Hardware consisting of bars that extend to at least half of the width of the door leaf.
Exit door panic hardware requirements.
The use of panic hardware and or fire exit hardware is required by the international building code ibc and nfpa 101 the life safety code depending on which code and which edition of the code is being referenced.
The bar unlatches the door s latching mechanism on both ends allowing the door to swing freely in the direction of egress.
Panic hardware cannot be used on a fire door because of the danger of trapping people inside during a fire.
Sometimes panic hardware is called fire exit hardware or they may be referred to as egress doors.
The ibc 2006 and 2009 editions requires panic hardware and or fire exit hardware on egress doors with an occupant load of 50 people or more in the following.
Panic hardware also known as an exit device or fire exit hardware when used on fire doors is designed to provide fast and easy egress to allow building occupants to exit safely in an emergency.
This is the simplest configuration of panic hardware and the easiest to maintain.
For example this should not be less than 30 inches and not more than 44 inches above the floor.
Code publications define panic hardware as a door latching assembly incorporating a device that releases the latch upon the application of a force.
Such device must be a minimum of one half the width of the door in length.
Panic hardware is an exit device that has been tested to ul 305 requirements and allows simple egress by use of a crash bar push bar etc.
An applied force of 15 pounds should be enough to release the latch.
Understanding code requirements for panic hardware.
Basically if a door doesn t have a lock with a push pull or a latch the door is not legally required to need panic hardware.
Locked exit doors shall operate as above in the.
When panic hardware is used on fire doors it must be fire exit hardware that has been tested per ul 10c positive pressure fire tests of door assemblies or another fire test standard and the.
Door latching assembly incorporating a device which releases the latch upon application of a force in the direction of exit travel.
Above all equip doors with panic hardware and fire exit hardware.