Keywords
Citation
(2000), "Fire shutters are not exempt from safety legislation, warns the DSMA", Facilities, Vol. 18 No. 1/2. https://doi.org/10.1108/f.2000.06918aab.023
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2000, MCB UP Limited
Fire shutters are not exempt from safety legislation, warns the DSMA
Keywords Fire safety, Legislation
The belief in some quarters that fire shutters are exempt from legislation covering safety in the workplace is a false one, warns the Door and Shutter Manufacturers Association (DSMA).
Manufacturers, specifiers and end users of fire shutters must be made aware there is no exemption for fire shutters under either Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations or the Building Regulations.
Like any piece of industrial machinery in the workplace, a shutter must be assessed for the safety risk it could pose so that safety procedures can be applied if appropriate.
The warning comes from the DSMA, which represents the UK's leading industrial and commercial door and shutter makers, following its decision to issue guidelines on this subject to its members.
"There is a common misconception that because a fire shutter has passed tests and certification regarding its ability to halt the spread of fire it is then exempt from workplace safety regulations - this is just not so", said DSMA Secretary Michael Skelding.
"Our warning is particularly appropriate for fire shutters connected to a fire alarm system. A shutter so linked may be activated by a fire or by a smoke alert in a different part of the building, or by a false alarm. In that situation the shutter will rapidly close without warning, posing the risk of causing serious or even fatal injuries to anyone who happens to be next to the shutter."
In its guidelines to its members, the DSMA says it is vital a risk assessment is carried out on any fire shutter to determine the most appropriate safety procedures to take.
The procedures to carry out would depend very much on the location of the individual shutters and the likelihood of workers or members of the general public being close enough to be affected by shutter operation. They could include the installation of controlled descent devices or audio/visual warnings of impending shutter release.
Copies of the guidelines are available to DSMA members and to architects and specifiers from the Secretariat, 42 Heath Street, Tamworth, Staffs B79 7JH. Tel: +44 (0)1827 52337; Fax: +44 (0)1827 310827.