Emergency Exit Doors

Emergency exit doors are not intended to be used by pedestrians entering the building. Characteristics that enhance the physical security of exit doors include:

• They open outward directly to the outside. Typically, these doors are fire exits, so they must never open inward (fire codes prohibit this).
  
  
• They have no exterior-mounted opening hardware. Because exit doors are never supposed to be opened from the outside, don’t increase their vulnerability by including a lockset or latching hardware that could be attacked from the outside.
  
  
• They have a tamper-resistant astragal to prevent the latch from being slipped from outside. Because the door opens outward, there is a space between the door and the strike jamb. This space exposes the latchbolt to manipulation. A strong astragal prevents someone from inserting a shim device to externally manipulate the latchbolt or emergency opening mechanism.
  
  
• The hinge pins cannot be removed and security studs have been installed. Because the door swings outward, the hinge pins are on the insecure side, the outside. If the hinge pins were removable, it would be a simple matter to remove the door and gain access.
  
  

• Hinges should have safety studs. Safety studs extend from one hinge leaf. A hole is punched in the corresponding position on the opposite leaf. When the door is closed, the stud sits in the hole. Even if the hinge pin were removed, the door still cannot be taken off its hinges because the stud holds it in place.
  
  
• Local alarms on the bar openers that retract the latchbolt and open the door.
  
  

• A sensor (such as a concealed magnetic switch or a concealed pressure release switch) that generates an immediate alarm whenever the door is opened. Employees sometimes use emergency exit doors as convenience doors. Often, an emergency door is propped open to allow employees to return. Persons gathering intelligence for attackers and the attackers themselves love to see human errors such as these.
  
  
• Emergency exit doors should be metal doors set in reinforced metal frames. The outside of the door should be flush with the outside of the frame to prevent frame spreading. Metal doors in reinforced metal frames are more resistant to forced entry than solid core wood doors. Properly maintained, metal doors will hold up better to weather.