How Egress Doors Keep Homes and Businesses Safe in Emergencies?

Egress Doors is any door to a street or an outdoor space (garden, patio, etc) that will provide access in an emergency. These doors are in homes and offices and are essential for the security of everyone present. It’s not just a door. It’s a term used to identify the means of egress in a home or building. This door or doors allow occupants to leave safely in case of a fire, floods, or other emergencies. Whether your home or business, it’s not just a good idea to set up the right Egress Doors, but it is also required by law. This includes both residential and commercial egress door requirements.

What is an Egress Doors? 

Egress door is any door to a street or an outdoor space (garden, patio, etc) that will provide access in the event of an emergency. These doors are in homes and offices, and are important for the security of everyone present.

Safety First

An access door is mostly there to let you into the loft, but the egress door is primarily there to ensure you can exit the building in an emergency. That means no added locks, bolts, or anything else that could restrict access or slow evacuation.

Quick and Easy to Use

Egress doors are designed to open outwards, even in case of power failure or chaos. They usually open outwards and have simple locks that could hinder evacuation.

Compliance with Building Codes

Egress doors must comply with local and international building codes, which define the characteristics of doors that function as exits in safety and efficiency. Some of these characteristics include the width and height of exit doors and the number of exits required in different types of buildings.

Residential Egress Door Requirements

Some homes have egress doors, which are meant to protect the family. These are usually found in basements, bedrooms, and other living spaces and ensure that there is always an exit in case something goes wrong.

Minimum Size and Height

A Residential egress door has to be at least 32 inches across and 78 inches in height but not under 6.5 square feet to be able to be used in case of an emergency.

The door must be broad enough to fit every size of a human.

Basement Egress Doors

If it has a finished basement (as we do), it should have an egress door (a separate exterior door) that opens directly to the outside. In our case, that door serves as an alternative exit should the main doors all be blocked by smoke.

Connection to Stairwells

In many homes, egress doors open onto stairways that run to outdoor exits. This means that, in an emergency, there is a safe escape route even from the upper floors.

Commercial Egress Door Requirements

In commercial buildings, however, the standards are even more stringent because of the number of people inside. These doors are required by law, in addition to being a safety issue.

Multiple Exit Points

More than one egress door is required in commercial buildings, especially when the building is significant. This allows faster access for people leaving and avoids bottlenecks.

Panic Bars for Easy Exit

In commercial settings, for instance, panic bars on egress doors allow people to exit by pushing on the bar in case of an emergency. Every second could be a lifesaver. 

Emergency Lighting

Exit doors in commercial buildings must have appropriate lighting installed to be visible at all times, even during power outages. Emergency lights often lead people to the closest exit.

How Are Emergency Exit Doors Equipped?

A number of features of emergency exit doors can be outlined as essential tools in commercial and public buildings to avoid danger.

Automatic Unlocking Systems

For example, in case of a fire alarm, these doors unlock automatically, so people do not have to wait for the locker to open and can escape more quickly.

Clear Signage

Emergency exit doors with illuminated signs state: ‘In case of fire, pull this handle.’ Such signs are placed in significant, crowded buildings to help people in emergencies.

Fire-Resistant Materials

Most emergency exit doors are made of fire-resistant materials, so they are not destroyed by fire and can be opened when people need them.

Bay Doors in Commercial Spaces

A bay door is an exterior door typically found in a warehouse or other industrial setting. It is used as a loading door and, in some cases, as an egress door.

Large Exit Points

Bay doors are wider than egress doors to accommodate more evacuees at a time. In some cases, several hundred workers could be evacuated at once, which is an important consideration.

Durable Construction

Bays are made of rigid materials such as steel to withstand such conditions, but they must be opened quickly in an emergency.

Dual Purpose

Although bay doors are primarily designed to facilitate the movement of goods, they also need to function as emergency exits, and this dual functionality plays a crucial role in industrial settings.

Egress Door Code Requirements

Every building, whether residential or commercial, must provide egress doors that comply with certain code requirements. These codes ensure the doors’ safety.

Width and Clearance

These codes stipulate that an egress door should be a certain width, commonly at least 32 inches so that people can pass each other without crowding. There must also be sufficient clearance around the door for people to exit quickly.

Door Swing Direction

However, in most cases, egress doors must swing outward to prevent people from becoming trapped while trying to get out of a building – a vital part of the safety code.

Locks and Latches

All locks must open from the inside without keys or any special knowledge so that no one is trapped inside in case of an evacuation. 

Basement Egress Door Considerations

A basement is often a last-stand zone in an emergency, so having a proper egress door is vital and usually required. Egress doors provide an alternative escape path should the primary entries be blocked.

Direct Access to the Outside

An egress door in a basement should lead directly outside rather than through other rooms. That way, if a fire breaks out or some other emergency occurs, there is a quick exit.

Window Wells for Below-Grade Doors

If the basement is below ground level, the egress door must have a window well that provides access to the outside without any obstructions.

Escape Ladders

Some basement egress doors have an escape ladder attached if the door is located below grade to facilitate egress to a lower elevation.

FAQs

What makes an egress door different from regular doors?

An egress door is a special type of door equipped with safety features and other emergency requirements so that people can quickly and safely exit.

Do all basements need egress doors?

Yes, it would need an egress door if the basement is finished and used as living space.

Are egress doors mandatory for commercial buildings?

Ofgress doors in commercial buildings are also regulated by the number of exits, door size, accessibility, etc.

What is a panic bar on an egress door?

A panic bar is a horizontal bar you must push to open a door quickly. It is a typical security feature in commercial buildings to help people exit the premises promptly, as people may enter or leave a building in large numbers.

Can a bay door be used as an egress door?

Yes, they can be egress doors if they meet the safety requirements, and exit past a bay door is safe.

Conclusion

Egress doors are not just exits. They are people-saving devices that keep occupants safe in case of an emergency. From the basement of a home to ample commercial space, adhering to the egress door code is essential to saving everyone’s lives. Whether installing one in the basement or ensuring commercial space is up to code, your egress doors should always comply to keep you and your loved ones safe.