What is UL 305 Standard of Panic Hardware?

What is UL 305 Standard?

UL 305 is a standard established by Underwriters Laboratories, specifically concerning panic hardware. This standard outlines the safety and performance criteria for panic exit devices that are installed on emergency exit doors. Its primary objective is to guarantee that these devices can be operated swiftly and effortlessly in emergency scenarios, generally requiring just a single push action. This enables individuals to exit a building safely without the need for keys or any specialized knowledge. The standard is applicable to various types of panic hardware, including push pads, cross bars, and similar devices used on swinging doors in public buildings like schools, hospitals, factories, and offices.

The Importance of UL 305

The importance of UL 305 stems from its contribution to life safety and product dependability. It ensures that panic hardware adheres to rigorous standards for mechanical strength, durability, and operational effectiveness, enabling it to perform reliably during emergencies. Devices that undergo testing under UL 305 are assessed for factors such as ease of operation, cycle performance, impact resistance, and long-term reliability. For building owners, contractors, and door manufacturers, obtaining UL 305 certification offers assurance that the installed hardware complies with U.S. fire and life safety regulations, thereby safeguarding occupants and minimizing liability in the event of a fire or evacuation situation.

In essence, UL 305 certification signifies trustworthiness, compliance, and demonstrated safety performance for any commercial or public exit system.

The detailed content of UL 305 standard is as follows:

I. Scope of application and equipment type

The UL 305 standard mainly specifies the release device on outward opening doors, including critical safety equipment such as panic hardware, fire exit hardware, and exit locks. These devices provide safety measures for personnel evacuation in emergency situations by operating levers (crossbars or push plates) or paddles.

-Operating mechanism: cross bar, push rod or paddle, press to unlock the door lock.

-Locking function: The function used to keep the door lock in the retracted position, suitable for daily maintenance and cleaning scenarios.

-Fire door: a door component in the closure component that provides a specific fire rating and is suitable for fire zone exits.

-Fire exit hardware: Hardware used for fire doors, facilitating safe evacuation of personnel, suitable for fire exits.

-Panic exit hardware: Hardware used for non fire doors, facilitating safe evacuation of personnel, suitable for ordinary emergency exits.

II. Core Safety Requirements

1. Operational Ease:

Mechanism design shall ensure operation without specialised knowledge or strength during emergencies, constituting a fundamental requirement for personnel evacuation safety.

Per standard provisions, when the door is locked, a force of ≤15 lbs (66 N) applied to the centre or either end (within 1.5 inches) of the crossbar or push plate shall unlock it.

When subjected to external force, the door shall open with ≤50 lbs (220 N) applied to the centre of the bar or push plate.

2. Anti-Snag Design:

The ends of the bar or push plate must incorporate curved, guarded, or other designs to prevent snagging occupants' clothing during evacuation.

This requirement directly impacts evacuation efficiency and occupant safety, constituting a critical consideration in panic hardware design.

3. Locking Function Restrictions:

Locking or securing mechanisms forming part of the hardware assembly must not impede the release of the door lock when pressure is applied to the cross bar or push plate.

Fire exit hardware must not incorporate any securing function requiring manual release. This stipulation ensures the reliability of the equipment during extreme conditions such as fire.

III. Materials and Durability Testing

1.Material strength:

The melting point of the working component material of the operating mechanism must not be lower than 1000 ° F (538 ° C), or the product must pass high temperature environment exposure testing and low temperature impact testing.

Material selection must reduce the possibility of release mechanism failure due to corrosion, which is particularly important for panic hardware installed in humid environments or corrosive environments such as chemical plants.

2.Durability testing:

The release mechanism and door lock must be able to operate continuously for 100000 times without experiencing malfunctions or excessive component wear.

The test should be conducted on simulated door and door frame components, using a motor-driven mechanism or other appropriate operating device to trigger the operating lever at a rate of approximately 15 times per minute.

IV. Environmental Adaptability Testing

1. High-Temperature Exposure Test:

For products with operating components having a melting point below 1000°F (538°C), exposure to a circulating air oven at 400°F (204°C) for 7 consecutive hours is mandatory.

Following testing, the equipment must retain full functionality to ensure reliability in elevated temperature environments.

2. Low-Temperature Shock Test:

Exposure to -3°F (-20°C) for 7 consecutive hours. Equipment must retain full functionality post-test.

This test verifies the device's resistance to thermal shock in frigid conditions.

V. Identification and Installation Specifications

1. Product Identification:

The manufacturer's or private labeller's name, along with a unique model or type designation, must be clearly marked on panic hardware components.

Manufacturers producing panic hardware components across multiple factories shall ensure each component bears unique markings identifying its specific factory of origin.

2. Installation Requirements:

Installation must strictly adhere to the manufacturer's instructions, ensuring the operating bar length meets standard requirements—the horizontal bar extension width shall not be less than half the door leaf width.

For balanced doors, push-plate panic hardware shall not extend beyond half the door width when measured from the lock side.

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