Hardware, panic

The Army MILVAN has double cargo doors in one end which are secured with camlock hardware. The locking mechanism was altered to provide a panic bar (Figure 6) to permit rapid evacuation should it become necessary. A pedestrian door with panic hardware was installed in the side of the shop permitting an unobstructed escape route from the opposite end of the operating area. 

Figure 6. Interior view of rear exit door showing panic hardware. Pitch-in-barricade for disposing of suspect grenades is shown to right of exit door.

Provision of panic-type hardware on doors at locations requiring rapid evacuation under emergency conditions, such as from a flammable liquid storage room. 

It must be possible to open a door coming from the normal direction of egress without using a key. Draw bolts, hooks, bars, or similar devices cannot be used. An essential element of a door is that it cannot be too difficult to open. The opening force for most interior doors must not exceed a force of 5 pounds. To open a door that is normally power assisted must not require more than 50 pounds with the power off. Panic hardware must require no more than 15 pounds force to release, and a door not normally provided with power assistance cannot require more than 30 pounds force to initiate motion and swing to a full-open position with apphcation of a 15-pound force. These restrictions on the force required to operate a door can easily be exceeded should the ventilation system be modified without taking this concern into account. A very moderate atmospheric pressure differential of just over 0.3 inches (water gauge) would result in a force of more than 30 pounds force on a door of the minimum acceptable size. Addition of hoods to a laboratory, without provision of additional makeup air, could easily cause this limit to be exceeded on a more representative 3 foot by 7 foot door. 

Where panic hardware is installed on a required exit door, will it allow the door to open by applying... 

Does the panic hardware work properly, and do all doors swing in the direction of egress ... 

Lack of chains and locks on emergency exit doors and the presence of panic hardware... 

Where panic hardware is installed on a required exit door, will it allow the door to open by applying a force of 15 pounds (6.75 kg) or less in the direction of the exit traffic ... 

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