Product category:
Doors, Shutters, Air Curtains and Screens
News Release from: Dorma UK | Subject: Automatic and manual door technology
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 19 July 2004
DORMA Paying Attention To Education
Needs
DORMA has developed a comprehensive range of automatic and manual door product solutions that are effective for schools, colleges and universities.
Striking a balance between creating an open, welcoming atmosphere with the constant need for security and safety considerations is a difficult problem for all types of education establishments Minds became particularly focused as a result of the Dunblane tragedy back in 1996, when 16 primary school children and their teacher were murdered
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 21 May 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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In the aftermath, one aspect of the conclusions in the ensuing Cullen Report was that in future low usage exit doors would have to be secure to provide a safe environment for children and staff, but still enable escape in an emergency.
Local authorities were given the task of upgrading and improving their facilities and many options had to be considered for different access and emergency egress situations.
Add to this the need to meet compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) which comes into force in October this year and the situation becomes quite complex when making decisions over the provision of reliable and efficient entry, general mobility inside the building and safe egress.
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DORMA, one of the world's leading suppliers of automatic and manual door technology is working hard in the education sector and has developed a comprehensive range of product solutions that are particularly effective for schools, colleges and universities.
Automatics for Blackburn College.
Blackburn College is a major force for progress in the local community and business sectors.
With its Lancashire heritage the initial curriculum base was vocational with, unsurprisingly, a strong emphasis on textiles and engineering.
Today the College has a wide portfolio culminating in degree and postgraduate qualifications.
Currently the College has over 25,000 enrolments, the equivalent of 10,450 full time students and is the largest education provider in East Lancashire.
With this level of usage, safety, compliance with the DDA and dependability of the installed products is crucial and the College decided to aim high and specify a range of automatics from DORMA.
A KTC-2 revolving door graces the main entrance to the College, although some people with disabilities may not have the confidence to use revolving doors and it is always recommended that pass doors are installed to complement them.
The pass door at Blackburn, along with a further 85 or so fitted on the general circulation routes are ED 800 low-energy swing door operators, designed specifically to provide easier access for people with disabilities.
A range of operating modes allows the door to be opened under power when required and used manually at other times.
At other external access points around the site DORMA ES 90 automatic sliding door operators are fitted, mainly to bi-parting doors.
The ES 90 is suitable for opening widths up to 4000mm, available in a range of finishes and can be fitted to all types of sliding door, including busy main entrances, emergency exits and escape routes.
It is exceptionally reliable and safe in high traffic areas, making it ideal for a busy College environment.
DORMA even had a solution for the extremely tight right-angled entrance to the art design block - an FFT automatic folding door.
The FFT allows maximum utilisation of structural widths by not swinging out when opened, its depth being only a quarter of the clear passage width.
This makes it especially suitable for narrow door openings, passageways and for other locations in the building where space is limited and other types of automatic doors would be difficult to fit.
Integrated seals provide effective protection against heat loss and drafts and no floor tracks are necessary for doors of clear passage widths less than 1500mm, allowing for a safe unbroken floor finish.
Cam action closers for Stoke PFI A major schools programme in Stoke, involving both rebuild and refurbishment, is currently under way and due for completion in 2005.
It is the largest schools PFI undertaking in the country and involves 122 settings.
Specified by Millar Partners, DORMA TS 92 and TS 93 door closers are being installed throughout.
These unique closers feature a linear drive mechanism and heart-shaped cam, which means that unlike conventional rack and pinion closers the resistance encountered when opening the door decreases almost immediately the opening action occurs.
In every day use and particularly in an emergency, opening the door is effortless for young children and for anyone with a physical disability.
Another feature of the closers is that they are less likely to be vandalised than conventional 'scissor arm' door closers.
Panic bolts for Finsbury College The building housing the City and Islington College at Finsbury Park was originally an old Victorian school, but a new extension has been cleverly wrapped around the original structure to create a modern learning environment.
Hardware for the emergency exit doors was carefully considered and DORMA panic bolts were the decision.
Historically, 'crash bars', hardware specifically designed for low usage emergency exit doors, would commonly be fitted in these types of situation, but seldom ever used - even for fire drills - and worse, sometimes chained for additional security.
In an emergency, ease of operation, particularly for people with disabilities is critical, yet this type of equipment can so often becomes difficult to use through lack of maintenance, with external doors warping and bolts corroded in their strikes.
The AD 4000 panic bar, or full width touch bar to give it its correct title, is a tried and tested solution commonly adopted in these instances.
It has stainless steel deadlocking Pullman type latches, requiring the minimum of effort to open and is available in a range of architectural metal finishes.
There are special options for solenoid operation and monitoring switches and the AD 4000 is suitable for single, double, timber and metal doors.
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