Fire Exits in pubs

[Complainer]

Are you sure about this? I though it was permissible under fire regulations to have mag lock doors where the mag lock automatically fails when the fire alarm goes off and where a press to exit in case of fire button is provided adjacent to the door.

Coincidently, the office block I work in, which is only 5-6 years old has this type of mag lock with release button on a lot of the emergency exit routes - not on the fire doors in corridors, but on the actual doors from particular areas of the building. I'm not a fire expert, but I have been involved in some major building projects in recent years - my employer has been expanding - and the mag lock with automatic fail/push button seems to be the standard in a lot of recently constructed buildings and these buildings have been inspected by the fire brigade.

Check out the http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/BuildingStandards/FileDownLoad,1640,en.pdf (Part B Fire Regs) - section 1.4.3.2

 

[csirl]

The exits I'm talking about are not ulitmate exits into the street, and so they (b) rather than (a) exits [possible that the OPs exit is a (b) - may lead into corridor or other area before final exit?]. The question is whether or not you regard a push button to open a mag lock as being as a "simple fastening"?

My personal opinion, not being a fire expert, is that I'd rather press a simple push button than turn a handle or unlock a fastening - a lot quicker and idiot proof. One big advantage of the mag lock is that there is no bolt or whatever you call the thing which goes into the door frame, so there is no possibility of it jaming/getting stuck.

 

[podgerodge]

The exits I'm talking about are not ulitmate exits into the street, and so they (b) rather than (a) exits [possible that the OPs exit is a (b) - may lead into corridor or other area before final exit?]. The question is whether or not you regard a push button to open a mag lock as being as a "simple fastening"?

My personal opinion, not being a fire expert, is that I'd rather press a simple push button than turn a handle or unlock a fastening - a lot quicker and idiot proof. One big advantage of the mag lock is that there is no bolt or whatever you call the thing which goes into the door frame, so there is no possibility of it jaming/getting stuck.

Well the one in the pub that I'm referring to opens onto the street. And there didn't seem to be any button or anything!