Door Industry Journal - Summer 2015

98 THE door industry journal summer 2015 building hardware Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk FLOOD DOORS USE VON DUPRIN ESCAPE HARDWARE Loddon Door Services Limited based near Reading have been supplying bespoke steel doors to utility companies for many years to address fire protection, security issues and flood protection. To match the high specification of these doors they fit Von Duprin escape hardware from Relcross Ltd to provide fast and safe exit for any users needing to leave in an emergency. Typically they use a Von Duprin 99 panic escape device with 3 point latching to provide a robust mechanism to hold the door closed even when subjected to large exterior forces such as deep flood water. Slight pressure anywhere on the pad simultaneously retracts all 3 latches at the top, bottom and side of the door allowing it to open quickly and reliably time after time. In fact Von Duprin 99 escape devices have been independently tested to 5 million cycles and are also CE marked for complete peace of mind. As well as their durability they are also renowned for their integral fluid dampener that reduces noise and creates a smooth and almost silent operation. In July of 2014 a double door version of the Loddon Flood Door was tested to PAS 1188-1 for flood resistance by the BRE at their facility at Garston. This involved evaluating the effectiveness of the doors to withstand a static head of water at depths up to 1460mm, that’s nearly 5ft. At the full depth water leakage through the doors was just over ? a litre per hour and the Von Duprin hardware helped keep them securely locked so that security would be maintained even after the floods had subsided. The first panic escape bolt was invented by the American company Von Duprin in 1908 and since 1980 their products have been distributed in the UK by Devizes based Relcross who offer a free technical specification and advisory service. Further information can be obtained by telephoning 01380 729600, visiting www.relcross.co.uk or emailing sales@relcross.co.uk.