Fire Exit Door Regulations

Building regulations for fire safety in residential homes including new and existing dwellings flats residential accommodation schools colleges and offices.

Fire exit door regulations.

An exit door is a door that allows an emergency exit from a building. This means that in the event of a fire all of these doors will close and latch without a person s help. Dependant on its location it need not necessarily be fire rated or steel framed. The nfpa emergency exit door requirements code states there is a maximum travel distance allowed to find an exit.

An exit is permitted to have only those openings necessary to allow access to the exit from occupied areas of the workplace or to the exit discharge. A steel fire resistant door frame is also used. This is accomplished through the use of a closer or spring hinge and a fire rated lockset or exit device. Employers need to ensure that emergency exits in buildings comply with the requirements in the building code of australia part d1 provision for escape.

There is an approved document guidance available from the builders hardware industry federation bhif hardware for fire and escape doors. Keep exit route doors free of decorations or signs that obscure the visibility of exit route doors. Osha requirements regulations and guidance for emergency exits if there is one set of osha rules that your business had better comply with it is exit requirements. All fire doors have an additional safety feature they must be self closing and self latching.

In scotland requirements on general fire safety are covered in part 3 of the fire scotland act 2005 supported by the fire safety scotland regulations 2006. Path of travel door. This access to exit requirements seeks to minimize occupants exposure to these and other hazards. A path of travel door is a door in the egress pathway leading to or between a fire door or exit door.

Not only could failure to comply result in massive fines in the event of a fire or other emergency non compliance could cost the lives of employees visitors. 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. Post signs along the exit access indicating the direction of travel to the nearest exit and exit discharge if that direction is not immediately apparent. Issue 4 2012 detailing the requirements for any fixtures and fittings used with fire doors and fire.

In workplaces that are buildings the location of doors needs to be appropriately marked and signs need to be posted to show the direction to exit doors to aid emergency evacuation. In the majority of premises local fire and rescue authorities are responsible for enforcing this fire safety legislation.