UCL Fire Technical Note - TN016
Fire Safety Technical
Guide
APPROVED ‘HOLD OPEN’ DEVICES FOR
FIRE DOORS
1.0. INTRODUCTION
1.1.
Fire doors are designed to be kept closed at all times to ensure their
effectiveness in preventing smoke and heat entering the Means of Escape,
in maintaining adequate fire compartmentation and to generally stop the
spread of fire. However, it is recognised that in certain circumstances it is
desirable to have a self-closing fire door, kept open for practical reasons.
Using a wedge (be it a box, a fire extinguisher or rolled up cardboard) is
NOT acceptable, because fire doors are deemed to be vital as workplace
safety equipment that legally must be kept shut unless an approved
system is used to hold it open that releases the door on activation of the
fire alarm system.
2.0. REQUIREMENTS
2.1.
The only acceptable method of holding open a fire door is by using a
device that meets the requirements of BS5839-3 in its operation. These are
generally Electro-magnetic door hold opening (referred to as Automatic
Door Release Mechanism (ADRM)) devices that are connected to the
building’s fire alarm system. It is recommended that in all cases this type of
system should first be considered; however, they are expensive to install.
Generally, the funding for these devices will be a Departmental
Responsibility, but installation and purchase will need to be managed
through UCL Estates as a minor project.
2.2.
To install an ADRM device, the following criteria must be fulfilled:

They must not be fitted to fire doors that protect a single stairway
forming part of the sole escape route;

Any fire door that protects a stairway, which forms part of the escape
route from sleeping risk;

Any fire door fitted with an ADRM device is to be signed ‘Automatic Fire
Door Keep Clear’ or similar and is to remain free from obstruction with
the doors closed at every night;

Automatic Fire Detection should be provided to Life 3 (L3) standard iaw
BS 5839-1;
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Date Last Amended: Jan 15
1.
Issued by the - Fire Safety Manager, UCL, Estates, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT - This guide is to be regarded as a general statement of
requirements and is in addition to relevant British Standards or any other instructions received from the Local Fire or Building Control Authorities.
UCL Fire Technical Note - TN017
2.3.
Before you purchase or installing ADRM, you should consult the UCL Fire
Officer to ensure compliance with more comprehensive guidance on the
subject issued by the London Fire & Emergency Planning Authority in their
Fire Safety Guidance Note - No 48.
3.0. ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION
3.1.
A ’Dorgard’ may be also be used which is a cheaper and simpler device
to hold fire doors open safely, which complies with BS 7273-4 / BS 5839-3.
Dorgards are simpler to fix to fire doors than a full Electro-magnetic system
connected to the main fire alarm system and can be purchased in a
range of colours. Dorgards use a battery to keep a foot engaged that
holds the door open against the doors self-closing mechanism. Dorgards
work by listening to the fire alarm bell or electronic sounder, which then
triggers the foot to release the door and generally takes 10 seconds or so
to react.
3.1.
Further information:
AlarmsCom Ltd (Supplier))
Tel: 01702 586979 or 07711 206136 larry@alarmscom.co.uk
Installation - to fit and install Dorgard(s) use an
approved Estates contractor (who will invoice
the Dept. separately):
Tom Tierney (Kirkman & Jourdain)
Mob: 07973 845117 /
tom.tierney@Kirkmanandjourdain.com
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Date Last Amended: Jan 15
2.
Issued by the - Fire Safety Manager, UCL, Estates, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT - This guide is to be regarded as a general statement of
requirements and is in addition to relevant British Standards or any other instructions received from the Local Fire or Building Control Authorities.