Emergency Door Opening Direction

The design of the room typically determines the left or right swing designation for doors.

Emergency door opening direction.

Fire exit doors should open in the direction of escape. 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. This could mean either side hinged or pivot swinging doors. The important thing is that the exit doors are clearly signed.

A it s desirable that doors on routes that double up as escape routes in the event of an emergency open in the direction of escape if likely to accomodate less than 60 people whilst doors that are on routes used solely as a means of escape must open in the direction of escape no matter what or b all doors on routes that are used as escape. If it bumps or blocks passage because of a wall barrier or other object when you open it such as a toilet or cabinet the door should swing in the opposite direction. Doors must swing in the direction of exit when. Official guidance to the rro from the communities and local government department recommends that that all doors on escape routes should open in the direction of escape but states that this is particularly important if more than 60 people use them or they provide an exit from a high fire risk area.

The need for outward opening fire exit doors. Nfpa emergency exit door requirements and all other codes standards and requirements are always met. Each fire door including its frame and hardware must be listed or approved by a nationally recognized testing laboratory. The more people use a building the greater the number of fire exits.