How important is it to make sure the correct locking solution is specified and fitted to meet the current legislation & standards…...VERY.

When specifying the correct solution in accordance with current legislation, standards and best practice I realise that you may come up against competitors who are not so diligent and may be offering lower cost solutions that do not meet the current legislative requirements or acknowledged ‘Best Practice’.

Electro-magnetic locks and electric strikes are commonly specified for internal doors and although this is acceptable on non-compartmentation (non-Fire Rated) doors it is wholly unacceptable on Fire rated door sets (FD30/FD30S/FD60/FD60S) unless the lock/strike has been assessed and passed as part of a fire test to EN1634-1 in accordance with the CPR or to BS476 pt22 to prove the products suitability for use in this application.

Additionally, if the door is on or leading to an escape route then the lock must provide an escape function to allow safe egress from the building to a safe area. In accordance with the Construction Products Regulation the best way of proving a products suitability for use as an escape lock solution is for the lockset to have been successfully tested to the relevant escape standards BS EN179 for Emergency Escape and BS EN1125 for Panic Escape and/or the additional requirements of BS EN 13637 where applicable.

It must then be fitted in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions with the lever/pad or bar it was tested with.

A solution tested to the harmonised standard and CE marked in accordance with the ‘CPR’ not only proves its ability to release and allow escape but also the durability of its ability to release.

CE marking affords an extra level of protection against litigation brought under the Health & Safety legislation.

Is the proposed locking Compliant?

Electric locking door hardware should be specified in accordance with the SSAIB code of Practice for Design, Installation and Maintenance of Access Control Systems and/or the BSIA’s ‘A Specifier’s Guide to Access Control Systems’ and follows best practice as set out in the “Code of Practice: Hardware for fire and escape doors”, jointly published by the DHF and GAI, and referenced in Approved Document B.   The Code of Practice can be viewed and downloaded at www.firecode.org.uk.

Every care should be taken to meet the statutory and regulatory requirements, as well as the functional requirements identified at tender/specification stage, such items might not offer the functionality identified and required by the Responsible Person at handover.

Links Integrated Systems Ltd can supply additional or alternative products on request providing the relevant information has been issued by the main contractors’ door manufacture/door supplier.

The components specified will be chosen for their suitability to meet the performance criteria of this project. Any un‑authorised substitution will jeopardise the specification warranty as well as the safety and security of the building’s subsequent occupants.

Summary and Key points

In Summary all electric locking solutions specified for use on Fire rated and/or Escape doors have been where applicable successfully type-tested for conformity to all of the requirements of BS EN 14846 and BS EN179, BS EN1125 and/or BS EN13637 (when this becomes permissible) including the additional requirements for fire/smoke door use and are CE Marked in accordance with these standards.

• Any emergency escape doors need to comply to BS EN 1125 or BS EN179.
• Thus provides a means of escape by one single handed action and are mandatory harmonised standards which came into force in July 2013.
• BS EN 1125 relates to panic escape so refers to public areas and escape should be with a push bar which covers at least 60% of the door leaf and will open under side load.
• BS EN 179 relates to trained staff and escape is via a lever handle or push pad. This will move to 1125 if more than 60 people n=need to escape through a single door.
• Both mean a single action allows people to escape mechanically.
• For projects that require read in / read out, escape is electronically controlled, this is covered by BS EN 13637. This is not a mandatory standard but would be referred to as best practice. All components under this standard must be tested as a together whereas the typical mag lock and RQE would not have been.
• Clients will argue in both cases that doors will open on fire alarm activation, but the emergency may be a gas leak or terrorist attack where you would want to secure people away from danger,
• Approved document 7 stipulates the following and this means mag locks cannot fulfil this document as there is no means of testing the components together.
• TS010 advises electro-magnetic devices are not suitable on escape doors and must also have ben fire tested if a fire door.
• BS EN 14351 also stipulates that all final pedestrian exit doors must comply to BS EN 1125, BS EN 179 or BS EN 13637.

The Standards

 BS EN 14846:2008 – The Standard for Building hardware. Locks and latches. Electromechanically operated locks and striking plates.

BS EN 179 – Emergency Hardware

BS EN 1125 – Panic Hardware

BS EN 13637:2015 – Building hardware. Electrically controlled exit systems for use on escape routes. Requirements and test methods