Fire doors can isolate, crush and kill. That’s not how you would normally describe them, is it?

Fire doors are designed to stop fire and smoke from spreading through buildings, and they need to be closed in order to do this. In practice, however, life is easier if a fire door can be held open in some way, to allow freedom of movement and circulation of air.

Furthermore, research has shown that fire doors can cause real harm.  Injuries such as bruising, trapped fingers and limbs, broken bones and even amputation have resulted from everyday use of fire doors, with the main causes being their sheer weight and the force with which they close.

In places like residential care or nursing homes, closed doors can also lead to a sense of loneliness and isolation.  Heavier and more obstructive than a standard door, the convenience of holding open a fire door becomes very clear.

Nevertheless, in terms of fire safety, one of the most common hazards is the door wedge.

A solution to the door wedge

Wedging or propping open a fire door poses a serious risk to lives and property.  When wedged open, in the event of an actual fire, smoke and flames will spread throughout the building at an increased rate. The fire door will be unable to do its job.

Fire inspectors across the UK recognise the need to hold open fire doors. They recommend solutions such as door retainers, which hold open fire doors legally, but will release and close them in the event of a fire alarm. Door retainers such as Dorgard allow fire doors to do their job, without compromising safety and maintain compliance with fire regulations.

The residents at LWPHomes struggled to open their bedroom doors and were left feeling trapped. Simon Lee, the Operations Manager said “A lot of our residents have poor mobility and are aided by walking sticks, frames and wheelchairs. The staff had to open the doors for them and take them back to their rooms which took away some of their freedom.“