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SAFETY & SECURITY
specifi c risk assessment, rather than a blanket specifi cation across the building.
• Locking systems proven to perform reliably under stress and high daily use.
• Fire and security performance that has been reconciled at design stage, not left to cause issues on site.
• Panic hardware on escape routes – halls, dining areas, sports facilities, main corridors – that is robust, tamper-resistant and simple to operate under pressure.
Where retrofi t falls short In the case of existing buildings, there is often pressure to upgrade hardware on existing door leaves, rather than full replace. A higher specifi cation lock fi tted to a leaf that was never designed to resist forced entry does not create a secure doorset if the leaf lacks structural integrity; the hardware is largely irrelevant. Mixing certifi ed and uncertifi ed components can leave a building in a compromised position that is arguably worse than no upgrade at all. At main entrances, reception areas, external access points and designated lockdown spaces, full doorset replacement with a certifi ed, tested system is usually the only specifi cation that will stand scrutiny.
For many larger venues, we typically recommend certifi ed steel doorsets at key external and high-risk internal locations. We also recommend internal steel doorsets for zoning, lockdown areas and protected corridors, which provide controlled access whilst supporting lockdown procedures without creating barriers to normal circulation. It is essential that compliance be built into the specifi cation, not retrofi tted, not assumed and not dependent on the weakest component in an ad hoc assembly.
Designing for the future Doors in large venues, such as schools, colleges, leisure and hospitality buildings, are subject to heavy daily use, so a doorset’s performance under constant operational stress matters as much as its rating on day one. Specifying certifi ed steel doorsets at high-risk external and internal locations, and using internal steel doorsets for zoning and lockdown areas that support lockdown procedures without obstructing normal circulation, provides a building fabric that retains its compliance over time.
Rob Mottram, is head of product & compliance at Robust UK
WWW.ARCHITECTSDATAFILE.CO.UK
ADF SEPTEMBER 2026
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