No reference to roller shutters is included in BS 7273. It has been proposed to install a roller shutter door that is going to be a designated fire exit. The roller shutter will provide the only exit from an external enclosed area that forms part of the escape route away from the building to a place of ultimate safety.  I am considering accepting is as long as the installation complies with BS 7273 with the following three fail safe requirements: 1) It auto opens on power failure. 2) It auto opens on FA actuation. 3) A release mechanism is included in the installation with an emergency release device (green box) next to the shutter.  Your thoughts please?

How does it open (other than manually) on power failure? This is the one stumbling block I've encountered with shutters where the motor is 240V or 415V. Otherwise the general principles seem sound in lieu of specific guidance.

BS 9999:2017

14.2           Acceptable means of escape

i.         wicket doors and gates (except from high risk areas), provided that:

1.       they are not intended to be used by members of the public;

2.       not more than 10 persons are expected to use them in an emergency;

3.       they provide an opening at least 500 mm wide, with the top of the opening not less than 1.5 m above the floor level and the bottom of the opening not more than 250 mm above the floor level;

14.3           Generally unacceptable means of escape

e.       security grilles and shutters (roller, folding or sliding), loading doors, goods doors, sliding doors and up-and-over doors, unless they are capable of being easily and quickly opened. If power-operated they should:

1.       be provided with a fail-safe system for opening if either the mains supply and/or any alternative power supply fails;

2.       be capable of being easily and quickly opened manually;

I’ve come across a similar issue in the past with roller shutters being used near or as fire exits. While they’re great for security, they can become a real problem if they don’t open quickly in an emergency. In my case, the shutter mechanism got stuck due to lack of maintenance, which highlighted how important regular servicing is.

If you’re based around the capital, you might want to look into professional shutter repair in London. There are specialists who not only handle emergency breakdowns but also check compliance with safety standards, making sure shutters don’t interfere with fire exit regulations. Preventive servicing can save a lot of stress later on.