Door Industry Journal - Spring 2018

Safety and security Where safety and security are concerned, psychiatric care facilities need to present minimal risk to patients and staff. Here again, door closer selection can be critical, particularly where anti-ligature and/or anti-barricade measures need to be incorporated, although the risk of ligature or self-harm can exist with any door installation that is not constantly monitored. Surface mounted devices are often unwelcome, for obvious reasons, but jamb- mounted concealed door closers offer an ideal solution in many situations. Totally concealed when the door is closed, these products pose less temptation or risk to patients and other users, and deliver many safety benefits. In addition, the Department of Health Healthcare Technical Memorandum, HTM05-02 recommends the use of free swing self-closing devices on patient bedrooms provided specifically for those suffering from mental illness and for people with learning disabilities. A prime example of such situations being new state-of-the-art psychiatric care facilities at Royal Edinburgh Hospital, which feature Powermatic Free Swing concealed door closers on the main entrance doors to all 185 residential care rooms. Vandalism Door controls that have been damaged through vandalism, or a misplaced prank, can prevent a fire door from performing correctly. In the case of fire, this can have serious, potentially fatal consequences. In addition, any damage to the door closer and door will require maintenance and/or replacement, placing added burdens on health service budgets and inconveniencing affected departments. Obviously, the risk of vandalism has to be carefully considered, but in public facilities, where the users’ duty of care may not be so high, or where doors may be situated in unmonitored areas, this risk can be considerably higher than it would be in other types of building. Totally concealed when the door is closed, and particularly unobtrusive when the door is opened, jamb-mounted concealed door closers, such as Powermatic, present very little opportunity for the would-be vandal or prankster to damage mechanisms, helping to assure the reliability of the fire door and reducing maintenance requirements. Hygiene Jamb-mounted concealed door closers can also contribute towards cleanliness and hygiene, paramount considerations in health and care facilities. Concealment means that there are minimal surfaces on which dust and other potentially harmful detritus can accumulate, whilst the fact that the door closer is installed at a low position in the door facilitates quick and easy inspection and cleaning. Making the right choice When selecting the right door closer for any fire or non-fire door situation in the health and care sector, the first task will always be to ensure that the product meets the relevant performance requirements in terms of fire safety and accessibility. However, basing selection on performance criteria alone risks doing an injustice to patients and other users, especially in more specialised areas of application. Meeting specific departmental requirements, adding value to a project and enhancing the day to day lives of patients and staff relies on considering additional factors that can enhance safety, comfort and well-being. It is in such circumstances that concealed door closers can prove invaluable. Finally, the selection process should also give consideration to the quality and reliability of the door closer, and the level of customer service that might be expected throughout specification, installation and use. Powermatic door closers deliver across all these areas and make the perfect choice for many health and care applications. Further details on standard and Free Swing versions of Powermatic controlled concealed door closers can be obtained by calling 0121 766 4200, emailing sales@samuel-heath.com or visiting www.concealeddoorclosers.com . 113 THE door industry journal spring 2018 Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk Locks & Building Hardware Feature