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HM-F FT escape route sliding door

Guaranteed escape route even when door is locked

When combined with the appropriate technical equipment, sliding doors can be used in escape routes in day mode. Buildings such as hotels, airports, hospitals as well as residential care homes for the elderly and disabled must also always guarantee a means of escape in night mode. Up till now, sliding doors were not approved as escape doors when locked in night mode. GU group has designed the first sliding door to be approved as escape door even when locked. The type-tested HM-F FT escape route sliding door provides the solution with an intelligent double function: when the escape door control unit is actuated, the sliding door becomes a swing door and the sliding panels can be swung out in the escape direction even when a load is applied to the door leaves. This means the escape route sliding door guarantees a safe escape route.

Fulfils both directives and architectural visions

The escape route sliding door HM-F FT guarantees the availability of rescue routes while also securely closing the building – all in one door element without having to install another escape door. This gives architects and planners more freedom when designing prestigious entrances that must comply with the AutSchR (German directive governing automatic sliding doors in rescue routes), EltVTR (German directive governing electrical locking systems on doors in escape routes), and also DIN 18650 and EN 16005.

More details
Fluchtwegschiebetür HM-F FT
  • A swing-door fitting integrated into the sliding panel allows the panel to be pushed open in escape direction when the sliding door is closed. During everyday operation, this is prevented by a tested electric escape door strike.
  • In the event of an emergency, the electric escape door strike can be released by pressing the illuminated emergency push-button.
  • By applying gentle pressure, the door leaf can be swung outwards, as is also the case when a load is applied to the door leaf in the escape direction.
  • No individual approval by building authority required.

Locking of automatic sliding doors in rescue routes

Automatic sliding doors in rescue routes are regulated building products and described in the list of building rules A, part 1 with the AutSchR (DIBt guideline on automatic sliding doors in rescue routes) as well as in DIN 18650/EN 16005.

Escape route sliding doors without a swivelling fitting (break out) open automatically when a person approaches. This also occurs in the event of a power failure or if a fault occurs in the drive system, as the drives are implemented redundantly.

It is an important requirement for the door to open automatically when a person is approaching. The door must be opened before the escaping persons reach the door leaf to prevent a compression load on the door leaf in the escape direction. These axial forces would prevent the sliding door from opening.

In the "OFF/NIGHT" operating mode, door locking and deactivation of the radar motion detector is only permitted if these doors are no longer required as escape and/or escape route doors, or if there are no persons in the building at night.

But what happens if the escape route sliding doors in buildings, such as hospitals, residential care homes for the elderly and disabled, hotels and airports, need to be locked at certain times although the building is still occupied?

In this case the EltVTR (German directive on electric locking systems for doors along rescue routes) must also be observed (DIBt list of building rules A, part 1). Until now, a type-tested sliding door suited for such situations has not been available. The only option available to the owner/operator was to submit an application to the building supervision authority in individual cases. In light of the fact that the automatic sliding door no longer opens when a load is applied, it is questionable as to whether consent would be given by the building authority.

Leave no questions unanswered

If you have any questions or need further information, feel free to write to us – we will be pleased to help.

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