What are Emergency Exit Devices used for?
Emergency Exit Devices are commercial door opening devices that present no obstacles whatsoever in quickly exiting a door. They operate fast and easy in order to provide a quick exit from a property whether in an emergency situation or not. These push bar devices are usually paired with lit exit signage placed above the door. The exit sign directs exiting traffic to these outfitted doors in the case of an emergency. We work with and recommend devices by Sergeant, Von Duprin, and Detex.
Three Main Types of Emergency Exit Devices:
#1
An Exit Device with vertical rods that are either installed on the door’s exterior or concealed within the door itself. These are usually needed for double doors that do not have a door frame to install strike holds onto.
#2
An Exit Device with an Alarm – These are exit devices with a audible alarm that is activated when someone tries to exit this door without authorization. These are commonly installed in stock rooms to thwart employee theft.
#3
Crash Bar Exit Devices – These are the most common exit device that simply uses a bar device to open the door for quick and easy exiting.
A WORD OF ADVICE ON EMERGENCY EXIT DEVICES
Be aware that when an exit device is required to comply to fire codes, you must install a code compliant device not only for safety but to avoid being fined by the Fire Marshall. Businesses have been closed simply for not having the correct device in place.
Emergency exit devices come in grades of quality based on use-cycles which affect pricing significantly. Emergency exit devices are either fire rated or not. Fire rated emergency exit devices come in various grades, or levels, of fire ratings.
Schools, Hospitals, Large Government buildings & Shopping Malls will usually have the highest grade fire rated exit devices installed due to their having the highest level of human traffic using these devices, measured by “use cycles”. Smaller businesses such as Restaurants, Retail Stores, Grocery Stores can usually install a mid to lower grade device as the traffic directed toward these lesser used types of doors isn’t as significant as their front sliding door entrances.
How to Determine What Exit Device You Need
If your door and door frame are fire rated, you must have a fire rated exit device. You can determine if your door is fire rated by locating a special plate that designates that door and its frame as such. These plates are usually found on the inner edge of both the door and the frame, in between the door’s hinges. This plate will also determine the level of fire-rated device you require. i.e. 45 min., 1 hour, 2 hours, etc.
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