Paul Williams, Commercial Director at steel door manufacturer Robust UK, looks at the factors to consider when choosing doors for security-rated fire exits and escape routes.
“With around 76% of burglars gaining access through doors, fire exits can represent a potential security vulnerability as they are primarily designed for a quick escape, rather than providing resistance to forced entry. To mitigate this risk, it is important to ensure that fire escape doors are equipped with security-rated hardware and that doorsets are chosen that enhance safety, while preventing unauthorised access. Careful consideration is essential when choosing fire exit doors for apartments, schools and commercial buildings, ensuring they can withstand both emergency use and potential security threats.
Key considerations when selecting fire escape doors
The role of fire exits is to ensure occupants can escape quickly and easily in the event of a fire.
Steel has become the preferred material for fire exit doors due to its exceptional strength, durability and resilience. Steel fire doors maintain their structural integrity under extreme heat and offer superior impact resistance. Our fire-rated steel fire exit solutions, INNA-DOR and OUTA-DOR, provide up to four hours of fire resistance, tested and certified in line with EN 1634-1. These doorsets undergo additional performance testing to ensure they maintain their structural integrity under fire conditions.
Accessibility and security
Ease of operation is essential in an emergency. Fire exit doors must open easily from the inside, typically via panic bars or push-release mechanisms, to allow safe evacuation. However, this functionality must be paired with strong security to prevent unauthorised entry.
Effective door security involves more than just high-quality locks. The complete doorset, including the door leaf, frame, hardware and access control integration, must be considered as one system. In the UK, the minimum standard for security doors is PAS 24 or LPS 1175 SR1. For glazed doors, the glass must comply with EN 356 burglary resistance standards. Type-approved solutions often feature multipoint locking (MPL) systems and other advanced components that enhance overall door performance.
Investing in secure fire exits is not just an operational necessity; it’s a strategic investment in overall building protection. The cost of implementing robust security measures is far outweighed by the potential losses from break-ins, liability claims or reputational damage.
Today’s fire escape doors are more than just an escape route, providing security, durability and modern design.”
For more information on security fire exits or any steel door, visit: www.robust-uk.com, email sales@robust-uk.com or call 01782 592900.
