Door Mounted Anti-Ligature Devices
for Safety & Security Purposes
6
INTRODUCTION
Definitions
For the purpose of this catalogue the following definitions apply:-
Ligature:
A device by which means can be used to inflict harm by restricting
normal breathing and/or blood flow and/or a flexible device which can
be attached to a security device in order to enable its manipulation.
Anti-ligature device:
A device intended to provide a specific function but from which it is not
possible for a ligature to remain secured when subjected to loads
representative of a person intended to inflict self harm or to manipulate
a security device.
Fixed hardware device:
A product which performs a specific function and which is attached to a
surface using fixings which require a special tool to release them.
Load releasing hardware device:
A product which is attached to a surface by a method which allows the
product to be released from the surface when the load reaches a thresh-
old value below which the product can perform a specific function.
(Installation of Load Release Hardware devices).
The load release hardware device (including any associated mounting
device) may be designed to be detached away from the surface on which
it is mounted by application of a prescribed threshold load. If not, the
load release hardware device (including any associated mounting device)
shall not be removed from the surface on which it is mounted without
the use of special tools.
Associated mounting device:
A plate, escutcheon or similar fixture by means of which the anti-ligature
device is mounted and/or attached to a surface using fixings which
require a special tool to release them. A load releasing hardware device
may often be designed to be detached from an associated mounting
device which will not be load releasing. Associated mounting devices will
normally be subject to the same safety tests as fixed hardware devices.
2 Fixing Methods
2.1 Category of use
DHF Technical specification TS001. This testing method has been
developed by the Door and Hardware Federation to grade door mount-
ed anti-ligature devices for safety and security purposes
2.1.1
The anti-ligature device, including any associated mounting device, shall
resist attempts to unscrew, or otherwise remove, using the following
tools: any normally available tools including stainless steel dining knife,
flat blade screwdriver, Phillips head or Posidrive head screwdriver, over an
elapsed period of ten minutes.
2.1.2 Fixed Hardware Devices
2.1.2.1
The device shall be subjected to safety testing as shown in Table 1. The
anti-ligature device shall be mounted in a representative manner to
include any associated mounting device on a surface which is also of
representative orientation to the vertical and horizontal. The ligature
test wire shall be either plastic coated with a fabric or metal core, or
nylon with a breaking strength >20N at the correct diameter for Test 1.
2.1.2.2
For devices designed to be mounted on vertical surfaces, the test wire
shall be tied around the device as close to the mounting fixture as is
possible using a simple slip knot (see Annex B) and the required ligature
test load shall be applied by a weight, sequentially in five directions :
i) downward, ii) upward, iii) horizontal left, iv) horizontal right,
v) perpendicular to the mounting surface. If the test wire remains
attached to the anti-ligature device on any of the five directions, the test
will be deemed unsuccessful.
2.1.2.3
For devices designed to be mounted on horizontal and all other non-
vertical surfaces, the test wire shall be tied around the device as close to
the mounting fixture as is possible using a simple slip knot (see Annex B)
and the required ligature side load shall be applied by a weight,
sequentially in five directions: four at right angles in a plane parallel to
the mounting surface and the fifth vertical to the amounting surface. If
the test wire remains attached to the anti-ligature device on any of the
five directions, the test will be deemed unsuccessful.
Foreword
With the increasing focus on the safety and security of people, including when unsupervised
in special care environments, the need for this standard has arisen to ensure that door
mounted furniture, including load releasing devises such as coat hooks and fixed hardware
devices such as thumb-turn operated door locks, handles and other hardware products used
to provide such persons with increased levels of personal freedom and quality of life, do not,
at the same time, provide a means of inflicting self hard, nor to be used by others as
attachment points by which to enable surreptitious manipulation of the door security devices.
Dorplan
01366 386 800
