Having a path of exit travel in emergency situations that employees or residents know and can rely on is the key to getting them out safely in a fire.
Can fire exit doors be locked.
The exception being locks in childcare facilities which may be 1500mm 1650mm high as necessary.
A key in a glass container next to the door will suffice.
Exits can only have enough doors to allow access from work areas or to the exit discharge.
Even if there are.
Fire exit doors can also be opened from the outside if for example a panic bar with a key lock override is fitted.
However anyone inside not just a key holder must be able to open it in an emergency.
To achieve that the nfpa makes strict guidelines.
Openings into exits must have self closing fire doors that remain closed but not locked or automatically close at the sound of an alarm the door frame or hardware must be listed or approved by a national testing laboratory.
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.
The need for outward opening fire exit doors.
Best practice dictates that fire exit signs are fitted above fire exits.
Most state laws make it illegal to lock exit doors if the building is occupied.
Fire exits must never be obstructed and have to be clearly marked and well lit.
The door does not have to allow people to come in through them only to exit through through them.
The point of these nfpa exit doors is to get people away from hazardous conditions such as smoke fire and heat in the shortest time possible.
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.