Fire Regulation Locks
Thumb turn exit – Fire Regulation Locks
Fire Regulation Locks
Last week I quoted a customer for multiple locks within a building of flats in Cromer. I was expecting to wait a while for the confirmation of the job as three of the flats are holiday lets and all four have different owners. In fact, my point of contact phoned to give the job the go ahead very quickly as the neighbouring building had a fire and everyone had to be evacuated for safety. Thankfully, no one was hurt, but guests in the holiday lets did have issues trying to find keys they had placed away from the doors in properties they were not used to.
A thumb turn, keyless escape can be a reduction in security and goes against every bit of best security advice. However, in the event of a fire, your guests are probably going to be sleepy and panicked, the seconds it takes to find the place they have put the keys could be the difference between life and death.
The fire regulations have been in place for a year at time of writing. While a grey area on time was given to get the various jobs done, I doubt any insurance company will pay out after so long should the worst happen. That means those involved in any incidents can chase you, the owner for negligence and your letting agent as well. You could even face criminal charges.
Link to Gov guidance here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/64257cff2fa8480013ec0fec/A_guide_to_making_your_small_paying-guest-accommodation_safe_from_fire.pdf
If you have multiple doors, you might think just the front door and back door are adequate to change, but you must look at every room and think to your self if there were a fire the other side of that room’s inner door, how will someone in a panic get out? If there is a big room with two or more outer doors, will changing one be enough? Is it possible a fire in the middle of that room could cut off access to escape? I know it can be expensive, but nowhere near as expensive as a court battle, even if you win.
If you own a holiday let property or run a property let business, it is now past time for you to have your exit doors converted to fire regulation keyless escape.
Please call me for a no obligation quote.
