Panic Hardware - Actuating Portion

[LGreene]

1008.1.10.1 Installation. Where panic or fire exit hardware is installed, it shall comply with the following:

1. Panic hardware shall be listed in accordance with UL 305;

2. Fire exit hardware shall be listed in accordance with UL 10C and UL 305;

3. The actuating portion of the releasing device shall extend at least one-half of the door leaf width; and

4. The maximum unlatching force shall not exceed 15 pounds (67 N).

Which is the intent of item 3 above?

a) The length of the actuating portion (typically a touchpad or crossbar) must measure at least half of the measurement of the door width - ie. the actuating portion for a 3'-wide door must be at least 18", for a 3'-6" wide door must be at least 21".

b) The end of the actuating portion must extend at least to the half-way point of the door width - ie. if the actuating portion is 18" long, and begins 4" in from the lock edge, the other end of the actuating portion would reach to a point 22" across the door and would therefore accommodate a 44"-wide door.

 

[cda]

Idnk???

And cannot find an answer

My guess is "A"

 

[Builder Bob]

To make the act of actuating a door easier in periods of darkness, etc.....

Projection of the arm is approx. 10.5"..... per the code this would only be allowable on a door that is 21" wide......

In a club, people have the possibility of hitting the door where the release isn't, and the bodies start to pile up at the door....... especially if somebody placed this on a 4 foot leaf on a side swing door - the paddle would only cover less than a third of the door surface....

life safety codes cover more than fire....... Nightclub pepper spray incident kills 21

Published February 18, 2003

CHICAGO (AP) - It was a chaotic scene: hundreds of screaming people stumbling down the darkened stairs of an illegally operated nightclub, gasping for air and stepping on bodies, only to find themselves trapped at the bottom trying to escape through a single exit.

At least 21 people were killed and 57 injured in the stampede early yesterday at the crowded E2 nightclub, authorities said.

There were reports that as many as 500 people were crammed into the second-floor club when someone sprayed Mace or pepper spray to quell a fight about 2 a.m.

The nightclub was operating in violation of a months-old court order meant to close it down, fire officials said. A judge later denied a request by the owners to reopen.

"The owner knows damn well that he is not to open that second-floor facility," said Fire Commissioner James Joyce. City officials said they plan to go to court as early as today to seek criminal contempt charges against the owner.

The nightclub had been cited for 11 building code violations and the city has been in court with the owners since last July, officials said.

Witnesses described a frenzied scene of some people trying to climb through the ceiling, while others were trampled in the frantic rush for an exit, their faces and bodies flattened against the glass front door.

 

[Mac]

".. at least half the door leaf width." Not TO the midpoint, but the entire half of the door leaf. As in doesn't need to extend the full width of the door.

 

[steveray]

I love multiple choice!....I would say A "actuating portion"...."at least half the leaf width".....Intent, not sure other than easier to operate...

 

[Codegeek]

I say "a".

 

[north star]

& . . . . . . &

I vote "a" as well!

& . . . . . . &

 

[mark handler]

Lori I'm a little slow this morning "... one-half of the door leaf width...."

3'-wide door must be at least 18"

3'-6" wide door must be at least 21"

3'-8" wide door must be at least 22"

Yes to all

 

[LGreene]

Thanks everybody.

This is one of those things that I learned 25 years ago in hardware school (yes, there is hardware school) and the answer is definitely "a". But someone (not an AHJ) recently interpreted it as "b" because panic hardware with an 18" wide touchpad had been supplied for doors slightly wider than 3' - most are 3'-1" or 3'-2". The 18" touchpad isn't wide enough per "a" but it would be per "b". The hardware has been installed. It's now up to the AHJ whether he requires it to be replaced.

NFPA's response was "a" also.