A person with severe learning disabilities refuses to move when the fire alarm actuates so staff close the bedroom door and leave the person there due to the fire resistance of the door, is this acceptable in a real fire situation? This is what the support workers have been instructed to do by management. Advise appreciated

Defend in place is an accepted option in the care environment, but usually a last resort. Normally they are meant to have a member of staff stay with them and the bedroom and door be of 60 instead of 30 minutes fire resistance.
The fitting of a domestic sprinkler system as added protection is not uncommon, plus if there is an elevated risk of fire from the service user themselves in their room then the use of a personal protective mist system to the room (as oppose to fitting a building wide system) is also an option.

On 06/07/2020 at 19:20, AnthonyB said:

Defend in place is an accepted option in the care environment, but usually a last resort. Normally they are meant to have a member of staff stay with them and the bedroom and door be of 60 instead of 30 minutes fire resistance.
The fitting of a domestic sprinkler system as added protection is not uncommon, plus if there is an elevated risk of fire from the service user themselves in their room then the use of a personal protective mist system to the room (as oppose to fitting a building wide system) is also an option.

Can anyone point me to guidance that supports this statement please? I am sure I have read this somewhere but just cant seem to find it!

On 25/09/2023 at 16:59, lesaurus said:

Can anyone point me to guidance that supports this statement please? I am sure I have read this somewhere but just cant seem to find it!

There is brief mention of defend in place in the old (but still current until replaced) DCLG Residential Care Premises FRA guide & a lot more detail. including personal protection suppression, in the NFCC Specialised Housing Guide.