Orbis Anti-Ligature Architectural Ironmongery - Introduction

What is anti-ligature?

An anti-ligature product is one from which it is not possible for a ligature to remain secured. The purpose is to deny individuals the opportunity to use the hardware as a means of attaching a ligature for the purpose of inflicting harm to themselves or others.

Reducing the risk of suicide by hanging

(1). Research indicates that removing or reducing easy access to lethal methods of self harm is an effective way of preventing suicide. Throughout the UK, there are various initiatives to reduce this figure. In England, the target is a reduction of 20% by 2010; in Scotland the target is 20% by 2013.

Approximately one quarter of suicide victims in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland had been in contact with mental health services in the year before death; this represents around 1,500 cases per year. In the report of the National Confidential Enquiry into Suicide(2), a number of recommendations were made in its ‘twelve points to a safer service’ including; ‘In-patient wards to remove or cover all likely ligature points, including all non-collapsible curtain rails’.

References

(1) National Suicide Prevention Strategy for England, Annual Report on Progress 2003 – Dec 2003.

(2) SAFETY FIRST, Five-year Report of the National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness - March 2001.

 

Ordering products

When ordering products please remember to specify the finish code after the item number - eg, 50.AL8.6SS7

BS EN Performance standard

Certain of the products within the Anti-ligature range have been developed specifically to meet or exceed the latest European Standards.

CE Marking 

Where CE marking is permitted, items are marked with the CE icon. The CE classification is indicated against each item where this is appropriate.

Testing 

Fire testing is an ongoing process with Laidlaw. Many of the Anti-ligature hardware items have been included in tests on timber fire doors up to 2 hours and on steel fire doors up to 4 hours. The icon indicates the item has been successfully included in fire tests.

DHF Technical Specification TS 001 

In spite of the growing importance of this area of architectural ironmongery specification, there remains very little guidance or legislation to assist manufacturers or specifiers. A specification document, entitled Door Mounted Anti-Ligature Devices for Safety and Security Purposes, has been published by the Door & Hardware Federation in response to the growing need for this type of product. It includes a proposed classification of anti-ligature devices, test methods and grades of safety. Up to now, the tests have been mainly applied to hinges. Where applicable Orbis Anti- Ligature hardware conforms to the recommendations contained within the DHF document.

Unless shown otherwise, all Laidlaw Orbis Anti-ligature products are subject to a 10 year guarantee against defects proved to be the result of faulty manufacture or defective materials

Materials and finishes

Laidlaw Orbis Anti-ligature door furniture is made generally in Stainless Steel grade 316 or aluminium. However, for some finishes, only one option is available. The two finishes are referred to as ' Satin Stainless Steel (SS7) or Silk Anodised Aluminium (SA7). In certain cases, an applied finish is used. These are carefully selected to match the main hardware finishes.

 

SS7 Satin Stainless Steel	SA7 Silk Anodised Aluminium