Dec. 16, 2024
Updating your doorways hardware should always be an item on your building maintenance checklist. After years of repeated use, the mechanisms are bound to need replacing at one point or another. If youve found yourself in this situation, consider adding exit devices to your entries if you havent already. Modern hardware adds several safety and compliance benefits to your business but not all are best suited for every type of door. Here are some things to consider before committing to an exit device.
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The materials your existing doors are made of will also play a part when selecting your exit devices. Wood, hollow metal and aluminum are usually compatible with all types of exit devices. If you have an aluminum glass door with a narrow stile youll need to consult a locksmith to be sure youve chosen the right variety of exit device.
The type of door you have will dictate theyou choose. Exit devices can be fitted to single or double door openings. If you have a double door, youre able to fit a mullion (a vertical bar separating the doorway down the center between the two doors) to provide latching points for each door. Decide if you mind having the doorway cut in half by this bar. If you want a completely unobstructed doorway when both doors are opened, youre able to secure both doors without a mullion by using a vertical rod exit device paired with a mortise exit device.
DO YOU NEED FIRE RATED DEVICES?
Exit devices are separated into two categories: fire rated and non-fire rated. If youre looking for a more cost-effective option, the non-fire rated devices are a good fit. Keep in mind you can only have a fire rated exit device installed if you have a fire rated door. These particular exit devices are manufactured to suit the requirements of fire rated entries. Also, if youre planning to have electrified dogging you must wire everything through your buildings alarm system that would release the dogging in case of a fire.
Fire rated exit devices are much more secure and provide an added level of protection in case of an emergency. But, if you dont already have fire rated doors and are not planning to replace existing doors, the non-fire rated devices will get the job done nicely.
WILL OPERATIONAL NOISE BE AN ISSUE?
If your facility requires a certain level of noise control, you wont want to purchase a motor operated exit device. Places like dorms, hospitals, doctors offices and educational facilities may find that a motorized mechanism would be too distracting.
WHERE IS THE DOOR LOCATED?
If you are outfitting a doorway that opens to the exterior of the building be sure to purchase an exit device that is weather proof. In cases of extreme weather, mechanisms within an exit device may malfunction. Owning a business in the Chicago land area, this should be the top priority when making your decision.
There are many variables to consider before purchasing your exit devices and a professional technician should always be consulted to ensure youre making the right choices from the start.
I do not include the canopy when measuring the egress distance. The exterior door is considered to be the exit in most cases.
As a caveat, I would say that if the exterior exit door is recessed within an alcove, I'd treat it similar to an egress court per .4.
.3 Measurement
Exit access travel distance
shall be measured from the most remote point
within a story along the natural and unobstructed path of horizontal and vertical egress travel
to the entrance to an exit.
Exception: In open parking garages, exit access travel distance is permitted to be measured to the closest riser of an exit access stairway or the closest slope of an exit access ramp.
.3.1 Exit Access Stairways and Ramps
Travel distance on exit access stairways or ramps shall be included in the exit access travel distance measurement. The measurement along stairways shall be made on a plane parallel and tangent to the stair tread nosings in the center of the stair and landings. The measurement along ramps shall be made on the walking surface in the center of the ramp and landings.
EXIT. That portion of a means of egress system between the exit access and the exit discharge or public way.
If you are looking for more details, kindly visit the surface outside an exit door must be.
Exit components include exterior exit doors at the level of exit discharge
,
interior exit stairways
and
ramps
,
exit passageways
,
exterior exit stairways
and
ramps
and
horizontal exits
.
If an alcove or a court....
.3 Exit Discharge Components
Exit discharge components
shall be sufficiently open to the exterior so as to minimize the accumulation of smoke and toxic gases
.
.4 Egress Courts
Egress courts serving as a portion of the exit discharge in the means of egress system shall comply with the requirements of Sections .4.1 and .4.2.
.4.1 Width or Capacity
The required capacity of egress courts shall be determined as specified in Section .1, but the
minimum width shall be not less than 44 inches
(1,118 mm), except as specified herein. Egress courts serving Group R-3 and U occupancies shall be not less than 36 inches (914 mm) in width. The required capacity and width of egress courts shall be unobstructed to a height of 7 feet (2,134 mm).
Exception: Encroachments complying with Section .7.
.4.2 Construction and Openings
Where an
egress court serving a building or portion thereof is less than 10 feet ( mm) in width
, the
egress court
walls shall have not less than 1-hour fire-resistance-rated construction for a distance of 10 feet ( mm) above the floor of the egress court.
Openings within such walls shall be protected by opening protectives having a fire protection rating of not less than 3/4 hour.
Exceptions:
Egress courts serving an occupant load of less than 10.
Egress courts serving Group R-3.
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