Omission of bedroom self-closers in residential care homes.

[Wils]

Morning all,
I'm interested in your opinions on paragraph 2.46 of ADB vol.2, which states that bedroom fire doorsets do not need to be fitted with self-closing devices if sprinkler systems are fitted.
Does anyone know the background to this?
What is the danger posed by smoke spread before the sprinklers activate?
Have any fire authorities disagreed with the paragraph?

My thanks in advance!

[AnthonyB]

It appears to substitute the self closers with a management routine to shut them all at night, which wouldn't end well in some homes!

Never been an issue as I've yet to find a sprinklered care home!

[colin todd]

It was a daft idea in the 2006 revision of ADB and is based in part on the Rosepark findings. It does not apply in Scotland, even though new care homes in scotland must be sprinklered under B regs.

[Wils]

Thanks very much to you both; I greatly value your opinions and confirms my thoughts. Cards on the table, I'm teaching L4 Dip ADB, consultations, etc. to inspecting officers and I bring this point up as an example of something they might consider worthwhile commenting upon at the consultation stage.