Roto solutions for Emergency Exit doors

In an emergency such as a building fire, every second counts. If people can’t open a door quickly and easily, a safe escape can turn into a tragedy.

Doors are usually the last barrier between mortal danger and safety. If a door is marked as an emergency exit, it is very important to fit the correct specification of lock and for the mechanism to be reliable.

With the Roto Safe P locks we provide two very flexible, rigorously-tested models, both of which are fully certified to EN standards and additionally covered by our ten year guarantee. These locks are suitable for most emergency exit door requirements where fire resistance and smoke control are not required.

If you are asked to supply an emergency escape door, then depending on the nature and use of the building, it will have to comply with one of two EN standards. It is important to know the difference and the exact specification because this will affect the choice of door lock and furniture.

Buildings frequently accessed by the public or with risk of panic

For buildings that are frequently accessible to the public, or that allow access to large numbers of people who may panic in an emergency, fire escape doors will almost certainly be required to comply with EN 1125.

This can include:

● Schools
● Hospitals
● Shops
● Public assembly areas
● Hotel corridors and lobbies

In these cases, EN 1125 for panic exit devices requires that the door can be opened immediately via a horizontal push bar. A single person can easily release such a door by pressing on any part of the horizontal bar. Importantly, it also means that a door will burst open if a group of people are pushing against it in a panic or crowd surge scenario.

Buildings with familiar users

This covers non-public buildings and scenarios where users will be familiar with the layout of the building and its escape routes. These can include:

● Office buildings
● Staff-only areas
● Warehouses
● Private parts of commercial buildings

(This can also include hotel guest rooms, although corridors and other parts of the hotel will likely be classified as public access areas or at risk of panic and covered by EN 1125 for panic exit devices)

The important aspect is that these areas are not accessible to the general public. Exit doors for this type of application are normally required to comply with EN 179. This covers doors operated by either:

● Lever Handle – operated by pushing down on the handle
● Push Pad – activated by pressing down on a pad.

In both cases, it must be possible for a person to release the door quickly and easily with a single movement.

A Roto solution for each standard

Within the Roto range we have two distinct door lock options for emergency exit doors:

● Roto Safe P 600 – For doors to comply with EN 179 for emergency escape by familiar users.

● Roto Safe P 650 – For doors to comply with EN 1125 for panic exit devices. Note: Roto can also supply a compatible push bar designed for use with these locks.

In both cases, these locks give you a number of advantages:

Size ranges

The locks are available in backset sizes from 35–80 mm and in faceplate variants F16/20/24 and U6x24. You can use these locks on doors with rebate heights ranging from a minimum of 1900 mm up to a maximum of 2400 mm.

These options provide a lot of flexibility and they are matched by the choice of security features:

Security

Along with a central deadbolt, the locks have additional locking points composed of either individual power wedges or a combination of power wedge and deadbolt at each point.

To meet the EN standards, the locks must be used in conjunction with certified, free-rotating cylinders and handle sets or push bars.

Certifications

Each Roto Safe P door lock product carries a 10-digit classification code along with the CE mark (or UKCA mark) to prove it has passed independent tests to meet all criteria and the level achieved. We recommend that you check the full product documentation to ensure that a lock meets the exact requirements of your project.

Contact us for expert support

Your local Roto representative will help you confirm whether we have a Roto solution for your emergency escape requirement, guide you to the relevant documentation, and provide a fitting demonstration if needed. Get in touch with them today – or fill in the form below and we will get back to you.