With around 76% of burglars gaining access through doors, fire exits can represent a potential security vulnerability as they are primarily designed for quick exit rather than resistance to forced entry. To mitigate this risk, fire escape doors should be equipped with security-rated hardware and robust doorsets that enhance safety while preventing unauthorised access. Careful consideration is essential when choosing fire exit doors, ensuring they can withstand both emergency use and potential security threats.
Key considerations when selecting fire escape doors
Fire exits can often be fire rated, ensuring the door can withstand intense heat long enough to allow everyone to evacuate safely. Building regulations require fire doors to have a minimum rating of E30 (30 minutes of fire resistance), with higher ratings such as E60 or E90 available for enhanced protection.
Steel has become the preferred material for fire exit doors due to its exceptional strength, durability and resilience. Steel doors maintain their structural integrity under extreme heat and offer superior impact resistance. Our fire-rated steel fire exit solution, OUTA-DOR, provides up to four hours of fire resistance, tested and certified in line with EN 1634-1. These doorsets undergo additional performance testing to ensure they maintain their structural integrity under fire conditions.
Accessibility and security
Ease of operation is essential in an emergency. Fire exit doors must open easily from the inside, typically via panic bars or push-release mechanisms, to allow safe evacuation. However, this functionality must be paired with strong security to prevent unauthorised entry.
Effective door security involves more than just high-quality locks. The complete doorset, including the door leaf, frame, hardware and access control integration, must be considered as one system. In the UK, the minimum standard for security doors is PAS 24 or LPS 1175 SR1. For glazed doors, the glass must comply with EN 356 burglary resistance standards. Type-approved solutions often feature multipoint locking (MPL) systems and other advanced components that enhance overall door performance.
Investing in secure fire exits is not just an operational necessity; it’s a strategic investment in overall building protection. The cost of implementing robust security measures is far outweighed by the potential losses from break-ins, liability claims or reputational damage.
As a steel door manufacturer, we offer steel fire escape doors that ensure easy exit while providing high resistance against forced entry. Our steel door solutions feature an exclusive ARRONE hardware solution by specialist door hardware manufacturer HOPPE (UK), which has been successfully tested on PAS 24 certified doors and is fully compatible with our SECUR-DOR 2.1, a certified security door, providing enhanced security for very little extra cost.
Design considerations
Modern fire escape doors no longer need to compromise on design. Glazed steel doors can create brighter, more welcoming spaces while maintaining stringent fire and security standards.
Our GLAS-DOR range offers a fire-rated glazed steel door solution available for hinged or sliding doors, partitions, façades and screens. Designed to deliver fire resistance, intruder protection and acoustic performance without compromising on aesthetics, GLAS-DOR creates a secure yet welcoming environment that maximises natural light.
A new standard for fire escapes
Fire escape doors are evolving, with today’s designs offering far more than just an escape route integrating fire protection, security and modern designs. With robust security in mind, modern fire exits provide greater peace of mind by reducing potential security risks and enhancing overall building protection.
For more information on security rated fire exits, contact our estimators via or call 01782 592900.
