Fire Exit Doors Regulations
Keep exit route doors free of decorations or signs that obscure the visibility of exit route doors.
Fire exit doors regulations. This is accomplished through the use of a closer or spring hinge and a fire rated lockset or exit device. Also the line of sight to an exit sign must be clearly visible at all times. Employers need to ensure that emergency exits in buildings comply with the requirements in the building code of australia part d1 provision for escape. Fire exit doors are the final door on an emergency exit route that must lead to a place of safety.
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. 1910 37 b 4 if the direction of travel to the exit or exit discharge is not immediately apparent signs must be posted along the exit access indicating the direction of travel to the nearest exit and exit discharge. If there is a fire in the area where occupants are they are already being exposed to smoke fire and heat. 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.
All fire doors have an additional safety feature they must be self closing and self latching. There is an approved document guidance available from the builders hardware industry federation bhif hardware for fire and escape doors. Path of travel door. Osha has begun focusing more attention on emergency exit route compliance in recent years as seen in a memo to the agency s personnel.
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. A steel fire resistant door frame is also used. 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. In theory that may be true but technically speaking exit routes must have specific features and meet detailed osha requirements. This access to exit requirements seeks to minimize occupants exposure to these and other hazards. An exit route might seem like one of the simplest parts of a workplace.
Issue 4 2012 detailing the requirements for any fixtures and fittings used with fire doors and fire. Just look for the exit sign and head for the door right. 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. Each exit route door must be free of decorations or signs that obscure the visibility of the exit route door.
A path of travel door is a door in the egress pathway leading to or between a fire door or exit door.