Access control in school

[Guest DennyDr]

We have an Access Control door in a local School
The Emergency Green Break Glass unit is being miss used by students.
Can the unit be removed as the Door is connected to the Fire Alarm and the Magnetic lock fails open.
Thanks for your assistance

[Tom Sutton]

A magnetic lock has two means of operation one is an electro/mechanical device that uses the normal electric supply, backed up by a battery and if the electricity supply, (mains/battery) fails the lock will fail to an open situation. The second is a connection from the fire alarm and if the FA operates, the connection will override the lock and open the lock. If the connection fails as the result of a fault on the fire alarm the lock will remain closed because the normal electricity supply will not have been interrupted, which is the case in most fire situations. If the door is not fitted with a manual override then a green manual call box has to be fitted to override the lock using a secure method.

The short answer is the green manual call box cannot be removed because persons could be trapped by a locked door, depending on the situation.

The problem you are having maybe solved by using some sort of security device like  an alarm that will operate if the door is opened and alert people in charge or CCTV a dummy if necessary. Check out http://www.safelincs.co.uk/fire-exit-door-security/ for some ideas.

[Guest EmmaB]

we have been asked to see if it is possible to bolt one side of a fire door in a school - I am unsure if this safe to do

 

Emma

[AnthonyB]

Depends on the exit widths required for the likely occupancy. In some cases sufficient width for the numbers present would remain, in others it would be insufficient leading to extended evacuation times, bunching & possible crushing.

You should consult the competent person responsible for your fire risk assessments for detailed advice

[RFCally]

This is what you need. Its called a Stopper Unit which alarms when you lift the cover before you get to the break glass.

I have used these successfully in one of my nursery units.

They are available from many commercial fire and security retailers.

Regards

Alistair

 

[Safelincs]

Hi, I hope the readers won't mind if I suggest a page from Safelincs' commercial website showing a range of these green access control covers

 

Harry

[Eamon Mck]

On ‎31‎/‎12‎/‎2015 at 09:07, Tom Sutton said:

A magnetic lock has two means of operation one is an electro/mechanical device that uses the normal electric supply, backed up by a battery and if the electricity supply, (mains/battery) fails the lock will fail to an open situation. The second is a connection from the fire alarm and if the FA operates, the connection will override the lock and open the lock. If the connection fails as the result of a fault on the fire alarm the lock will remain closed because the normal electricity supply will not have been interrupted, which is the case in most fire situations. If the door is not fitted with a manual override then a green manual call box has to be fitted to override the lock using a secure method.

 

The short answer is the green manual call box cannot be removed because persons could be trapped by a locked door, depending on the situation.

 

The problem you are having maybe solved by using some sort of security device like  an alarm that will operate if the door is opened and alert people in charge or CCTV a dummy if necessary. Check out http://www.safelincs.co.uk/fire-exit-door-security/ for some ideas.

 

Hi Tom,

 

This is extremely useful information. I work within schools, mainly contract management and recently visited a school that removed all the green brake glasses and replaced with key switches.

 

This school has around 1100 students, 120 staff, visitors and members of the public using it in the evening for LETS. My concern is exactly what you have mentioned above, by removing the green brake glass, and the fire interface with the maglock failed, basically they have locked people in the building.

 

Have you ever come across this situation and do you think its acceptable to put key switches on external/internal fire doors? Would this type of change need to be signed off by building control?

[Tom Sutton]

This may have arisen because in premises where there is a high situation of false alarms regarding red Break Glass Call Boxes then key call boxes are used replace them, with all staff carrying keys to operate the call boxes. However, the means of escape is still available just that the general public cannot operate the alarm it has to be a member of staff which in my opinion is acceptable.

With green release boxes, this is a different matter because other people cannot escape until opened by a member of staff and in my opinion, it is not acceptable, but in a school and subject to a fire risk assessment, I can see a situation, when only students are present it could be acceptable but not when visitors and members of the public using it in the evening for LETS.

It must be remembered that there are other ways of preventing the use of such fire safety equipment.