Should Fire Exit Doors Be Locked
Side hinged exit doors must be used to connect rooms to exit routes.
Should fire exit doors be locked. And not only do you have to lock them they also need to be alarmed and in certain cases made to be almost bomb proof. Fire exit routes. The need for outward opening fire exit doors official guidance to the rro from the communities and local government department recommends that that all doors on escape routes should open in the direction of escape but states that this is particularly important if more than 60 people use them or they provide an exit from a high fire risk area. However there are two exceptions.
The important thing is that the exit doors are clearly signed. Fire exit doors should open in the direction of escape. They must be free of devices or alarms that could restrict use of the exit route if the device or alarm fails. In an ideal world you wouldn t have to worry about locking doors but leave one unlocked and you can almost guarantee you ll have uninvited guests.
There are also additional requirements where the door is the final exit point of a building. The first although rare restricts use of an exit. Exit route doors must be unlocked from the inside. There should be no locks or catches.
It is against both codes to physically lock doors to prevent an occupant s exit from a building room or space. If it is a security door that is usually kept locked but will be used by members of the public in an emergency situation it will have to be fitted with a panic or push bar. The door should open in the direction of evacuation. Hardware consisting of bars that extend to at least half of the width of the door leaf.
Many use a push bar system that will open the door when pressed down. The final fire exit door must. Emergency routes and fire exits must be indicated by signs. However this presents a problem.
Fire exits doors should open easily and wherever possible in the direction of traffic flow. For example this should not be less than 30 inches and not more than 44 inches above the floor. Above all equip doors with panic hardware and fire exit hardware. Fire exit doors can be any colour.