Final exit door direction.

[Steve Blakemore]

Hi, 

Is there legislation that states that a final exit door should open outwards or is this just a good working practice ?

Thanks 

[AnthonyB]

It's based on numbers and persons using the door. Normally 60 persons is the cross over from good practice to a must, based on official benchmarks going back many decades, if there are gatherings of the public where they could be a mass panic and the risk of crushing this can affect the risk assessment.

[Steve Blakemore]

Thanks I have read something about the 60 person rule but wasnt sure if that's legislation or not .The doors are at a care home of 34 residents and an attached day centre. With visitors etc the foot traffic throughout the building would be well over 60, but the building is 15 years old and these doors are original. No one has picked up on this direction of opening before and that there is a lip on the threshold plate that could b a trip hazard. Well it is actually as I tripped over it lol. So again i sit here confused as to me it goes against the grain to have them opening inwards. 

Edited September 13, 2019 by Steve Blakemore
Some words were missed out

[AnthonyB]

Do bear in mind that as a Care Home it should be operating progressive horizontal evacuation and you may not be putting 60 through the route at once, so you may be able to justify the existing configuration.

[Steve Blakemore]

Ok that makes sense then as there are quite a lot of doors sobthatvwould potentially reduce the amount going through one doormat any given time.

What do you think about the lip on the threshold plate being a potential trip hazard, as I tripped on it in a calm situation, should something be done about that?

[Tom Sutton]

If you consider it a trip hazard then you should deal with it.

[Steve Blakemore]

Ok tha is Tom.