ARCHITECTURAL IRONMONGERY
THE RIGHT DOOR HARDWARE FOR EASY FIRE EVACUATION
Here , Roland Etheridge , Category Manager at IronmongeryDirect outlines what is available when it comes to escape door hardware , what to look for when selecting products and how to ensure security .
Exidor 325EC Outside Access Device - Lever
» ENSURING THAT OCCUPANTS OF A building can evacuate quickly and easily in the event of a fire is critical , and escape door hardware is a central part of achieving this .
The first step is to ensure the right type of emergency exit hardware is chosen , depending on how the building is used . For any public building , including schools , hospitals , airports and retail and leisure facilities , the escape door hardware must be designed for use by those who are unfamiliar with the building . Products suitable for these environments will be tested and comply with BS EN 1125:2008 .
In contrast , in non-public , low occupancy buildings where occupants can be instructed on the use of the fire doors and undertake regular fire drill practices , a different standard applies . This category of building includes smaller offices and workplaces occupied by a maximum of 60 people . Here , escape hardware should comply with BS EN 179:2008 .
Hardware options for public places
There are broadly two types of emergency exit hardware that conform to BS EN 1125 ; push bars and touch bars , both of which must be CE or UKCA marked and the cover at least 60 % of the leaf width when installed .
A push bar , also called a panic bar , consists of a hinged bar that is pressed towards the door to release the latch and open the door . IronmongeryDirect has a range of options for single and double doors such as the Arrone AR882 Single Door Panic Latch and the Briton 377 E Rebated Double Door Panic Bar Set . Both are designed for simple installation and are suitable for timber doors . Where enhanced security is required , there are also options such as the Exidor 513B-B / AD for single timber , aluminium and uPVC doors , which features three-point locking and anti-thrust protection .
Alternatively , touch bars may be preferred in some public buildings . These are fitted in the same way as a push bar but consist of a bar section that is depressed to open the door . With no swinging handle , it eliminates the chance of anything being trapped behind the bar when operated . Also , as it integrates closer to the door surface it is often considered more visually appealing as well as more suitable for applications such as sports halls where any protruding hardware may present a risk of injury . The Briton 571 Single Door Touchbar Panic Latch offers a modular solution with one point locking as standard with the option for additional locking elements if required . The design of the bar also provides a grip that allows the door to be easily pulled closed .
‘ quick and easy to operate ’
Hardware suitable for non-public buildings
For these applications , one of the most common options is a push pad that complies with BS EN 179:2008 . While still simple and easy to operate , the push handle surface can be much smaller . For example , the Arrone AR883 Single Door Push Pad Latch , which is reversible and suitable for any door width , provides a simple , single point locking device .
It is also possible to fit a BS EN 179:2008 complaint lever handle that is quick and easy to operate . In addition , where doors on escape routes need to be locked when not occupied , there are products such as the Eurospec Easi-T Escape Nightlatch Kit . This includes handles that comply with BS EN 179:2008 and the BS 8300 standard for accessibility as well as a euro profile cylinder lock . When the inside handle is operated , both the latch and deadbolt are disengaged to allow easy evacuation .
Exidor 513B-BAD Single Door 3 Point Panic Bolt with Pullman Latch
Access from outside Where external access is needed via a door on an escape route , outside access devices provide the option for a handle and lock on the exterior , while the door can still be opened inside using push bars or push pads if required . For example , the Exidor 325EC lever , which is BS8300 certified , features a euro profile cylinder lock to secure the door from the outside and is compatible with mortice actuator push bars and push pads . When locked , the lever is disengaged from the mechanism and still moves , therefore preventing unauthorised entry and damage to the lock itself .
www . IronmongeryDirect . co . uk
30
JULY 2023
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