Don’t Panic! Strand Hardware Makes Emergency Exit Specification Simple

There’s no need to panic when it comes to specifying emergency exit hardware. Although there are many products on the market, it’s important to put ‘safety first’ – prioritising functionality, quality and performance in your decision making.

CE marked products for fire and escape doors are a must for architects and specifiers. Best practice determines that products comply with Construction Product Regulations. Strand Hardware’s Antipanic Emergency Exit and Panic range has been rigorously tested and successfully meet these exacting requirements.

In an emergency or panic situation, Strand Antipanic devices are designed to release exit doors by means of a push bar, touch bar or a push pad on outward opening single or double doors.

For day-to-day use, doors can be opened from the outside with an outside access device. When an emergency door can be locked or opened from the outside, it should still be freely released from inside – maintaining security without compromising its basic panic function.

In identifying suitable solutions, there are a number of key considerations that will ultimately define your shopping list:

1. Product range

Strand Hardware offers PH (modular push bar/push pad range), PHT (touch bar range), PHTM (motorised touch bar range) options. Selection criteria is provided by the EN standards EN1125 and EN179 and should reflect occupancy levels. Other matters to be considered include creating clear opening requirements, how the door is intended to be used, whether it is fire resisting, the operating environment etc. Aesthetics and budget will also have a place, but these are secondary to the life safety aspect.

2. Door/frame material and design

Different strikes are used to suit various door materials and construction. For PVCU doors and frames, a range of profile related strikes are available for which the system manufacturer and profile model is needed. Glass doors require patch fittings to suit the escape device and door construction. Whether the doors are fire-resisting and how the door is hung will also have a bearing.

3. Locking latch arrangement and number

Single and three point locking latches are available across all the ranges with the ability to convert on site from three point to two point in the most cases. Factors to be considered include whether the door is single or double, construction, material and size. For double doors requiring escape through both leaves, it is critical that whichever door leaf is operated it must open and whether the doors are rebated through the lock stile section/overlapping plates, or are plain edged.

4. Outside access

External access can be provided by a mechanical outside access device, using a key, push button digital combination and in most cases either a lever handle or knob. Again, thought needs to be given to how the door is to be used. Most electronic access control can be accommodated by use of an internal motorised touch bar.

5. Size of door

Door widths and heights should be checked before ordering as many wider and taller doors can be catered for from stock by use of wider crossbars, wider model touch bars and extra long rod kits.

6. Finish

Powder coated white and black finishes are available from stock along with the standard silver grey, which have the option of a green cross bar. A decorative plated satin stainless steel finish and simulated polished brass are available for many ranges. Where a high degree of corrosion resistance is necessary the DFine grade 316 stainless steel is available. Many other finishes can be provided to special order.

For more information on Strand Hardware’s emergency exit and panic hardware range visit:

www.strandhardware.co.uk or contact: info@strandhardware.co.uk or call: 01922 639111.