THE ROSS
SAFETY DOOR.
For peace of mind...
Recommended by:
The Archicentre, Independant Living Centre,
The National Safety Council of Australia
Approval of:
Veterans Affairs, Municipalities, Legacy, Rotary
The many deaths and delays in rescue of people who have collapsed in toilet rooms has prompted the Australia Building Regulation No 3, 8, 3, 3 (1996) which requires that the toilets of all new buildings must have safety features such as adequate area for outward opening or sliding doors to be easily removed from the outside.
Thousands of buildings constructed before 1996 with toilets with inwards opening doors are a danger to those at risk – the elderly, ill, disabled and with any disabling addictions. Because of this, district nurses and occupational therapists often require that the doors be altered to allow rescue in an emergency.
The question arose – how can doors be altered in a cost effective way, and still retain the inward swing of the door without major architectural changes. The fitting of the Ross Safety Door System© allows all of this, and in an emergency the rescuer can safely open the door outward and help the person in need.
It is recommended that the fitting of our system be completed by a qualified tradesperson. The cost is low and under the Federal and State Home and Community Care Program (HACC), a subsidy is available to municipalities to provide free or low cost service such as safety devices in the homes of those who qualify.
For the Emergency Outward Opening of Doors
Ideal for toilets, any small room, bathrooms, laundry etc
Most doors of small rooms open inwards into confined spaces. If a person collapses against such a door, prompt rescue and revival are extremely difficult.
To arrange for this type of door to open outwards
in emergency situations is possible with the
‘Ross’ SAFETY Door System©
1.
Inside person is helpless, caught inside the small space. The door cannot be opened inwards as the person is stopping the door.
2.
Door will not open inwardly.
3.
Release top screw eye from stop jam.
4.
Release lower screw eye from stop jam.
Remove stop jam.
5.
Turn handle of door to depress tongue and pull door outwardly. Keep pulling through resistance.
6.
Inside flexible tie will hold weight of door when door is opened.
7.
RESCUE PERSON
Remove and discard the overhead door stop.
Do not remove the side door stop on the hinge side of the door. Remove the side door stop on handle side. Remove or disable any latch or locking device which, with the door stop unscrewed, would prevent the door from swinging outwards.
1.
2.
The side door stop must be refitted and fastened only by the 2 screw eyes contained 16cm from the top and bottom of the door frame. Remove or cut off the nails.
3.
Knock out the steel pins and replace them with equal size plastic pins. Hinges with pins riveted at both ends need to be unscrewed. One end of the pin should be filed off – removed and replaced with the plastic pin. For the normal inward swing of the door these plastic pins operate as non squeak, self lubricating pivots, but in an emergency, with the door stops removed and the door is firmly pulled outwards, the pins will shear into pieces, the hinges will come apart, and the door will be loosely supported by the flexible tie.
4.
Above the top hinge, fasten the flexible tie in a loop – one end to the top door frame, and the other to the top of the door using wood screws and washers.
5.
Attach the plastic covered notice to the outside of the door at eye level.
TO INSTALL
TO RESCUE
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REFIT AFTER USE
1.
Old hinges can be re-used provided no undue stress has been placed upon them when door has been opened outwardly in an emergency. If hinges have been damaged, they will need to be replaced.
2.
If hinges are able to be re-used, pop out sheared pins.
3.
Place door back into correct position and refit new correct colour plastic pins. Extra pins can be purchased from us at any time.
4.
Refit long side door stop on handle side with screw eyes after door has been fixed back into place using plastic pins.