Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
The fastenings must be operated without the use of
a key.
It is permissible to fi t a door with a simple turn latch
on the side from where escape may be needed and for
the latch to be operated by a key on the other side, e.g.
a hotel bedroom.
The method of operating doors on an escape route
must be indicated with 'how to open' instructions that
comply to the Health and Safety (Safety Signs and
Signals) Regulations 1996.
Direction of opening
- if it is reasonably practical,
all doors on exit routes should be hung so that they
open in the direction of escape.
If it is likely that more than 60 people will use the
door, or it provides egress from a very high risk area
with the potential for rapid fi re spread or is at the foot (or
near the foot) of a staircase, the door
must
open in the
direction of escape.
The same requirement must also be applied if the
door is on an exit route in a building used for public
assembly, public entertainment or conference centre/hall.
Scope of opening
- all doors on escape routes
should open to a minimum angle of 90º and should
swing clear of any changes in fl oor level.
Any door that opens onto an escape route should
be recessed so as not to obstruct the escape route.
Vision panels
- vision panels are required where
doors are provided to subdivide long corridors (also aids
compliance with the WHSW Regulations).
Revolving and automatic doors and turnstiles
-
revolving doors, automatic doors and turnstiles
must not
be used as escape doors unless:
A
B
D
D
A
45
(2.5 distance CB)
B
Figure 9.35
The 45º rule applied to an irregular space
Option 2
- travel distance in dead-end condition -
C-B.
Angle ABD should be at least 45º plus 2.5º for each
metre travelled from point C.
CBA or CBD (whichever is less) should be no more
than the maximum distance of travel given for alternative
routes, and CB should be no more than the maximum
distance for travel where there are no alternative routes.
➤
They are of the full width of the escape route
➤
They fail to safe and open outward from any position
of opening
➤
They fail to safe in the event of power failure.
There are suffi cient non-revolving, automatic or turnstile
doors immediately adjacent.
Doors on escape routes
The time taken to pass through doors while making an
emergency evacuation can be critical. There have been
many cases where the death toll in fi res has been signifi -
cantly increased as a result of problems with the doors
on escape routes. All doors on escape routes should
therefore be readily openable at all times when the build-
ing is occupied.
To ensure that doors on escape routes do not cause
unnecessary delays they must satisfy the following
criteria:
Door fastenings
- escape doors should either not
be fi tted with any locking device, or where security is
required they should be fi tted with simple fastenings that
can be easily operated from the direction of escape.
Securing mechanisms for emergency escape
doors
In some circumstances securing mechanisms other than
panic devices may be fi tted to emergency escape doors.
The securing mechanism must be capable of being eas-
ily and immediately opened from the inside without the
use of a key to facilitate prompt escape.
There are a number of products available that
meet this requirement; some of the more common are
described below.
Panic devices
- include a mechanism consisting
of a bolt head or heads which engage with a keeper
in the surrounding door frame or fl oor for securing the
