Fireco’s Freedor is a unique solution to solve the common problem of fire doors being wedged open, rendering them useless in the event of a fire.
Using patented acoustic technology, the Freedor is easily installed at the top of a fire door, enabling the door to be safely kept open.
The device continually ‘listens out’ for the sound of a fire alarm and then automatically closes the door, protecting those behind it from the dangerous spread of smoke and fire.
Freedor is a wireless, electrically powered free-swing door closer. The device listens for a fire alarm meeting or exceeding 65dBA. This must sound for longer than 14 seconds in order for the door to automatically close.
The innovative product operates up to power size three (60kg fire door) and takes the weight out of the door, making hefty fire doors easier to open and close. Freedor can also be adjusted in terms of the closing speed, sensitivity and latching angle. Users can also be assured that the battery life will survive for 12-18 months. For further assurances, Freedor has been designed to comply with BS EN 1154, BS EN 1155 and BS 7273-4 category B.
The popular Freedor picked up both a British Engineering Excellence Award and a Fire Excellence Award in 2011.
According to Government building regulations (Approved Document B), all fire doors should be fitted with a self-closing device. Fire doors are installed to protect the safety of building occupants by preventing the spread of smoke and fire, provided they are closed. In this way they make sure people have a secure route to get out of the building, whilst protecting the building and its contents against the spread of damage.
Wedging open a fire door can prove devastating, as the case of the Rosepark Nursing Home in South Lanarkshire showed. A fire broke out at Rosepark in a cupboard on 31 January 2004 and ripped through the building. The Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) conclusion for this case listed a catalogue of precautions that could have helped prevent the fire becoming so destructive. One of these precautions was for all bedroom doors to have door closers and smoke seals fitted to them.
The Fireco product ‘Dorgard’ was actually quoted in the trial of this case as it offers a solution, as does the award-winning ‘Freedor’. Installing a free-swing door closer such as Freedor on each fire door will allow the door to be safely kept open, but rest assured that the door will automatically shut when a fire alarm sounds, using Fireco’s patented acoustic technology. Freedor will soon be even more affordable with an exclusive supply-only line for trade customers to install themselves, available later this year.
Freedor is an ideal product for any building that has one or more fire doors. Studies suggest that the greatest fire risks are found in multi-occupancy properties which have three or more storeys. This includes hostels, managed or sheltered accommodation such as care homes, houses that are converted into flats, purpose built multi-storey buildings and flats above shops.
Doors are one of the most important fire safety features in a building and also, sadly, the most commonly abused. Research carried out by Fireco showed that in 64% of premises visited, the fire service found fire doors wedged open.
Help Fireco kick the wedge for good by joining the ‘Wedge Pledge’ today! Tweet a picture of any wedged open fire door to @Fireco with the hash tag #wedgepledge. Pictures sent will be shared via Twitter and Facebook to highlight how widely spread the problem really is.
