Keypad on Library Building Fire Door

[Guest A Smith]

I have a query about fire doors. I work in a public library. Back in March 2021, I raised a concern about one of our fire doors which leads from the public library area to the staff area. To get through this fire door, staff have to first punch in a four-digit number into a keypad. I was told at the time that this did not comply with fire regulations as a fire door should have no impediments in order to ensure ease of egress. Can you confirm this? Needless to say, nothing has been done about this door since March and it is now not closing properly at all. I'm attaching photographs of the door.

[Tom Sutton]

The fact it is a fire door is irrelevant you need to consider the means of escape and how the door furniture will affect the escape route. 

[Mike North]

In the event of an activation of the fire alarm, does the lock fail safe? If not then you have a potential dead-end situation which would mean you need to protect the corridor both sides of the door.

Is the door actually a fire door? It only has 2 hinges which appear to be leaking oil.

[green-foam]

Just saying........That is a unican mechanical door lock by simplex, it will stay locked until opened. (Unless it is "put on the latch")