Fire Exit Door Hardware Requirements

The use of panic hardware and or fire exit hardware is required by the international building code ibc and nfpa 101 the life safety code depending on which code and which edition of the code is being referenced.

Fire exit door hardware requirements.

For example this should not be less than 30 inches and not more than 44 inches above the floor. The ibc 2006 and 2009 editions requires panic hardware and or fire exit hardware on egress doors with an occupant load of 50 people or more in the following. Panic hardware cannot be used on a fire door because of the danger of trapping people inside during a fire. Hardware consisting of bars that extend to at least half of the width of the door leaf.

Panic hardware is listed in accordance with ul 305 the standard for panic hardware and is used on doors that are not fire rated. Code publications define panic hardware as a door latching assembly incorporating a device that releases the latch upon the application of a force. All exit doors shall be easily opened from the interior without the use of a key combination or any special. Panic hardware and fire exit hardware are two different types of exit devices and the proper selection is determined by code requirements.

Each fire door including its frame and hardware must be listed or approved by a nationally recognized testing laboratory. Sometimes panic hardware is called fire exit hardware or they may be referred to as egress doors. Door lock heights on exit doors fire doors path of travel doors and disabled access doors now have a standardised lock height of 900mm 1100mm. Fire doors must only be fitted with door hardware fire rated in accordance with.

Panic hardware also known as an exit device or fire exit hardware when used on fire doors is designed to provide fast and easy egress to allow building occupants to exit safely in an emergency. The exception being locks in childcare facilities which may be 1500mm 1650mm high as necessary. A 1 1 see annex k for general information about fire doors. This rule also applies to the rear doors of stores and offices as a person may be trapped between the fire and the front door and thus the need to exit from the rear door.

Panic hardware is an exit device which is tested for use on a door that is required to have panic hardware but cannot be used on a fire door. The idea behind panic hardware is to allow a way out of the building in the case of an emergency. An opening into an exit must be protected by a self closing fire door that remains closed or automatically closes in an emergency upon the sounding of a fire alarm or employee alarm system. This standard regulates the installation and maintenance of assemblies and devices used to protect openings in walls floors and ceilings against the spread of fire and smoke within into or out of buildings.