Posted By JB
Advise please. Should final exit doors from a retail unit into a common service area be fitted with door closers? Unlike internal fire doors I'm fairly sure that they should not, but where does it state this in the guidance?

Thanks

JB

Posted By JB
These are final exit doors opening from a retail store into an internal (common service) area, which forms part of the escape route to stairs and fresh air.

Posted By JB
I share that view and our risk assessment confirms that, but I'm sure there is some guidance out there to the contrary! I just can't find the definitive answer. It should also be mentioned that the door is self locking for security reasons and once it shuts you can not re-enter the unit from the common area.

Posted By JB
As they say, "it's good to talk"! I had missed the obvious point, thanks for your advice.

Posted By Phil Rose
Final exit doors and fire doors perform two different functions (don't they?)

Fire doors help prevent the spread of fire by compartmentalisation and final exit doors serve to get people out of the building.

I have never seen a final exit door with a self closer, and an unsure why they would need one.

Posted By sicnsafe
JB, I'm with the others in that the details are not there, however judging your description of final exits leading into a common area and an internal door, its fair to say your describing an emergency exit leading into a street,egress to a street, rally or refuge point for escape outside that are final doors. Please review OSHA.Gov 1910.36 to 39 and perhaps the National Fire Protection Agency website; I DO NOT THINK BREAK AWAY DOORS ARE INCLUDED IN THE STANDARD, HOWEVER, THAT CAN BE SUPERCEEDED BY THE AUTHORITY IN YOUR JURISDICTION! OSHA standards are minimal standards, but the doors are definately nice to have. Jist as important is to ensure emergency exit doors are lit properly, free of distractions, not cluttered and there are enough exits to accomidate the workforce, visitors, ect, or else, no door would be safe and easy enough to exit from!

Posted By Peter F
Have you tried looking in part B of the Building Regs.?

Posted By marcusblack
Hi JB,
If the exit leads to a common corridor accessed by other occupancies then BS requires that corridor to be a 'protected corridor' and therefore doors are required to be self closing. Your exit is neither a final or storey exit, but a fire resisting door on a protected escape route. If your door fails to close effectively, then a fire in your demise could prevent the safe evacuation of adjacent occupancies. Please feel free to contact me with a fuller description of your situation for further advice. I have lots of experience with retail and shopping centres.
Regards,
Mark

Posted By shaun mckeever
In the circumstances you describe the doors are required to be fire resisting and self closing. The doors are required to protect fire and smoke spread via the common area thus enabling the common area to be used by other occupants for escape purposes.

Phil Rose there are several examples of where final exit doors are required to be fire doors too. Usually final exit doors onto external escape stairs are required to be fire doors. This is to protect occupants using the stairs who have to pass the floor of the fire as they descend the stairs.

Posted By JB
Many thanks for all the constructive comments, and particularly Marcus - the situation you describe is exactly what we have and your comments have certainly clarified the position. I had been taking the view that the door from our demise is the final exit door when of course it is not! Thanks again. JB