Hello all,

Hopefully I can get some help here as it is not something I am familiar with.

Its a random one as I am trying to help one of my customers - My customer has 7 assisted living sites in Scotland, typically looking after a maximum of 4/5 users in Bungalows/Houses that have been converted. Most bedrooms have Ceiling Track Hoists, and the Sites all have a Specialist Hi Lo Bath which is electrically powered.

One of their sites has recently been inspected by Scottish Fire and Rescue Service who are looking for an ordinary door to be replaced with a self closing fire door to the bathroom due to the increased electrical fire risk from the rise and fall bath and associated hoist. None of their other sites have been picked up for this on inspections in the past and they are looking for help as they haven't been presented with the issues before. The main issues is with it being self closing it would cause the residents some difficulty entering the room.

I am aware that larger care facilities (e.g. 60 Bed Care Homes) have requirements to be met such as FD60 doors on the bathroom, a smoke alarm in the room, self closing door etc. Is this also a requirement for my customer or can is a list of the risks along with mitigations sufficient.

Many thanks in advance!

Ricardo.

Have you thought of a free swing door closer

TS 5000 RFS 3-6 | GEZE

As stated a swing free closer is the best solution. Whilst bathrooms are traditionally low risk from a fire door and detection point of view (unless containing unusual risk not itself enclosed like a boiler) there is precedent in England & Wales for some care premises bathrooms to be considered higher risk when electrical mobility equipment is present (particularly if with back up batteries on trickle charge which with modern equipment could be lithium ion batteries) and I have seen enforcement action down here requiring detection & self closing fire doors so it's not unprecedented.