FIRECO
Dorgard Pro is a door retainer
which works on batteries and
responds to a radio signal
from a transmitter.
JOINED-UP THINKING
Tom Welland, product manager at Fireco, explains how new technology
can simplify fire safety and security by integrating the two.
S
afety is always at the
forefront of any building
design. Whether it’s a
new build or renovation,
regulations need to be
complied with, buildings need
to be secure, and occupants kept safe.
This can sometimes seem complicated,
but advances in technology mean safety
is becoming more straightforward for
installers and customers.
Increasingly, building managers are
looking for one-size-fits-all solutions
— integrated systems to make security
and safety more efficient. Two of the
biggest safety concerns for buildings
are fire and intruders. Though they
might seem completely unrelated — one
involves evacuating people from inside
a building and another involves keeping
people outside from coming in — there is
technology available that can combine the
two, ensuring safety in case of a fire, but
also lockdown for security.
Closed fire doors are an essential
part of keeping a building safe in the
event of fire, but they can also be useful
in a security situation. Twenty-four
years ago, Fireco invented Dorgard, the
first hold-open fire door device to close
automatically on the sound of the alarm.
Dorgard Pro is the next generation,
and has been designed with installers
in mind. Dorgard Pro is a door retainer
12 | June 2017
which works on batteries and responds
to a radio signal from a transmitter. This
transmitter can be wired directly into any
fire alarm system and monitors all door
units from a central hub. an emergency button. As the transmitter
controls all door units from one place, if
Dorgard Pro is integrated with a security
system, fast lockdown can be easily
achieved with all doors closing at once.
Security and lockdown Intelligent technology
The transmitter means Dorgard Pro has
more applications than just fire safety
as it can be integrated with a security or
lockdown system. Security systems are
often regarded as an inconvenience by
end users, so anything that makes the
process easier will be welcomed. At the
end of the working day, people are tired
and want to go home, yet have to walk
around the building to check all doors
are shut before they set the alarm.
Using Dorgard Pro, the transmitter
can be wired to a relay output
on the intruder panel which
is programmed to switch on
‘alarm set’ which then sends
a signal to close all the doors.
This saves the end user time,
and gives them peace of mind.
The use of lockdown
using access control systems
is gaining favour, particularly
in large public buildings. In
lockdown mode, certain access
points, such as doors or gates, are
put into a locked state with one press of Dorgard Pro also features SmartSound
technology, which already knows the sound
of an alarm. This means there’s no need for
any complicated programming to ‘teach’
the device what an alarm sounds like before
it can be used. This SmartSound technology
means that Dorgard Pro eliminates false
alarms in noisy environments, useful in
schools or factories, or even anywhere
people use a vacuum cleaner.
An installer-exclusive product,
Dorgard Pro is a great solution to
offer customers. By keeping fire
doors open, access and ventilation
throughout a building are greatly
improved. As the doors close
automatically when a fire alarm
is activated, it simplifies security
and helps end users easily
comply with regulations.
Fireco will be at Firex and
IFSEC. Visit stand F200 to see
Dorgard Pro in action.
Security & Fire Safety
By keeping fire
doors open, access
and ventilation
throughout a
building are
greatly improved.
For further information visit:
www.fireco.uk