Whether office buildings, production halls, concert halls or educational institutions - escape doors are of crucial importance in all premises. They are not just simple passageways, but can be the difference between life and death in the event of danger.
The following blog article explains the key aspects of escape doors: from their basic function to technical requirements.
What is an escape door?
Escape doors are life-saving safety elements in buildings that are far more than just ordinary exits. They play a crucial role in protecting human life in dangerous situations and are subject to strict technical and legal requirements.
According to the applicable regulations, all doors in escape and rescue routes must be designed as escape doors. This means that they must not only be labeled, but also have special escape door locks.
Their primary task is to enable people to leave the building quickly and safely in the event of danger.
How wide must an escape door be?
The width of an escape door is crucial for a quick and safe evacuation. The occupational safety guideline ASR A2.3 defines precise specifications for the minimum clear width of the main escape routes. This is based on the number of people who need to use the route in the event of danger.
The required clear width varies from at least 0.80 meters for just five people to 2.25 meters for up to 400 people. The term “minimum clear width” is important here: It describes the passage width that is completely clear, unobstructed and not restricted by obstacles. When planning escape doors, planners must take two key factors into account: the size of the assembly area and the maximum number of people.
The opening direction of escape doors is crucial for safety. In panic situations, an escape door must open in the direction of escape so that people do not have to fight against the door resistance or are pushed against the door.
Which door locks are used for escape doors?
Different locking solutions for escape doors are used depending on the use and the number of people in the building.
Panic exit devices are essential in buildings with a high volume of people, such as cinemas, concert halls or meeting rooms. These security systems are specially developed for situations in which people need to escape quickly under stress and panic. They enable immediate opening without technical aids or keys - a crucial feature in moments of danger.
Emergency exit devices are sufficient for smaller rooms with a lower number of people. These locking systems must also guarantee intuitive and fast opening in order to ensure rapid evacuation in an emergency.
In all security considerations, safety against danger has priority. Burglar resistance must never restrict the possibility of escape. Locking exceptions can only be considered outside operating hours and when buildings are demonstrably empty.