Exit Devices
Every building or commercial property is equipped with emergency exit doors. These types of doors ensure that people inside the building or property will have an easy and fast means of escape in case there is a fire or other type of disaster that will require fast evacuation. Because these doors play an important role, they are also inspected and fire-rated accordingly before going on the market. The fire rating will point to how safe the door is by holding the fire and prevent it from spreading in order to give the people enough time to escape through it. Most fire/emergency exit doors are being used as a point of exit outside the building or property and are often equipped with an alarm system. However, there are other types of fire doors that are used within the property.
The fire type doors that are normally being used indoors will function just like any other door on a daily basis. Most if not all will not be equipped with an alarm system or its been disabled because of the daily use and the door’s purpose. If an emergency occur, these types of interior fire doors will be set up to automatically close to protect from any danger that cause the emergency such as fire for example. While being closed automatically, these doors will not lock as this will put the people in the building at risk and defeat the purpose of the door. In order to use a fire door in a commercial property, it must meet all fire codes and regulations set by the state or federal government.
All types of emergency exit doors will have a sticker on it that provides information about the amount of time the actual door was rated for to contain fire and the name of the organization that did the inspection and passed it. All emergency doors require by law to have a special closing device also known as exit device, push-bar, panic-bar, or panic-rim. If not properly equipped with one of those devices, the door may put all people in the commercial property at risk in case of an emergency. An exit device work in a way to allow fast access in case of an emergency. If the mechanism of the exit device will not work properly, it may present a risk as well. That is why it is important to leave it for the professionals such as locksmith companies to service and install these types of lock systems.
For more information about exit devices for commercial properties, contact Premier NorthWest Locksmith Portland (503) 438-4227