Can fire exit doors be locked in a workplace?
By Joe Cooper · · 3 min read
Fire exit doors must be easy to open from the inside whenever people are in the building. They should not need a key. A door can be secured from the outside, as long as people inside can always get out.
What is acceptable
- Push bars or push pads that release the door with one simple action.
- Thumb-turns on the inside, kept in place and working, where the assessment allows it.
- Doors secured only when the building is empty.
What is not
- Padlocks or chains on exits while people are inside.
- Keys kept in a drawer, or key boxes that need a hammer to break.
- Bolts at the top or bottom that people will not see.
Check weekly
Check every exit opens easily from the inside, and nothing is stored in front of it. Record any door that sticks, and fix it before the next day of trading.
Want this done for you each week? See what Pioneer Fire includes or view the plans.
General information based on GOV.UK guidance and common practice. It is not legal advice or a fire risk assessment. Your own fire risk assessment sets what applies to your premises. Sources: GOV.UK, Fire safety in the workplace.