School kitchen hatch fire shutter

[Dean B]

We have a fire shutter that activates via the alarm going off, have had it serviced regularly with no issues previously, and has been inspected during the recent FRA. A new company has taken the servicing contract, and has sent a quote through on the basis of the service visit for "fire shutter warning panels". This has never been raised previously, and I am struggling to find any relevant sections in any fire relegations. Can anyone shed any light on this, As I am at a loss as to whether this is required for a serving hatch.

Thanks.

[Mike North]

What exactly does the FRA say?

Is it about the panel or the rating of the shutter

[AnthonyB]

I assume they mean an illuminating sign and siren to warn of 'fire shutter closing' often included in modern purpose built kits, sometimes missing from older set ups or those assembled using standard shutter parts.

The requirement for warnings may be in the powered shutter standard BS EN 13241-1:2003 (I don't have a copy) plus some form of warning would be likely under The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996

Just because it wasn't mentioned before doesn't mean it shouldn't have been!

[Dean B]

23 hours ago, Mike North said:

What exactly does the FRA say?

Is it about the panel or the rating of the shutter

The FRA says nothing. There are no warning panels on either side of the shutter, which has never been highlighted before. Physical access to the opening is limited, the only part of the body that will come close to it is the hands and they tend to be half a food tray away from the point the shutter would close on.

[Dean B]

On 19/11/2025 at 21:36, AnthonyB said:

I assume they mean an illuminating sign and siren to warn of 'fire shutter closing' often included in modern purpose built kits, sometimes missing from older set ups or those assembled using standard shutter parts.

The requirement for warnings may be in the powered shutter standard BS EN 13241-1:2003 (I don't have a copy) plus some form of warning would be likely under The Health and Safety (Safety Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996

Just because it wasn't mentioned before doesn't mean it shouldn't have been!

Yes, the warning signs. However, the only regulation I found (eventually) seems to state they are required if the opening is used as a route you go through. This is just a serving hatch and you would need to be rather determined to be able to climb through it! 

[AnthonyB]

On 25/11/2025 at 09:23, Dean B said:

Yes, the warning signs. However, the only regulation I found (eventually) seems to state they are required if the opening is used as a route you go through. This is just a serving hatch and you would need to be rather determined to be able to climb through it! 

As the law is risk based to achieve functional standards and is not a prescriptive list of specific individual requirements for every aspect of Health & Safety if there is no risk of entrapment your H&S risk assessment might accept it - speak to your H&S person to see if your HSRA can accept this