Hi all.

I'm looking for some advice on regarding electronically operated sliding doors.

The doors are the main customer entrance/exit to the building and also doubles up as a fire exit. The area is a small/medium showroom. However, this area also has 2 other designated fire exits at either side of the building (180 degrees apart from each other and AT LEAST 45 degrees from the sliding doors respectively). Both the other exits are manually operated and fitted with panic bars and ALL exits discharge to open air.

Currently, the sliding doors have no emergency override installed (GBGU) and it can't be confirmed if the sliding doors are linked to the fire alarm system or operate a fail safe in power failure.

I'm not concerned about the actual exit capacity as that's more than sufficient for the occupancy levels (even when discounting the sliding doors) but I'm unsure whether the sliding doors need the extra emergency provisions given that there are alternate exits. I don't have a copy of BS 7273-4 and I can't find any clear advice for this particular situation in any other guidance. So any help will be appreciated

Some extra info based on the responses I'm likely to get

Does it NEED to be a fire exit ?

No, as there is ample provision all within acceptable travel distance. But it IS a fire exit and that's not going to change.

Thanks in advance

The fire risk assessor should be able to answer this and should also have access to the relevant guidance & standards.

Is it signed as a fire exit?

What does the fire strategy state (if modern enough a fit out to have one)?

Also bear in mind that human behaviour is such that regardless of availability of other exits & signage to them customers will all try and use the normal entrance/exit unless it is blocked by a fire & so it would be sensible to have the right features in any case.

If the power to the doors is fine the sensor will ensure the doors open in relation to the exit flow even in lieu of a fire alarm interface to put it in the 'always open' mode. In case of power failure they should ideally e power to close doors that will spring open on power failure (certainly if a required exit) unless they have a local back up PSU. As the sliding doors should be subject to competent planned maintenance the last service report should detail the type of opening - similarly a competent fire alarm maintenance provider should know if they are linked (as they should be providing the i/o on at least 1 service visit)