Orbis Classic - Panic Exit Hardware

Pushbar Devices

When lives may depend on an exit device Laidlaw feel they have a responsibility to test products to exceed all current performance and safety standards, ensuring they will operate first time, every time.

Rigorous testing is continually being carried out on the Laidlaw range of exit hardware providing peace of mind for specifiers, distributors, installers and users.

Low operating force

Repeatedly tested to operate at 50% lower than the standard requirement, ensuring that the door can be operated with minimum force, for example by small children, the elderly and people with special needs.

Two tests are undertaken. The first is to operate the door with a maximum force of 80 Newtons.

The second test simulates a panic situation whereby the door is put under 1000 Newton pressure to simulate a group of people pushing against the door.

The operating force on the device with this weight should not exceed 220 Newtons.

Abusing the crossbar

The crossbar is attacked with a force equivalent to that of a 16 stone man (1000 Newtons) pulling and pushing it in all directions and standing on it, after which the bar must still operate.

Cycle testing

Cycle tested to measure durability for everyday use. Briton 376E series products exceed the highest requirement of 200,000 cycles.

The finger trap test

To reduce the risk of trapping fingers and/or the blocking of the panic device, any gap shall not trap a test rod of 10mm diameter at any position of the bar travel during the operation of the panic device.

Under both standards each product is classified and graded to identify the level of compliance within each category. These classifications are set out below.

Abusing the bolt

Testing the strength of the bolt involves the equivalent of the combined strength of 4 people trying to pull the bolt away from the door.

An attempted break-in is simulated to test the security of the bolt, force is applied to the anti-thrust device as if the bolt were being 'jemmied' out of its socket.

Corrosion resistance

A test which measures how suitable the exit device is for varying environmental conditions. All Briton 376E series panic and emergency exit hardware have been tested to EN 1670 Building Corrosion Requirements and have achieved at least grade 3 (high resistance). This ensures the product will function correctly in wet, polluted and exterior environments. Note, EN 1670 test does not relate to the finish.

The standard EN 179 features a number of tests used in EN 1125 but has different levels of security testing.

EN Classification Codes

Category of use

Class 3 = high frequency of use by public and others with little incentive to exercise care.

Durability (Cycle Testing)

Grade 6 - 100,000 cycles
Grade 7 - 200,000 cycles

Door size/mass

Class 5 - doors up to 100kg
Class 6 - doors up to 200kg.

Fire Resistance (EN 1634)

Classification 1 - suitable for fire/smoke door use
Classification 0 - not suitable for fire/smoke door use

Safety

All panic and emergency devices have a critical safety function
therefore only grade 1 is identified.

Corrosion Resistance (EN 1670)

Grade 3 - high resistance
Grade 4 - very high resistance.

Security

EN 1125 - Grade 2 - up to 1000N.
EN 179   - Grade 2 - 1000N
                - Grade 3 - 2000N
                - Grade 4 - 3000N

Projection of Device

Class 1 - projection up to 150mm
Class 2 - projection up to 100mm

Type of Operation

EN 1125 Type A - 'push bar' operation
                Type B - 'touch bar' operation
EN 179   Type A - 'lever handle' operation
                Type B - 'push pad' operation