BDS Products: Wireless

Dorgard Fire Door Retainers

Simple way of retaining and releasing fire doors safely and legally.

• A closed door is an effective barrier against fire – protecting property and people’s lives
• Battery operated; self-contained device used to safely hold a fire door open in any position and then automatically release the fire door should the fire alarm sound.
• Easy to install in under five minutes – no wiring or mains power required!
• Tough ABS plastic casing – available in four colours
• Complies with all relevant British Standards, EC Directives and UK Workplace Regulations (Fire Precautions)
• Supplied with 2 C-Cell batteries, instructions, fitting template, fixings and 1 door label

Deafgard

Fire Alarm Listening Device for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

• Safe, reliable and flexible choice to communicate the sounding of a fire alarm to deaf and hard of hearing people
• Battery operated; system automatically activates when the fire alarm sounds, under pillow pad vibrates and flashing strobe provides visual indicator
• Wire-free technology solution
• Ensures you comply with elements of the Disability Discrimination Act
• Ideal for sleeping risk applications

Disability Discrimination Act requirements for design of fire alarm systems
for the hard of hearing and partially-sighted

With the imminent enforcement of the ‘Disability Discrimination Act- third stage’, the fire safety requirements in buildings are likely to need adjustment. The DDA lays down guidelines for the provision of accessible environments to assist disabled people with a broad range of sensory and physical impairments. The enforcement of the act will make it mandatory for service providers to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ to their premises to ensure they are not unreasonably difficult to be used by disabled people.

The difficulties faced by the hard of hearing and partially sighted in public buildings during a fire emergency are complex, therefore the fire safety strategy needs to assess the range of disabilities, and design the fire system to minimise the potential for loss of life.

British Standards recommends that visual alarm devices or tactile devices be incorporated with the existing fire system to provide a warning to the hard of hearing and partially sighted. The final decision on which type of method of providing a fire alarm warning is to be used is to be taken by the system user after consultation with their fire alarm specialist, building control officer, local fire officer, health and safety representative and there own annual fire risk assessment. They must also ensure that whichever method they choose it must comply with the British Standards listed below:

BS5446 Part 3 2004 smoke alarm kits for the deaf and hard of hearing
BS5839 Part 1 2002 the code of practice for the design of fire detection and alarm systems
BS8300 2001 the code of practice for design of buildings for disabled people

As a rough guide visual alarm devices should be installed in all areas where the hard of hearing and partially sighted may be alone such as corridors, stairwells, toilets, plant rooms, bedrooms etc, whilst tactile devices such as vibrating pagers or pillow pads need only be held at reception ready for use by hard of hearing and partially sighted when they visit the building.

Note when adding the visual alarm devices to a system it will impact on the load, therefore the battery backup will need to be increased. The system user must also take into account that there is a maximum number of audible and visual alarm devices allowed on sounder circuits or loops, therefore additional sounder circuits or loops may need to be added to the fire system in order to provide the facility.

Details of the type of tactile devices available on the market are enclosed. They are easy to install and are the most cost effective way of tackling the requirement for fire alarm warning for the hard of hearing and partially sighted. Additionally because the tactile devices work within all areas it does not restrict the visitor to designated areas of the premises, which is a requirement of the new legislation.

BDS Fire and Security Limited provide the specialist personal to assist you in your decision on what type of devices should be used and where necessary a site condition survey can be arranged, which is chargeable at our standard hourly rates.

Should you wish to discuss the aforementioned further, require guidance or wish a quotation please do not hesitate to contact Andy Gibbs on 020 8773 3377.