Athmer Fingerschutz® in nursery school
All doors to which children have access must be secured.
Avoid accidents - comply with regulations!
Children have other things on their minds than their own safety - they are curious and creative in exploring their surroundings. Due to their age, they can barely perceive risks in their surroundings and do not yet correctly assess potential danger spots. In practice, this often leads to unnecessary accidents at unsecured or inadequately secured doors in daycare centres and schools.
Hazardous points on doors & accident figures
Let's reduce accidents together
As crushing and shearing points are located on the front and rear of the door, it makes sense to secure both sides of the door. In contrast to securing the secondary closing edge, securing the main closing edge is voluntary. The DGUV (German Social Accident Insurance) does not provide protection for doors, as the most serious injuries, such as finger amputations, are possible here. Unfortunately, such serious accidents are still being recorded by the DGUV.
UVV day-care centres - requirements
The safety of children is the top priority in daycare centres. The accident prevention regulations (UVV) set out clear requirements and regulations to minimise danger points, especially at doors, and prevent accidents. These guidelines are essential to ensure a safe everyday life for the little ones and to provide legal security for the operators.
Why, what and how should doors be secured?
The legislator has recognised these dangers and issued a binding accident prevention regulation (UVV) to protect children. The UVV for daycare centres (DGUV regulation 82, formerly GUV-V S2) formulates corresponding requirements for daycare centres, which specify the structural design and equipment, among other things.
For example, Section 13 (3) stipulates: ‘Shearing points on the secondary closing edges of doors must be avoided.’
The associated DGUV Rule 102-602 recommends the use of appropriate door constructions, protective profiles or protective roller blinds. In addition, there should be no gap on the doors that is ≥ 4 mm.
How high should doors be protected?
The height of the finger protection guard is not specified by the UVV for child daycare centres.
Based on children's body measurements and experience from accidents, the DGUV recommends a minimum height of the finger guard of 1,500 mm - 2,000 mm (depending on the federal state) from the bottom edge of the door leaf. More extensive requirements of the state accident insurance funds take precedence.
Securing the entire door is recommended and also looks better!
Securing the main closing edge
Even if securing the main closing edge of the door is not currently mandatory, the door may pose a particular hazard. This can result, for example, from:
- a higher closing speed (pull-through or simple closing possible - group connecting door)
- a high door weight and sharp-edged door leaves
- near misses or accidents with crushed fingers
athmer also offers the right solution here!
To which daycare centres do these regulations apply?
According to DGUV regulation 102-602 Child day care centres sector §30 (2), the regulations of the UVV child day care centres are binding for both new buildings and existing child day care centres: ‘Child day care centres must be modified in accordance with this accident prevention regulation if:
- they are substantially extended or remodelled,
- their use is significantly changed,
- there are specific risks to the life or health of children.’
The creation of places for children under 3 years of age (U3) in a daycare centre represents a significant change of use, meaning that the operator of the facility must implement the requirements of the UVV Kindertageseinrichtungen (accident prevention regulations for daycare centres) in accordance with operator responsibility. Accordingly, the secondary closing edges of all doors in daycare centres to which children have access must be secured and taken into account by the planner at an early stage. There is no protection of the existing situation and the operator/carrier is liable in the event of damage!
The new DGUV Information 202-093 ‘Safe education and care of the youngest children in daycare centres’, which is seen as a supplement to the existing regulations, also emphasises the special protection of under 3-year-olds.
The information states that accidents involving injuries are part of the learning process wherever children are moving around and trying things out. However, it is important that the failure of a movement does not cause serious injury. Unrecognisable risks such as trapping limbs or trapping points on doors should be avoided. The avoidance of such hazards and risks through safety measures, such as finger trap protection systems, fulfils these requirements and also relieves the burden on professionals in their supervisory duties.
Product solutions
Athmer Finger Protection® offers the ideal solution to fulfil the prescribed requirements and make your doors safe.
Certified quality
athmer finger protection systems have been tried and tested for over 30 years, have been tested for millions of cycles and are TÜV/GS tested in accordance with EN 16654.
In addition, Athmer Finger Protection® is suitable for use on fire and smoke protection doors.
More Information
Discover important resources on the regulations for pinch protection on secondary closing edges. Here you will find helpful downloads and further links that provide you with comprehensive information and practical instructions to meet safety requirements and effectively minimise hazards at doors.
