Steve Gilmour – the face of The York Locksmith Company – explains how to choose the correct locks for fire exits so property owners and construction firms can stay compliant.
As cultural signifiers, doors crop up throughout pop culture: the Narnia wardrobe, Monsters Inc, 221B Baker Street, hobbit holes, the list goes on. But in the real world, they’re scarcely given a second thought by the average layperson. Of all doors that should command more attention, fire exits and their locks ought to come at the top of the list.
Providing swift egress in the event of an emergency without compromising day-to-day security, they’re one of the overlooked heroes in construction and property management.
If you’re a project or property manager, landlord, business owner with an office, or simply a savvy flat owner, this guide is for you. In it, I’ll walk you through fire exit locks; how they differ from bog-standard door locks, installing them compliantly and picking out the right hardware for the property in question.
Fire Exit Locks, Not Like Other Locks
It might seem obvious – but it’s something that many of my clients have overlooked – fire exit locks are subject to a whole cocktail of specific regulations, which extend beyond the usual considerations (for example, hitting the BS 3621 standard to meet contents insurance requirements).
Standard door locks simply have to be secure; in other words, they lock smoothly and resist all the usual tampering, such as picking, bumping, snapping and other forced entry methods. However, fire exits also need to be accessible and easy to open during a fire as per UK building codes and fire regulations.
Yes, fire doors are often the thing standing between you and danger when flames or smoke wreak havoc throughout a building – it’s all about maintaining rapid, unhindered escape routes for all residents or occupants. As such, pains should be taken to keep these exit points well-maintained. This critical upkeep mitigates fire hazards and keeps the ‘responsible person’ in the equation clear of legal proceedings and penalties.
What the Law Has to Say About Fire Exits
No matter the architectural blueprints or rental setup – from a shared office block to a townhouse HMO – building professionals and/or proprietors bear a professional, moreover legal responsibility to uphold public health and safety.
Under British fire safety regulations, fire exits must meet a set of exacting requirements to negate risk:
- Their locking mechanisms must allow for easy, immediate opening, meaning that they can’t be locked internally with a key;
- In public spaces or areas in which 60+ people gather, they must be fitted with push-bars or push-pads;
- Routes to and from emergency exits must be kept clear at all times;
- Exits should lead as directly as possible to a place of safety;
- Emergency doors must open in the direction of escape;
- And require clear signage (the classic green man) and emergency lighting as a rule.
Evidently, from the list above, these are easily actionable, provided you plan accordingly and fit the right hardware from the onset.
Types of Fire Exit Locks
So, I’ve established that fire exit locks have a few strings attached to them, unlike regular doors, but which specific mechanisms are compatible with the regs?
First, though, allow me to draw your attention to the golden rule: these locks must conform to the BS EN 179 or BS EN 1125 standards.
Whilst both ensure that the hardware has been manufactured and tested according to strict health and safety standards, the former applies to lever handles or push pads in smaller, private settings. The latter, in contrast, is relegated to larger push bars installed in areas frequented by the general public and where panic situations could develop.
Now, back to locking mechanisms; there are generally 5 recommended fittings up to this critical job:
- Panic bars (panic latches and panic bolts) – The most recognisable and most suitable option for public buildings like schools, hospitals, event venues and so on. They function around an internal latch or bolt, which is released when a user presses down the horizontal bar attached to the inside face of the door.
- Escape mortise deadlock – A type of 5-lever mortise lock allowing keyless egress via a simple knob operation, the mechanism is installed along the edge of the door and relies on an internal bolt to hold fast. You’ll see them on timber doors in private settings.
- Mortise night latch – Similarly installed into a recess cut into the door’s edge; however, it automatically locks when shut. A key is required for external access, while those inside can open the door with an internal lever or thumbturn. Suitable only when they are not fitted with a deadlocking mechanism, which can lock the door from the outside.
- Break-glass locks – Coming in several forms, they typically consist of a glass bolt that must be broken in order to release the lock. Do note that these are only suitable for lower-risk, private settings.
- Magnetic or motor actuated locks – Some fire exits are fitted with automatic locking systems that engage upon the door closing, common options being smart or cylinder locks. Here, they should comply with BS 7273- 4, and are only suitable for fire exits that fail safe during power cuts, unlock along with the operation of a fire alarm, and have a manual control switch nearby.
How to Assess Your Property’s Requirements & Pick the Right Fire Exit Door Locks
While fire exits are made equal, not all properties are. Indeed, every building will bring a unique set of factors into the fire risk assessment. Therefore, you can expect lock requirements to vary between exits and settings.
When specifying which hardware – locks, handles and levers – to install, ask yourself these clarifying questions.
- Is your lock of choice compatible with the fire door in question? Not all locking mechanisms will match your fire exit’s design or material, so check against the hardware specs.
- Do the components all meet legally approved standards and building regulations? They should bear the BSI kitemark, CE/UKCA symbol, and be certified by a professional fire safety body such as Certifire or the IFC.
- What about fire ratings? Your locking system ought to be able to withstand high temperatures and maintain its integrity in a real fire emergency.
- Have you considered the building’s security risk? Sometimes targeted by intruders as a quick and subtle mode of entry, fire exits incite burglary risk, and especially in commercial settings or crime hotspots.
- Does the ease of escape match the occupancy context? For example, in an emergency, a bustling food hall can become rife with pinch points and panic, making a panic bar preferable over a smaller push pad. Conversely, a small 4-person HMO can function more safely using a mortice night latch.
- How accessible is the lock operation? In an assisted living residency, large, simple push bars or an automatic locking system are more appropriate than fiddly break-glass locks.
Parting Considerations
I regularly service both domestic and commercial properties across North Yorkshire; you’d be surprised at how many property and business owners are unaware of the regulations I’ve discussed thus far. To stay compliant and achieve an unshakeable peace of mind, consider these extra tips I tend to share with them.
- Never skimp on maintenance – Putting off your duty of care only leads to liability piling up, along with wear and tear. Enshrine regular inspections of the fire exit door locks in your fire safety plan, and don’t forget to give the hardware some TLC with an appropriate silicon-based lubricant.
- Add an extra layer of security with tamper seals or security alarms – Both serve as deterrents to unauthorised access and prevent the doors from being used in non-emergency situations.
- Don’t overcomplicate the locking system – Whilst it might be tempting to pile on the locks for security purposes, if they hamper escape routes, you may inadvertently slow down evacuations.
- Always keep the emergency exit route clear – There are zero, I repeat zero, valid reasons to block or restrict access to escape routes, and doing so is a serious fire safety infringement and hazard.
- Consider getting your fire exit locks keyed alike – Staff may need to access fire doors externally, perhaps when conducting fire risk assessments; to drastically reduce key clutter and save time, why not get several doors keyed alike?
Conclusion: Compliance Above Convenience, Every Time
It’s very easy for those responsible for a premise to leave fire exit locks untouched and unmaintained. Nonetheless, they’re the keystone to effective fire safety management. Ensure your property is compliant by heeding the advice in this guide. However time-consuming the checks, safety outweighs convenience every time.
