Fire door retainer

Research has also shown that fire doors can cause real harm. Injuries such as bruising, trapped fingers and limbs, broken bones and even amputation have resulted from everyday use of fire doors, with the main causes being their sheer weight and the force with which they close. In places like residential care or nursing homes, closed doors can also lead to a sense of loneliness and isolation. 

However, if a door is wedged open, in the event of an actual fire, smoke and flames will spread throughout the building at an increased rate. 

Fire inspectors recommend solutions such as door retainers, which hold open fire doors legally, but will release and close them in the event of a fire alarm. Door retainers such as Dorgard allow fire doors to do their job, without compromising safety and maintain compliance with fire regulations.

The residents at LWPHomes, many of whom have poor mobility, struggled to open their bedroom doors and were left feeling trapped. After installing Dorgard door retainers across their homes, the residents were able to come out of their rooms without fear of the doors closing on them.

"It has increased their independence and we no longer have to tell them to keep their doors closed," operations manager Simon Lee said. "It’s been really good for them as they can come and go as they please.”

Dorgard allows fire doors to be held open at any angle, which provides easy access and an end to struggling with heavy fire doors. The device releases the door to close on the sound of the alarm, preventing the spread of fire. Dorgard is wire-free as it doesn't use cables, making the unit a quick and easy install.