Portland School - Estates Case Study

1: Identifying the Problem

Portland School in Blythe Bridge is a Shaw Education Trust school dedicated to providing exceptional learning and experiences to pupils with Social, Emotional, and Mental Health Difficulties (SEMHD).

Recently an issue has been flagged whilst the school was completing routine compliance checks, its was highlighted that there had been persistent issues with the durability of its standard fire doors. These doors, which are critical for safeguarding students and staff in case of a fire emergency, have suffered extensive damage over time. The primary cause of this deterioration is student-related activity, including excessive force, accidental impacts, and intentional misuse. The damage has led to several safety and security concerns, including:

Compromised Fire Safety: Damaged fire doors may fail to contain fire and smoke, reducing evacuation time and increasing risk.

Safeguarding Concerns: Broken doors can create opportunities for students to enter restricted areas, potentially leading to unsafe situations.

Security Risks: A damaged door may not close or lock properly, increasing the risk of unauthorised access to sensitive areas within the school.

Due to these critical issues, The Shaw Education Trust estates team sought a durable, long-term solution to enhance safety, security, and compliance with fire safety regulations.

2: Researching Potential Solutions

Simon Bryan and Soames Inscker, Estates Project Managers from Shaw Education Trust took the initiative to thoroughly investigate potential solutions to address the recurring issue. They dedicated extensive time to researching various door options, consulting with industry experts, and visiting other schools and similar Pupil Referral Units (PRUs) to observe alternative approaches in action. Their findings highlighted two key weaknesses in the existing doors:

Standard 30 minute wooden laminate fired doors were not sufficient and too susceptible to damage
The locking mechanisms were inadequate, making them prone to tampering and failure. The doors were secured using a single standard magnetic lock (Mag lock) at the top, which did not provide sufficient resilience against damage.

After evaluating multiple manufacturers and door types, they identified that the best solution to meet the school’s needs was the Metador Defender Xtraguard range of doors. This range was selected due to its superior durability, enhanced security features, and ability to withstand high-impact usage in an educational setting. The Defender Xtraguard doors provided reinforced construction, advanced locking mechanisms, and multiple secure fixing points, ensuring that they would offer a long-term, reliable solution to the safeguarding challenges faced by the school.

3: The Solution

Collaborating with Metador & FDL Contractors, the Shaw Education Trust implemented a robust solution tailored to the school's specific needs. Overall, 11 door sets were installed in strategic corridor locations within the school over the half term week. To enhance security, the doors were upgraded from 1.5 to 2mm steel skin which significantly increased their durability, they were also fitted with integrated twin (1200lbs double-strength) mag locks positioned at both the top and bottom of the door & frame, along with an additional ASSA Abloy V motorised bolt lock or reinforced security (SEE GALLERY BELOW). The vision panels were constructed using 19mm toughened glass with a reduced width to minimize the risk of damage while maintaining visibility. Anti-ligature handles were also installed to further improve safety. Use of an concealed closer incorporated into the head of the door frame ensures that there is the absence of protruding and weak points on the face of the door, thus preventing damage to the component. With regards to the aesthetics a pastel green powder coating colour was chosen for the doors to create a softer, less institutional appearance, making the environment more welcoming for students.

By implementing these changes, Portland School significantly improved the security, durability, and aesthetic appeal of their fire doors, ensuring a safer and more controlled learning environment for both students and staff.