Fire Doors and How They Improve Safety for Hospitals

When it comes to fire safety hospitals have very specific challenges to deal with. Like many public buildings, complications can arise in the event of a fire, as people present in the building at the time may be unfamiliar with the layout. In addition to this factor many patients may not be able to evacuate the building without help, or may even be at risk during evacuation. Fire doors within hospitals need to conform to higher standards than in most buildings as they provide the last line of protection in the event of a fire.

Most hospitals feature large public areas and long lengths of corridor. By their nature the buildings design can make them susceptible to the spread of fire and smoke with corridors creating effectively a system of 'chimneys'. Air flow will help to fuel a fire and allow it to spread rapidly. Larger hospitals feature a variety of kitchens, restaurants and other recreational areas for both the public and staff; laundries and storage rooms are also common features; dispensaries that may be locked and not in use, or in limited use at certain times of day, and storage rooms with a range of chemicals for cleaning and drugs all create specific risks. Various substances can be hazardous and regular fire risk assessments should highlight all areas of danger. Security issues can also be an area for concern, which is why locked or restricted areas are common features to restrict public access to parts of a hospital.

Fire doors for hospitals
Fire doors in hospitals need to take all of these factors into account. Any fire door in a hospital will need to be of the highest rating to limit the spread of smoke and fire in order to allow maximum evacuation time for the most vulnerable of patients and ensure the safety of those assisting them to evacuate. Corridors will need fire doors to break up sections of the building, restricting the flow of air and reducing the potential for fire to spread rapidly from one section of the building to the next. This is particularly important in hospitals as they often rely on a phased evacuation of patients where time is of the essence. These doors also need to be easy to open to allow rapid access as well as to withstand constant opening and closing on a day-to-day basis while maintaining their fire resistance. They also need to resist potential damage caused from regular abuse by hospital trolleys and wheelchairs. Individual wards may require locked fire doors, which must be easy to open from the inside should occupants need to evacuate in an emergency.

Lines of defence
While fire doors provide the last line of defence, fire awareness for staff is crucial. Hospitals can be particularly difficult to evacuate therefore staff need a keen sense of their own crucial role in minimising fire risks and in ensuring the safety of patients in the event of a fire. Hospitals must also have an adequate number of escape routes all of which need to be clearly marked and have adequate lighting. A further fire safety requirement is the presence of fire extinguishers, which need to be conspicuously located and clearly visible for immediate use. Fire doors must be closed at all times - or at least close automatically on the sounding of the alarm.

With a thorough fire risk assessment conducted on a regular basis, good staff awareness and appropriate 'fire furniture' in place the risk of fire incidents and consequences in hospitals can be radically reduced.