Removal of door self closing devices

Approximately 10 years ago there was a policy agreed between Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service, Swindon Borough Building Control, Wiltshire District Building Controls and the Care Quality Commission.

This policy allowed the relaxation of self-closing devices on bedroom doors in residential care and nursing homes as long as certain criteria were met. These criteria were detailed in a guidance document named GD/14/2/2000.

Since then, new fire safety legislation in the form of The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 came into force on 1st October 2006 and was supported by a suite of guidance documents. Amongst these guidance documents was Fire Safety Risk Assessment Residential Care Premises This publication replaced any previous guidance issued under prior legislation. Within this document there is no legislation for the relaxation of the requirement for self-closing devices on bedroom doors. As such, GD/14/2/2000 is contrary.

Discussions between Wiltshire FRS, CQC and Wiltshire and Swindon Building Controls has resulted in all parties agreeing that guidance document GD/14/2/2000 is no longer fit for purpose and we can no longer support it.

We believe that very few premises providing social care in Wiltshire and Swindon adopted this guidance document. We do understand that all that have adopted it did so in good faith at the time.

Numerous fires that have occurred in care homes nationally have highlighted the importance of having fire doors with functioning self-closing devices. Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service recommends that all premises which adopted GD/14/2/2000 should now develop an action plan to re-institute self-closing devices on bedroom doors where they have been removed. We understand that there are other health and safety issues with self-closing devices, particularly with the elderly and the frail. We therefore recommend that consideration is given to fitting free swing self-closing devices or standard self-closing devices with “Dorgard” release mechanisms or other suitable hold-open devices released on the activation of a fire alarm system. We do not expect you to achieve this in the short term and understand that your action plan and time frame contained within must reflect your financial plan.

Should you require any further assistance or guidance then please feel free to contact your local Fire Safety office as below, or e-mail us at TFSCF@wiltsfire.gov.uk

Swindon Fire Safety Office - (01793) 401240S
North Wiltshire and West Wiltshire District Fire Safety Office- (01225) 756500
East and South Wiltshire District Fire Safety Office -(01722) 439300