the same wood as the fence.

Opening the gate is therefore a two action event: lifting the cover and then breaking the bolt. This has been in place for nearly 12 months now and so far has not been tampered with.

Needless to say that the presence and operation of the gate forms part of the staff induction.

It is worth mentioning though that we do have a semi secure site, so if this gate were to be opened it's not as though the resident is straight out onto the street.

[jokar]

Electronic locks.

[Wiz]

I'm assuming that the area inside the gate is a relatively 'safe' area as mentioned in previous posts.e

Maglocks are normally the easiest type of electric locking device to install on gates, and these are available in weather-resistant versions.

My proposal would be to also install an electric keypad to release the lock. Obviously, staff would know the combination but the residents are unlikely to be able to release it even by randomly pressing the keypad buttons.

[sapper]

Try a redlam panic bolt with ceramic tube

[Phoenix]

I don't disagree with any of the foregoing. 

I have been round similar premises where the staff, in order to perform their daily duties, were obliged to carry with them at all times a bunch of keys.  As the residents had to be escorted during an evacuation, it was considered acceptable to have ordinary locks on some critical exits that had to be opened by the staff with keys.  It won't always fit the bill but, in the right circumstances, it can.

Stu

[AnthonyB]

Try a redlam panic bolt with ceramic tube

The Kingpin already in place is just a variant of the Redlam by another manufacturer (http://www.emexco.co.uk/how_kingpin_works.htm).

Ashworth bolts are virtually a copy of the Redlam bolt.

Cooper bolts don't use a frangible element, just a push pad or pull handle to release the spring loaded bolt resettable by key. The also have the advantage over the above types by having options with integral alarms.

[kurnal]

For a cheap and cheerful solution I have seen door access chains used for this purpose, the type where one link of the chain is a flat disc and can be passed through a slot in the keep to remove the chain. Usually defeats the "service users" and can be operated in the dark by the staff who know how they work.

[Midland Retty]

Numerical combination padlocks are another option - you input a chosen code using a numerical tumbler on the lock and it releases without the need a key 

As people have already said try to avoid using a system which relies upon the use of keys.

Maglocks are ok, but you tend to find some authorities require a "green ermegency break glass box" to be included as part of any maglock installation .  In a secure environment this may be undesirable, although subject to an aequate risk assessment you could exclude the green break glass box.

[nearlythere]

Keys are not liked because they can be droppedl, lost or forgotten. If you can avoid these by safe working practices you should have an adequate method of effecting the means of escape, under these circumstances.
Single keys on a zinger attached to the person and an appropriate safe system of work should not prohibit this form of security incorporating a suitable means of escape.

[Geoff]

Many thanks everyone, this has been really useful.

Geoff