Allegion News

Are people too passive when it comes to fire door safety? Research conducted by the British Woodworking Federation (BWF) in 2022 would suggest so, with a third of the British public stating they would not report a problem with a fire door, despite three-quarters of respondents believing a propped open fire door would not perform its role in the event of a fire. From schools and shops to shared areas of employment and accommodation, people are habitually - and sometimes unknowingly - kept safe b...

Allegion UK, a pioneering name in fire safety hardware and manufacturer of ‘Briton’ door controls, has launched a new ‘Fire Door Hardware Fundamentals’ guide, designed to support responsible persons through the latest fire safety regulations and fire door hardware best practice. The newly published guide draws upon key insights from Briton’s pioneering industry experts, and in response to the UK’s developing regulatory framework, aims to deliver accessib...

When fire safety fails, lives are put at risk. In all buildings, reasonable steps must be made to reduce the likelihood and impact of fire, yet, many people remain unsure and indecisive toward fire safety practices and the roles and responsibilities associated with fire door safety. In view of this, in October 2023, new fire safety legislation was introduced to non-domestic properties in England and Wales. Section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022 (BSA) has made a number of amendments to the...

Briton has launched a new exit hardware catalog, showcasing its range of trusted panic and emergency exit hardware systems, and providing specifiers and trade professionals with a user-friendly guide and product selection resource. New catalog features The new 28-page catalog showcases a flagship range of Briton products and accessories, with product specifications, EN classifications, and certified application information listed for each of Briton’s panic and emergency exit hardware dev...

The performance and reliability of fire doors can be undone by inaccurate hardware installation.  Karen Trigg of Allegion UK explains the significance of installer competence and how responsible persons should approach fire door hardware fittings to ensure lives aren’t put at risk.  fire doors For a building to be considered fire-safe, it must have functioning fire doors. A crucial element of passive fire protection, fire doors are recognized as a legal requirement in non-dom...

Allegion UK, a pioneer in fire safety hardware and manufacturer of ‘Briton’ door controls, will be exhibiting at the Fire Safety Event, taking place between 30th April and 2nd May at the NEC, Birmingham, as part of its campaign to promote accurate fire door closer installation.  Briton door closers Located on stand 5/EI03, Allegion’s door control experts will be showcasing a range of Briton door closers and exit hardware devices and sharing information on fire door hardw...

Sue Corrick of Allegion UK explores the evolution of panic and emergency exit hardware, examining the specification and installation points that decision-makers must consider throughout modern applications. The swift evacuation of a building and its occupants is critical in an escape or emergency situation. For decades, escape doors and exit hardware have been co-dependent in their purpose of facilitating safe egress when it matters most. Elements of public safety In fact, exit hardware has b...

Working fire doors are a prerequisite for fire safety, but what differentiates them from regular doors Kirk Smith of Allegion UK outlines the technical features that form fire-rated doors as we know them. Research indicates there may be around 42 billion doors found throughout the world’s built environment. Every day, each of those doors plays a purposeful role toward the accessibility, safety and security of buildings and their occupants-but how many people truly recognize what they...

With new fire safety regulations around the corner and a renewed focus on responsible persons and coordination, Karen Trigg of Allegion UK discusses the significance of fire door hardware and why regular inspections and maintenance periods must remain high on the agenda. Fire doors and their hardware are often the first line of defense in the event of a fire. Working in tandem, they coexist as a core element of a building’s passive fire protection system, providing valuable protection and...

Where school groups are faced with budgetary constraints, decision-makers can’t afford to neglect fire safety. Sue Corrick of Allegion UK explains how responsible persons can use the summer break to extend the service life of fire doors in school buildings.  By the time August arrives, it’s official - school is out for summer. For students and staff alike, the summer holiday is a precious period of recreation and recuperation, but for most education facilities, the annual break...

Across the globe, the decarbonization of our planet has become a focal point for construction. Between legislative requirements and market demand, industry pioneers remain under constant pressure to reach environmental targets, and upon exploring some of the more distinct routes, it’s important to consider what more can be done with construction materials.  Environmentally conscious products Research has shown that approximately 55% of extracted raw materials are used to develop th...

Allegion UK, a pioneering manufacturer of door hardware solutions, is pleased to announce the launch of its newly designed, user-focussed website - www.allegion.co.uk. Purpose built to offer the ultimate customer-friendly experience, and packed with a comprehensive collection of useful resources, Allegion’s new website will act as a central hub for its extensive family of brands sold in the UK and across the globe. Allegion UK’s full portfolio of brands The new website boasts an i...

Allegion UK, a manufacturer of fire safety hardware and notably of ‘Briton’ door controls, is preparing to raise awareness on the importance of fire door safety at FIREX International 2023, taking place between the 16th - 18th of May at the ExCeL, London. Across the three-day event, Allegion’s door hardware experts are aiming to connect with visitors on stand F1.1217 and will share comprehensive on-site guidance on the selection, installation, and maintenance of fire door hard...

Allegion UK, a pioneer in fire safety hardware and manufacturer of "Briton" door controls, is set to unveil its new set of Briton "Fire Door Safety in Review" guides at The Fire Safety Event 2023, taking place between 25th and 27th April at the NEC, Birmingham. Located on stand 3A/A40, Allegion’s door hardware experts will exhibit at this year’s show in support of fire safety professionals and will share essential and accessible information on hardware specification, installation an...

Allegion UK, a pioneer in fire safety hardware and manufacturer of ‘Briton’ door controls and exit hardware, has launched its new set of best practice guides, designed to provide a broader understanding of fire door safety in commercial, education and healthcare environments. In support of fire safety practice, the three ‘Fire Door Safety in Review’ guides have been compiled using original research from commercial, education and healthcare sectors, drawing upon key insig...

The fire risks associated with multi-occupied residential buildings remain high on the sector’s agenda, and the latest wave of fire safety reforms can help address key concerns, says Karen Trigg of Allegion UK. raising fire safety standards In recent years, high-rise and high-risk building environments have been the subject of much industry focus.  Where Grenfell was a catalyst for change, the incremental introduction of new reforms (such as the Fire Safety Act 2021 and Build...

Fostering fire safety is a basic principle, but one that suggests many different approaches and technologies. Best practices and greater innovation can play a role to ensure various aspects of fire safety (and health), but the first step is awareness. We asked our Expert Panel Roundtable: What is a fire safety trend that isn't widely adopted but should be?

Despite their quaint façades, modern care home environments are under consistent pressure to secure the safety and care of vulnerable residents and staff. Between funding constraints, staff retention, and the reverberations of COVID-19, the UK’s 17,000 care homes and their 400,000 residents face several challenges to provide safe and comfortable settings for occupants. Where the safety and care of residents is concerned, external regulation from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) is...

Re-development, restoration, retrofit. No longer are these terms modestly viewed as construction buzzwords. Across the world, there’s an increasing appreciation and a budding culture that maintaining older buildings is the way forward for the planet and its people. Globally, cities are said to be responsible for 78% of the energy consumption, of which, buildings account for around a third of the total. And when users consider that up to 80% of the current buildings are expected to still b...

Purpose built to compartmentalize fire and smoke, fire doors are recognized as a critical element of passive fire protection and exist in practically every building where we work, sleep, and live. Such is their importance; they are acknowledged by several professional bodies and are a legal requirement in non-domestic premises and houses in multiple occupations (HMOs). Day to day we use them without a thought, yet fire doors consist of much more than a simple piece of furniture. A fire door is...

Kirk Smith of Allegion UK discusses fire door neglect and how to spot the potential faults that could be compromising your fire safety procedures. Purpose-built to compartmentalize fire and smoke, fire doors are recognized as a critical element of passive fire protection and exist in practically every building where we work, sleep, and live. Such is their importance; they are acknowledged by several professional bodies and are a legal requirement in non-domestic premises and houses in multiple...

As educational facilities revel in a summertime of empty hallways and classrooms, Sue Corrick of Allegion UK explains why it’s the perfect time to assess fire door hardware. The great British summertime has arrived, known for its quintessential rainy days, packed out beach fronts and extended educational term breaks. By the time its August, students of all ages - from primary schools to universities – would have dashed out the doors, in preparation for a summer of fun, leaving behin...

The great British summertime has arrived, known for its quintessential rainy days, packed-out beach fronts, and extended educational term breaks. By the time users reach August, students of all ages from primary schools to universities have dashed out the doors in preparation for a summer of fun, leaving behind empty academic facilities in the process. extended summer break For most of the 32,163 schools, 277 colleges, and 164 universities in the UK, the extended summer break is seen as...

Under guidance from the Architects Registration Board, architectural students are set for a change in curriculum. Karen Trigg of Allegion UK explores this decision and why industry collaboration is central to improving fire safety education and paving the way to a safer future. In evolving construction industry, the approach to building design is ever-shifting. Yet, as the complexity of projects intensifies, safety and sustainability remain fundamental areas of focus, and according to architect...

As the holidays approach, how can temporarily vacant buildings remain fire safe and secure? Allegion UK outlines the best practices. Security concerns The holiday period is synonymous with festivity, family, food, and fun - but it’s also a time rife with empty buildings and heightened security concerns. As most of the nation winds down for a stint packed with celebration and enjoyment, schools, workplaces, and commercial facilities momentarily shut their doors, but in doing so, invite po...

When entering, exiting, or passing through a building, door hardware is always the first point of contact. Whether users are met with a mechanical system such as a lever handle, an exit device, or an access control solution, all architectural hardware must be fit for its role - operating as intended the first time, every time. Aside from being an integral piece of a building’s navigational network, door hardware inherently plays a vital role in critical safety scenarios too. Fire doors an...

The UK Fire Service is called out to extinguish fires in approximately 1,500 UK schools per year. Regardless of their size, these incidents disrupt the education of around 90,000 students each year, not to mention the economic strain caused by building damages. But most significant of all, these fires compromise safety. The government recently opened a consultation on proposed revisions to its non-statutory fire safety guidance in schools. Building Bulletin 100 The Building Bulletin 100 (BB10...

Door closers are required to protect people and property, but they are left useless without the appropriate adjustments. Kirk Smith of Allegion UK explains the key elements of door closer adjustments and how to correctly approach each type. Described as mechanically or electronically controlled closing devices, door closers are designed to open a door safely and close slowly but firmly enough to latch into place. Importance of closing doors When working as intended, closers play an integral r...

Fire safety doesn’t happen by accident, it requires universal attention. With that, Karen Trigg of Allegion UK explores why the importance of working fire doors is often overlooked and why now is an opportune time to bridge the gap between fire safety education and action. Improving fire safety within UK buildings is a challenge we are all continuously facing. Irrelevant of the sector, it’s of the highest importance for any building type - from schools and hospitals to high-rise res...

Fire safety doesn’t happen by accident; it requires universal attention. With that, Karen Trigg of Allegion UK explores why the importance of working fire doors is often overlooked and why now is an opportune time to bridge the gap between fire safety education and action. Improving fire safety within UK buildings is a challenge we are all continuously facing. Irrelevant of the sector, it’s of the highest importance for any building type - from schools and hospitals to high-rise res...