Can Dorgards be used on fire doors leading onto staircase?

[Guest Token212]

Hi,
I am considering the installation of a Dorgard fire door retainer. However, I have heard that the Dorgard is 'best suited for retrofit installation and should not be used on fire doors leading onto staircases.'
Can you please let me know the specific regulation relating to this so I can pass it on to my client. I cannot understand why this limitation applies.
Thanks.
David

 

[Tom Sutton]

The building must, of course, have a fire alarm and consideration on the use of Dorgard should be carried out by the employer through a risk assessment procedure.

Where to use a dorgard would depend on the fire risk assessment and which category it meets according to BS 7273-4 2007 and the type of premises. The problem with any active fire precaution is what happens if it fails to operate correctly.

There are some cases where the use of Dorgard may be inappropriate, e.g. on doors protecting a single staircase building, and doors giving direct access to rooms in a premises that have been risk assessed as high risk, e.g.  kitchens, boiler rooms, etc. all will depend on the FRA.