BS EN 179 - Emergency exit devices
This standard covers devices to be used in emergency situations where people are familiar with the emergency exit and its hardware and therefore a panic situation is most unlikely to develop. Devices operated by a lever handle or push pad may therefore be used.
BS EN 1125 - Panic exit devices
Experience relating to escape from buildings and general safety have made it desirable that doors at final exits in public buildings, places of entertainment, shops, etc should be fitted with panic devices operated by a horizontal bar.
CE Marking
These standards are regarded as “harmonised” standards and compliance with them, supported by suitable evidence, allows for the application of the CE mark.
BS EN 1125 and BS EN 179 classify panic and emergency exit devices by using a 10 digit coding system.
Only one category is identified, that being
- grade 3: high frequency of use by public and others with little incentive to exercise care.
Two categories of durability are defined:
- grade 6: 100 000 cycles
- grade 7: 200 000 cycles
Three categories of test door mass are identified:
- grade 5: up to 100 kg
- grade 6: up to 200 kg
- grade 7: over 200 kg
Three categories of fire door resistance are identified:
- grade 0: Not approved for use on fire/smoke door assemblies
- grade A: Suitable for use on smoke door assemblies, subject to satisfactory assessment of the contribution of the panic/emergency device to the smoke resistance of specified smoke door assemblies - grade B: Suitable for use on fire/smoke door assemblies, subject to satisfactory assessment of the contribution of the panic/emergency device to the fire resistance of specified fire/smoke door assemblies
Such assessments are outside the scope of this European standard (see EN 1634-1)
All panic and emergency devices have a critical safety function therefore only the top grade - 1 - is identified
Two grades of corrosion resistance are identified according to EN 1670:
- grade 3: high resistance (96 salt spray hours)
- grade 4: very high resistance (240 salt spray hours)
roducts covered by BS EN 179 have 4 identified categories and generally have the opportunity of greater security against forced opening than devices covered by BS EN 1125.
BS EN 179
- grade 2: 1 000 N
- grade 3: 2 000 N - grade 4: 3 000 N - grade 5: 5 000 N
BS EN 1125
Only one category of security is identified:
- grade 2: 1000 N panic devices are primarily for the operation of a door from the inside. Safety considerations will always be given priority over security.
Two grades are identified relating to the projection of the device from the door face:
- grade 1: projection up to 150 mm (large projection)
- grade 2: projection up to 100 mm (standard projection)
Two categories are identified for each standard:
BS EN 179
- type A: emergency device with lever handle operation - type B: emergency device with push or pull pad operation
BS EN 1125
- type A: panic device with push bar operation - type B: panic device with touch bar operation
EN179
A: Outward opening
B: Outward opening C: Outward opening
D: Inward opening
EN1125
A: Outward opening
B: Outward opening C: Outward opening
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