COVID-19 Fire Doors and Egress Key to Building Safety
One foundation of any life safety plan for buildings is making sure all egress points are clear, well-marked and accessible to all.
Another bedrock principle of fire safety is the use of fire doors inside structures that close securely due to the heat generated from a fire. Functioning properly, these doors close automatically to cut off oxygen from a fire, stopping it from spreading throughout the building.
In an attempt to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 infection, some facilities have begun the improper practice of propping fire doors open to avoid people having to touch doors to open them.
While well-intentioned to slow the spread of COVID-19, this practice forfeits the life-saving element of fire containment in a building.
Fire door safety tips:
- Blocking or wedging doors in the open position, taping the latch or using kick-down door stops to override the closing device are strictly prohibited because these practices cancel out the closing feature of the door in the event of a fire emergency.
- Fire doors are considered passive fire protection that help contain a fire and stop it from spreading. Passive fire protection must remain active to help save the lives of building occupants as well as first responders.
- The codes and standards developed by NFPA, the global leader in fire, life safety and electrical safety, are proven requirements aimed at helping protect the nation’s people and properties from the risk of fire.
- Instead of propping doors and opening your building to increased fire risk, utilize guidelines established by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for cleaning and disinfecting community facilities to minimize the spread of illness.
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