Door Industry Journal - Summer 2015

Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk 102 THE door industry journal summer 2015 building hardware SAFETY AND SECURITY In addition to providing supportive therapeutic environments, psychiatric care facilities also need to be safe and secure, presenting 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. In such situations, the use of surface mounted devices is often unwelcome for obvious reasons. Powermatic concealed door closers are gaining favour with increasing numbers of health authorities, thanks to the many benefits that ensue from the door closer’s concealment, as well as its ability to be mounted at a low level in the door. Powermatic door closers are a preferred option for many anti-ligature and anti-barricade systems. The risk of ligature can also extend beyond the observed confines of psychiatric facilities and secure units to any door installation that is not constantly monitored. Total concealment of the door closer obviously means that, when the door is closed, the closer poses no temptation or risk to patients and other users. Additionally, Powermatic’s potential to be installed towards the bottom of the door jamb can further reduce the opportunity for use as a point of ligature. Door controls that have been damaged through vandalism can also pose a very real risk to the safety of a building’s occupants: a damaged door closer can prevent a fire door from performing correctly, which, in the case of fire, can have serious, potentially fatal consequences. Powermatic’s concealed nature and minimal exposed controls present very little opportunity for the would-be vandal to damage its mechanisms and render the door useless in case of fire. KEEPING IT CLEAN Jamb-mounted concealed door closers, such as Powermatic, can also contribute towards cleanliness and hygiene, paramount considerations in health and care facilities. The door closer’s concealed mounting means that it offers minimal surfaces on which dust and other potentially harmful detritus can accumulate, whilst the fact that it is installed at a low position in the door facilitates quick and easy inspection and cleaning. FREE SWING CONVENIENCE The use of free swing door closing devices, such as Powermatic Free Swing is becoming more prevalent in both health and care situations thanks to greater awareness of their benefits and government guidelines. In the health sector, 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. In residential care and nursing establishments, where much attention has been given to unsafe practices which have negated fire safety measures, free swing door closers can remove the temptation to wedge fire doors open for the convenience of staff and residents. 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, simply selecting a door closer on these criteria alone will be insufficient for many health and care environments, particularly in more specialised areas of application. Meeting particular requirements, adding value to a project and enhancing the day to day lives of a building’s occupants relies on considering additional factors that can have a dramatic influence on safety, comfort and well-being. For more information visit www.concealeddoorclosers.com