If you’ve ever looked into door lock compliance for fire safety, you’ll have seen these codes thrown around: BS EN 179 and BS EN 1125. They’re the two key standards that dictate what your emergency exit hardware should be capable of. You have to meet the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 requirements.

Here’s the simple breakdown:

• BS EN 179 – for buildings where occupants are familiar with the layout (like offices or private facilities). It applies to emergency exit devices where users are trained and can identify exits easily.

• BS EN 1125 – for public areas where people may not know the building (like schools, cinemas, or hotels). It covers panic exit devices that allow egress through a simple push bar or touch pad, even in complete panic.

Together, they ensure all fire exit hardware is tested for durability, reliability, and safety. If your building doesn’t comply with these, it’s time to upgrade your door locks, not tomorrow, but today.

If you’ve ever pushed a bar across a door in a supermarket or cinema, that’s panic hardware. It’s designed for situations where people might panic, a crowd rushing to an exit, for example.

Under UK law, panic hardware on escape route doors must comply with BS EN 1125 (for panic exit devices) or BS EN 179 (for emergency exit devices where panic is less likely).

BS EN 1125: Used in public spaces where you may not be familiar with the layout of the building. The exit device on doors must allow for the door to open instantly (think about the green push bars on fire doors in schools or in retail areas).

BS EN 179: Used in workplaces or areas where staff are trained and familiar with the exits. These doors can use a lever handle or push pad instead of a full-width bar.

In both cases, the goal is the same, a single, reliable action to exit safely.

• Panic bars (push bars) – best for public buildings; allow easy egress with minimal effort.

• Touch pads – ideal for modern commercial facilities where style meets safety.

• Lever handle with latch mechanism – works in lower-occupancy or staff-only areas, compliant with BS EN 179.

• Electrically released exit devices – integrate with access control systems for offices or mixed-use buildings.

When sourcing panic hardware, look for:

• CE or UKCA marking

• Tested compliance with BS EN 1125 or 179

• Quality assurance from recognised industry bodies

• Installation guidance matching your specific door type

Avoid cut-price imports or “universal” devices. They might fit, but that doesn’t mean they’ll perform under pressure. In this context, saving £50 isn’t saving at all. Security is the most important aspect in this situation, and quality should come first.  

Based in or near Chelsea? Book a free fire door compliance survey today. We’ll come to you immediately!

Fire door compliance isn’t a one-time job. Things wear out, parts loosen, and people forget checks.

You’ll need to carry out fire door inspections every six months at least.

It’s not a one-and-done job. To keep your building compliant, you’ll need regular fire door inspections, ideally every six months, or sooner for high-traffic areas.

You should:

• Test each exit device for smooth operation.

• Check for wear, rust, or damage.

• Replace parts immediately if anything feels stiff or loose.

• Make sure no furniture or signage blocks escape routes.

If you are unsure about any aspect of your fire door exit hardware, or you notice anything slightly off, get it checked immediately. A small delay could be costly in so many ways.

Another important standard would be BS3621 for your door locks – here, our experts are prepared to assist you anytime with a lock change or installation. More than that, we can assist with even more complex requests that are BS3621 compliant – we can install keyed alike systems or security master key systems.