In a recent Q&A on the FacilityCare website, consultant Brad Keyes answered a question about egress hardware.
Q: We have clinic-type areas within suites. Some of the doors that lead to the main corridor for egress have regular turn-type handles, not panic hardware. Where is it required to have panic hardware on a door, and when are turn handles permitted? Is there a rule of thumb on when a door has to have panic hardware for egress?
A: Horizontal egress hardware on a door (commonly referred to as crash bars) is not required in a healthcare occupancy. Crash bars are required on doors in the path of egress from assembly occupancies. So, if a hospital has a dining area or an auditorium, these are assembly occupancy areas, and horizontal crash bars would be required even if the entire area is classified as a healthcare occupancy.
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