Selecting the Correct Exit
Device
The primary consideration is to select the proper
device and label for the specific application. A
word of caution is important! There are hardware
items that look like exit devices but do not have
a “UL” listing for use on doors requiring either
“panic hazard” or “fire exit hardware.” Some of
these items are used for exit control and are listed
by UL as “exit locks,” which serve a particular
purpose but do not meet code requirements for either
type of exit device.
The Underwriters Laboratories (UL) “Mechanical
Equipment Directory,” under the heading FVSR,
states “The rules covering proper installation
and use of doors on which this hardware is normally
mounted is given in the LSC.” The LSC states that
only approved panic hardware of fire exit hardware
shall be used. When panic hardware is code-required
and installed on non-rated doors, each acceptable
panic hardware bears a label stating it is approved
for “Panic Hazard.”
When installed on fire-rated doors, each acceptable
fire exit device bears a label stating, “Fire
Exit Hardware.” Each door permitted to have this
type of exit device has a label stating “Fire
Door to be Equipped with Fire Exit Hardware.”
The following are several resources available
to select the proper exit device:
- The UL "Mechanical Equipment Directory" lists
manufacturers of panic hardware under the heading
FVSR. The UL “Building Materials Directory”
lists manufacturers of fire exit hardware under
the heading GXHX.
- Refer to door hardware manufacturers' catalogs
under exit devices. Most manufacturers have
both types of devices.
- The Door & Hardware Institute (DHI) offers
a publication titled "Hardware for Labeled Fire
Doors."
- The June, 1990 issue of "Doors & Hardware"
magazine, published by DHI, contains several
articles on exit devices.
- DHI also has a "Tech Talk" paper covering
exit devices, dated October, 1988.
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