Hi All
I think i know the answer to this, but wanted to check (it is Friday after all!)
We have a small laboratory (mostly aqueous stuff, very limited quantities of flammables) usually occupied by around 3 or 4 people. There are two fire exits from the lab. One, back to the main corridor and out to the main door. The second is a final exit from the lab to the outside.
This second door is a 'normal' door, i.e. normal handle - Am I correct in thinking that this is OK, rather than the need for a push bar? The area is only used by our staff and we have 'trained' them how to turn the handle to open the door.
The main issue is that the door opens inwards. Can we apply the same logic to our risk assessment - it is a secondary exit, only used by our, very small number of staff, and they have been trained how to open it correctly to get out.
- We can also document the adequacy of this procedure with successful fire drills.
Is this acceptable, or should we turn the door around to open out???
Thanks
Mick
Final Exit Door Direction
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Re: Final Exit Door Direction
Doors should open in the direction of travel, but must do so in certain circumstances:
Where a crush could occur - so where 60 or more persons may need to use it, or perhaps less if likely to arrive at the door simultaneously or drunk!
Where people need to get through the door in a hurry. This could be an escape from a warehouse containing material where a fire may develop rapidly, or a commercial kitchen where deep fat frying takes place, or a laboratory with flammable liquids.
It is all about risk assessment. In this case, if the quantities of flammable material is low, with 3 or 4 staff (no public)- it may be that you can justify leaving the door as it is.
A large and brightly coloured 'PULL' sign on the door, instruction during staff & contractor induction and maybe blocking the main door during a fire drill may well be mitigating control measures where a low occupancy/risk situation applies, but only you can determine that. Make sure you record any justification in your fire risk assessment document
Where a crush could occur - so where 60 or more persons may need to use it, or perhaps less if likely to arrive at the door simultaneously or drunk!
Where people need to get through the door in a hurry. This could be an escape from a warehouse containing material where a fire may develop rapidly, or a commercial kitchen where deep fat frying takes place, or a laboratory with flammable liquids.
It is all about risk assessment. In this case, if the quantities of flammable material is low, with 3 or 4 staff (no public)- it may be that you can justify leaving the door as it is.
A large and brightly coloured 'PULL' sign on the door, instruction during staff & contractor induction and maybe blocking the main door during a fire drill may well be mitigating control measures where a low occupancy/risk situation applies, but only you can determine that. Make sure you record any justification in your fire risk assessment document
