Shutters for shops and business units

Many shopkeepers want a roller shutter to protect the front of the shop at night. A shutter changes how the street front looks, it can cover a way out, and it is a heavy door that moves. This page sets out the planning, fire and workplace rules that apply in England.

Planning and the look of the building

Government planning guidance lists the kinds of work that are not development. One of them is building work that does not materially affect the external appearance of a building. A shutter fitted to a shop front may well change that appearance.

The guidance also says the term "materially affect" has no statutory definition. It is linked to how significant the change to the building's outside appearance is. So the council is the place to ask.

Ask the council before fitting

GOV.UK says that to find out whether a project needs planning permission, you contact your local planning authority (LPA) through your local council. GOV.UK has a postcode search to find the right council.

GOV.UK says that if a project needs planning permission and the work is done without it, the owner can be served an enforcement notice ordering the changes to be undone. The planning guidance adds that other consents may be needed, such as listed building consent for works to a listed building.

Fire exits

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 sets rules for emergency routes and exits. Article 14 says emergency doors must not be so locked or fastened that they cannot be easily and immediately opened by any person who may require to use them in an emergency.

It says the person responsible for fire safety must keep routes to emergency exits, and the exits themselves, clear at all times where that is needed for people's safety.

Doors and gates at work

The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 set rules for doors and gates. Regulation 18 says any upward opening door or gate must have a device to prevent it falling back.

Any powered door or gate must have suitable and effective features to prevent it causing injury by trapping any person. Where health or safety needs it, a powered door or gate must also work by hand, unless it opens on its own if the power fails.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) publishes the regulations in full with its Approved Code of Practice and guidance, known as L24.

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