Project Report
Details
Citation
McKee K & McCall V (2025) Trapped by Safety? Fire Doors, Accessibility and Policy Tensions in Housing. ISPA project. Stirling. https://www.housinglin.org.uk/_assets/Resources/Housing/Practice_examples/Other_case_studies/Fire-Doors-Report-final-version-24Oct25.pdf
Abstract
This report highlights a central paradox: measures designed to keep people safe can, in practice, leave older and disabled people trapped by safety. Drawing on interviews with practitioners, we examine how fire doors - a cornerstone of fire safety regulations - can create disabling environments and reinforce stigma by design. Practitioners described how the hierarchy of fire safety, accessibility, and security consistently places fire at the top. As one housing manager put it: ‘Fire trumps accessibility’.
Keywords
housing; accessibility; ageing; disability; fire safety; inter-agency working
| Status | Published |
|---|---|
| Funders | Economic and Social Research Council |
| Publication date | 30/11/2025 |
| Publication date online | 30/11/2025 |
| Publisher URL | https://www.housinglin.org.uk/…sion-24Oct25.pdf |
| Place of publication | Stirling |
People (2)
Professor of Social Policy, Sociology, Social Policy & Criminology
Professor of Housing & Social Policy, Sociology, Social Policy & Criminology