BRADFORD DISTRICT CARE NHS - DOORSET TESTING

We invited Bradford District Care NHS along to our Glasgow workshop to discover the rigorous testing process our anti-barricade doorsets go through and understand why we're so confident in our pivot-hinged design.

Product: Anti-barricade doorset (Swiftstop), Full-door ligature alarm

Client: Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust

Date: 27th June 2019

Pre-testing concerns: The robustness of pivots to achieve full-door ligature detection on anti-barricade doorsets.

bradford

TESTING FOR ROBUSTNESS AND SAFETY

Bradford NHS approached us with an interest in our full-door ligature alarm which can be built into our anti-barricade doorsets, but expressed concerns about the robustness of our pivot system.

We’re committed to working with our customers to ensure they have the right products for their projects - and we’re also the first ones to graciously take our hat out of the ring if we don’t feel we’re the right fit. But we knew this wasn’t the case.

Bradford NHS had previously implemented an estate-wide ban on pivots following a negative experience with an alternative pivot system. But, as the only provider of full-door ligature detection, we were keen to work together to alleviate their concerns and provide confidence in our lifesaving solution.

Following the open and transparent testing workshop seen below, we spoke to Bradford about their initial concerns and if these had been addressed. They told us that they were ‘very impressed’ that the pivots remained strongly in place after such high levels of impact and pressure were applied and are now implementing an estate-wide rollout.

Anti-barricade and lock override procedure

Method: Simulate a service user applying a load to the bottom of the door via back pressure and leg pressure.

Large soft body impact pendulum swing

Method: Simulating shoulder charges or kicks - robustness level 1 (Standard duty 120 Joules of energy)

Enhanced large soft body impact pendulum swing

Method: Simulating shoulder charges or kicks - robustness level 2 & 3 (Standard duty 180 & 300 Joules of energy)

Slam open test

Method: Slam door against door stop; disabling door closer to simulate worst case - robustness level 2 (50 cycles)

MSU Type 2 - Attack by punching or kicking

Method: Carry out sustained attack with 1.2kg rubber mallet (75 mm) comprising of 15 consecutive blows commencing each blow with the implement withdrawn a minimum of 1000 mm away from the component/element of construction.

MSU Type 3 - The impact of full body weight

Method: Carry out sustained attack with 6.8kg rubber paving maul comprising of 15 consecutive blows commencing each blow with the implement withdrawn a minimum 1000 mm away from the component/element of construction. Impact zone based on anthropometric data of shoulder height. 1st percentile female 1120mm to 99th percentile male 1584mm from floor level.

MSU Type 3 - doorset

Full body weight impact applied to the full doorset.

MSU Type 3 - pivots

Full body weight impact applied to the pivots alone.