March/April 2024

HARDWARE & ACCESSORIES
the outside of a door with a panic bar, an outside
access device can also be applied to maintain
equal levels of accessibility and security.
Emergency exit hardware is dissimilar in a few
areas. Typically smaller devices, emergency exit
hardware is often applied in buildings with less
than 60 occupants or non-public buildings,
where its users have prior knowledge of the
building’s layout, its escape routes and the exit
devices placed throughout them. Think office
spaces and warehouses for example. In design,
emergency exit devices commonly comprise of
a single push pad with a rim latch or a lever
handle operating a mortice escape lock or
nightlatch and allow for single action egress.
Where emergency exit hardware is applied, it
must be certified to BS EN 179.
Information is key
As per Approved Document B, all doors located on
an escape route must have suitable exit hardware
installed. And so, with varied solutions available,
specification teams must also consider the door
in which an exit device will be fitted. Will the
device be applied to single or double doors? What
are the height and width requirements? And does
the device need anti-thrust bolts for added levels
of security? Above all, does it meet the latest fire
safety standards?
If in doubt, decision makers are urged to select
door hardware devices that are tested to EN 1125
while referring to harmonised and designated
standards if they feel unsure. BS EN 1125 and
BS EN 179 standards provide important safety
and reliability details on panic hardware and
emergency exit devices respectively, reviewing
classification, product performance requirements,
test cycles and test methods as standard. For
traceability purposes, decision makers and endusers
can also review the UKCA and CE marks
on exit hardware to find its fire rating, certificate
numbers and the manufacturer’s details.
Typically, dependable devices will be
supplied with full product information from
the manufacturer – including Declaration of
Performance (DoP), Certifire certification and
product data sheets – showing that they comply
with the necessary harmonised standards. The
Code for Construction Product Information has
been designed to assist people in reviewing and
selecting door hardware solutions transparently
and can also be referred to for clear, accurate and
up-to-date product information, to ensure door
hardware solutions conform to the latest building
standards and UKCA and CE certifications.
Similarly, when it comes to installation, teams
are advised to use the support that’s made
available by manufacturers, in the form of helpful
online tools and product guides. This further
helps to ensure there are no oversights made
at the installation stage that could develop into
life-threatening issues later down the line. Under
current EN standards, it is also recommended
that all of a fire door’s hardware devices should
be supplied from the same manufacturer and
tested together to ensure the full doorset remains
compliant in application.
As with all other fire door hardware, there is no
one-size-fits-all solution where exit hardware is
concerned. Panic hardware and emergency exit
hardware play crucial but separate roles in a
building’s evacuation routes, and as such both
decision makers and end-users alike must be able
to distinguish between them both. After all, it could
make the difference when it comes to escape.
Contact Allegion UK:
0330 8080 617
www.allegion.com
CONNECTING THE WINDOW, DOOR & ROOF FABRICATION SUPPLY CHAIN
MARCH / APRIL 2024 T F 31