Here are some of the questions people ask about fire exits.
Fire exits are vital in preserving people’s safety whenever fires break out. Since they are so critical in the realm of fire safety, questions are bound to pop up about them. Knowing as much about fire exits as possible will help you make sure they are ready for use if there were an emergency to arise. Here are some of the questions people ask about fire exits.
“Can Any Door Leading Outside Be Considered a Fire Exit?”
You can’t just use whatever door you want as a fire exit. For example, you aren’t allowed to use revolving doors or sliding doors as fire exits. The doors you use must allow people to leave the area in a quick, safe, and effective manner. Oftentimes, the doors designated as fire exits will be the same doors staff or guests use to enter the building, but more fire exits should be around the building as well so that people can be close to an exit no matter where they are in the building.
“Is It Okay to Leave Final Fire Exit Doors Open?”
If you want to leave final fire exit doors open, you can do that, although it could affect your building’s security levels. There is one fringe case in which you can’t leave the door open, and that’s only whenever that door is also a fire-resistant one. This situation rarely comes up.
A problem that comes up with fire exit doors staying open is that people get confused with internal fire doors, which are only supposed to be kept open by a fire door retainer, and also be fitted with a door closer.
“Do Fire Exits Need to Be Unlocked While the Building Is Being Used?”
If your building is currently being used, you can’t lock your fire exits. With an unoccupied building, on the other hand, locking these exits is fine because you’re not preventing people from escaping the area.
If you have to have high-quality security features in place, like padlocks or chains, they should be taken down once the first person going into the building arrives. You could face serious charges if you don’t unlock all of these security features when necessary.
KEEP YOURSELF SAFE WITH ANDERSON FIRE PROTECTION, INC.
Anderson Fire Protection, Inc. has the expertise and skill to help your home or commercial property for all your fire protection needs. We have been working in the Maryland, Northern Virginia, Southern Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C. areas for over 25 years. We are known for our top-notch customer service and high-quality results. If you are ready for fantastic fire prevention and protection services, from fire sprinkler installation to fire alarm design and to consult, give us a call at (410) 796-4915 or visit us online.