Children face dangers every day wherever they go. Some painful experiences are simply part of growing up – but most of them should be prevented. In day-care centres for children, the responsibility towards the young guests is immense, and unfortunately, so too are the potential hazards. To counteract such hazards sufficiently the provisions of both workplace ordinance and accident prevention regulations in day-care facilities for children must be observed, in accordance with building and safety regulations.
In close cooperation with architects and planners, SIMONSWERK has developed a hinge system for doors with finger protection specification. Statutory Accident Insurance regulations stipulate that the hazards caused by crushing and shearing points at the closing edges of doors must be counteracted by special safety features. “Shearing points on side closing edges of doors must be avoided.”
The VARIANT® finger protection hinge system protects fingers reliably against getting pinched by the side closing edges of doors:
- for interior doors (the door swings round the front of the door frame at a constant distance of 3.5 mm from the surface and thus prevents fingers from getting jammed)
- finger protection is guaranteed by a specially developed door hinge and cladding of the side closing edge directly on the door leaf
- load capacity of up to 120 kg with two hinges per door leaf
- for timber frames
- for 3D-adjustable VARIANT® VX receivers
- other types of frames upon request
There is no such thing as 100 % safety – but all hazards with special relevance for children can and must be avoided. Retrofitted profiles and blinds are examples of standard precautions, which are frequently implemented at the expense of aesthetics in the architectural context. The VARIANT® finger protection hinge system from SIMONSWERK fulfils both the finger protection specifications for the side closing edges of doors and the requirements of high-quality, attractive interior design. Thanks to rounded cladding which matches the material of the door on the hinged side, the entire finger protection system gives an impression of perfect harmony. The high-quality VARIANT® hinge connects the door to the frame. The constant distance of only 3.5 mm at every opening angle presents no danger to small children’s hands.
In this area in particular, architects and planners are required to cooperate very closely with their clients. Legal security must be established with several authorities, final approval of the building is normally performed by a statutory accident insurance officer. Differences in regulations and practice from one country to the next must also be observed.
More information can be found at www.simonswerk.com
comment