However there are two exceptions.
Should fire exit doors be locked.
Using a fire door for goods inwards.
It is against both codes to physically lock doors to prevent an occupant s exit from a building room or space.
There should be no locks or catches.
What types of locking devices are allowable inside of a fire exit door.
Any sort of obstruction like drapery posters or anything else is expressly forbidden.
If dramatic security measures like chains padlocks or steel bars are required the first person entering the building in the morning must remove all of these.
The building therefore has one fire exit per 4000m 2 of floor space.
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.
However if it is a fire door then access to both sides must be kept clear e g.
The same requirements as above will apply to a fire exit door.
The first although rare restricts use of an exit.
Any sort of obstruction like drapery posters or anything else is expressly forbidden.
There is nothing in the fso that prohibits doors from having a dual use e g.
The need for outward opening fire exit doors 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 latch of a door in a means of egress can also be retracted by knob handle or other simple type of releasing device the method of operation of which is obvious even in darkness.
The design of exit access doors that lead to emergency exit doors need to be clearly recognizable.
The main public escalators don t count as fire exits as the doors may be locked during less busy periods.
Fire exits doors should open easily and wherever possible in the direction of traffic flow.
Goods cannot be put down directly in front of or behind the door.
If it is a security door that is usually kept locked but will be used by members of the public in an emergency situation it will have to be fitted with a panic or push bar.
There are also additional requirements where the door is the final exit point of a building.
The door should open in the direction of evacuation.