D3D24 and D3D25 have the same intent

D3D24 should be read in conjunction with D3D25 because its intent is the same.

Clarification of when a doorway (or door) is “serving as (or in) a required exit”, “forming part of a required exit” or “in the path of travel to a required exit”

D3D24 refers to a “doorway serving as a required exit or forming part of a required exit”. D3D25 refers to a “door in a required exit or forming part of a required exit”. D3D26 refers to a “door in a required exit, forming part of a required exit or in the path of travel to a required exit”.

The three different terms have application to doorways and doors in three different situations described below. To understand the differences between these terms, it is necessary to understand what an exit is, as described in the definition of “exit”. Also, D2D19 Measurement of distances, provides guidance by describing when the “nearest part of an exit” includes a doorway and when it does not.

The definition of “exit” indicates that stairways (internal or external), ramps and fire isolated passageways are all exits if they provide egress to a road or open space, as are doorways opening to a road or open space and horizontal exits. Stairways and ramps that serve as exits may either be fire-isolated or non-fire-isolated, as determined by D2D4.

D2D19. describes the “nearest part of an exit” for the purpose of measuring distances (prescribed by D2D20), indicating when a doorway is considered to be part of the exit.

The nearest part of the exit is the nearest part of the doorway providing access to a fire-isolated stairway, fire-isolated passageway or fire-isolated ramp, horizontal exit, and a doorway opening to a road or open space. For a non-fire-isolated stairway however, it is the nearest riser, and for a non-fire-isolated ramp, it is the nearest part of the ramped floor. The measurement to the nearest part of a doorway for a fire-isolated exit, horizontal exit and a doorway opening to a road or open space, indicates that the doorway forms part of the exit.

A “doorway serving as a required exit” or a “door in a required exit” means one that is acting as the exit itself, such as the final doorway or door—

• opening to a road or open space; or
• in a horizontal exit.

In this case, the nearest part of the doorway itself is the nearest part of an exit. The doorway or door opening to a road or open space may be a doorway or door from a space or room, or from a corridor.

A “doorway forming part of a required exit” or a “door forming part of a required exit” means a doorway or door that provides access to or is within—

• a fire-isolated stairway or ramp; or
• a fire-isolated passageway.

In this case, the nearest part of the exit is the doorway providing access to the fire-isolated stairway, ramp or passageway. Therefore, any doorway or door that leads into or out of a fire-isolated stairway, ramp or passageway is a doorway or door forming part of a required exit.

A “doorway or door in the path of travel to an exit” is a doorway or door that is not serving as, providing access into, or in, a required exit and does not form part of a required exit. It includes a doorway or door—

• opening from any space in a storey such as an office, conference room, storeroom, sanitary compartment, or the like, into a public corridor (that is not fire-isolated) or open plan public space or the like within the building, or a non-fire- isolated stairway or ramp serving as a required exit; or
• opening from one public corridor into another public corridor or public space within the building.

A doorway or door in a path of travel to an exit is any door, excluding cupboards and service openings, that a building occupant must pass through to reach the exit from the storey.

Class 9c buildings—D3D24(1)

D3D24(1) applies to all doorways in resident use areas of Class 9c buildings, including doorways in paths of travel to an exit, doorways serving as required exits and doorways forming part of required exits.

Doorways within resident use areas of an aged care building must not be provided with revolving doors, roller shutter doors, tilt up doors or sliding fire or smoke doors. These types of door can impede the movement of residents and also hinder egress from the building.

Required exits and patient care areas

D3D24(2) applies only to doorways serving as a required exit, or forming part of one, and to doorways in a patient care area of a Class 9a building.

D3D24(2) does not apply to any other doorways (e.g. a doorway within a path of travel to an exit).

Revolving, sliding or tilt-up doors and roller shutters—D3D24(2)(a), (b) and (c)

Under D3D24(2)(a), (b) and (c), revolving, sliding or tilt-up doors and roller shutters are either prohibited or limited because of their potential to obstruct people evacuating. They can also pose problems if they fail in an emergency.

If people are impeded at a doorway, this can lead to congestion. In an extreme case, it can lead to the crushing of people as they wait for a door to open.

Concession for small Class 6–8 buildings—D3D24(2)(b)(i)

The reason for the concession (subject to specified criteria) for roller shutters or tilt-up doors in small Class 6, Class 7 and Class 8 buildings is that the number of people in the area will be low. Note that this concession does not apply to revolving or sliding doors.

Power-operated doors—D3D24(2)(d) and D3D24(3)

D3D24(2)(d) sets out the requirements for power-operated doors in required exits and patient care areas.

D3D24(3) applies to power-operated doors in a path of travel to a required exit. It applies the same provisions for power- operated doors in exits or forming part of an exit contained in D3D24(2)(d)(i) by specifying the maximum force required to open the door if there is a malfunction or power failure. The reason for this is that a door in a path of travel may also inhibit safe egress if it cannot be readily opened.

Sliding door opening force

The reference in D3D24(2)(c)(ii) and (d)(i) to a force of 110 newtons is to a relatively small force which most people, including the elderly and the young, could reasonably be expected to use to open a door.