By Mechatronix Fire Doors

What is The Difference Between Fire Exit Door Vs Emergency Exit Doors?

Whether the situation is worst or under control in the building, the backup plan must save your essential people’s lives. Emergency gates are intended to help you in urgent situations; they could be Fire-rated or traditional accesses. Both entrances are installed internally as a prerequisite in a company for hurdle situations in your premises. They are mostly kept close and used only in disasters.

Emergency exits and fire-rated doors work day and night in unusual situations. Many people use these words interchangeably, but they can have different meanings depending on the conditions and rules. Let’s look at their differences so that you can buy the right product.

Difference between Fire Exit Doors vs. Emergency Exit Doors:

Emergency doors are installed inside the building to let people out in urgent situations. Sometimes, they are fire-rated or simple but mounted for the public in abnormal conditions. Emergency exits are usually mounted to the outer of the organization.

You may have seen such gates at the theater with a red or green sign for exiting or inside metro buses and many other office buildings. They can also stay open and closed and do not have to be flame-resistant. It must have an available dual system wherever possible in the direction of traffic flow. So that in an emergency, it can be used by any public member. The urgent gate’s primary purpose is to provide a quick and easy way to escape. It leads to a well-lit entrance and ensures no one can enter outside. The goal is to reach a safe place.

Fire exit doors are also known as fire-rated because they have passed certification tests. Flame doors stop fires from spreading and act as barriers in case of accidents. Fire-rated doors must be strong and made from fire-resistant metals to work correctly.

Certified fire doors can be mounted inside and out, unlike emergency exit entrances.

Furthermore, fire-rated doors allow egress from the gap and close once released. They also divide a building into sections and shield evacuation routes from fire hazards like smoke, gases, and flames. It is also helpful in controlling the amount of oxygen available and slows the growth of a flame.

fire exit door and emergency door in one frame

Major Differences:

As we have discussed, there are certain similarities and differences as well. But the significant difference between both is Location, purpose, and Security lock.

Purpose:

A flame door’s main job is to help people get out quickly during a fire or emergency. It’s not mainly meant to stop the fire from spreading (although some can do both). On the other hand, a flame door’s main job is to slow down or stop the fire from moving between different rooms rather than just helping people escape.

Location:

Fire exits are usually located in different building spots because they do other jobs. Flame depart gates are often outside the building, at the end of escape routes. Whereas Fire doors are usually inside, like in stairways, between rooms, or at the entrance to apartments in a building.

Security Lock:

Combustion exit gates shouldn’t be locked so people can escape quickly during emergencies without a key. For safety, many doors can be locked outside using a unique device known as an Outer Access device(OAD). But if there’s an emergency, pushing the panic hardware inside will unlock the door without needing a key. Sometimes, people leave these doors open, but they need to be more safe for security reasons.

To ensure they work correctly, fire doors should always stay shut and automatically latch closed. These doors usually don’t need to be locked because their main job is preventing fires from spreading inside the building. Sometimes, like at the front door of an apartment, a fire door also needs to be a way to quickly get out. A unique lock, like a thumb-turn euro cylinder, is used inside the exit. This lock can be opened inside without a key or a panic bar.

Making the Best Decision for Your Needs!

Both gates have their benefits and use—however, both focus on the security of premises. The significant difference between these doors is their purpose. Emergency doors allow people to leave during a fire or in urgency, while fire doors stop flames from spreading. The main focus of the emergency door is on letting people out. However, the focus of certified fire doors is on creating compartmentalization in the building.

If you choose, we suggest a Fire exit door because they can also work as emergency gates. The emergency entrance only lets people out of the building. It cannot control the spreading of Flame in other departments.

There is also another difference in the materials of making. Flameproof doors are made from strong but light substances to repel trespassers and open easily from the inside. In contrast, a certified fire door is an authentic world fire rating standard. A nearby Mechatronix company In Pakistan produces strong doors that resist fire, smoke, and heat.