Application

D3D26 applies to all doors:

• in a required exit (e.g. an external doorway leading from the building);
• forming part of a required exit (e.g. a door leading to or within a fire-isolated exit); and
• in a path of travel to a required exit.

“Single hand downward action”

If the opening action of a door latch cannot be a pushing action, it must be a single downward action, capable of being activated with a single hand.

D3D26 prohibits the use of devices such as deadlocks and knobs (where the knobs must be operated in a twisting or similar motion).

This provision takes account of the need for an emergency opening mechanism to be operable by people with a hand or arm related disability, burns to their hands, or with perspiring or wet hands.

The height of the opening device from the floor specified in D3D26 is consistent with that contained in AS 1428.1 “Design for Access and Mobility”. This is a comfortable height for most people to use.

Ease of egress versus security

The building regulatory system principally exists to protect the safety, health and amenity of people in buildings. The safety of property, while important, is generally considered to be a secondary matter. D3D26 is designed to maximise the safety of people and prevent them being trapped within a building during a fire.

The risks to people using the building are too great to allow for the use of property security devices, such as deadlocks. Even “after hours” locks, which require human intervention (such as unlocking first thing in the morning and locking last thing at night) to allow egress during times when the public are accessing the building, are not considered to be adequately safe.

Accessible buildings

In accessible buildings, D3D26(1)(a) requires doors serving areas required to be accessible to have devices that prevent a hand slipping from the handle during the operation of the latch and to have a clearance of between 35 mm and 45 mm from the handle and the back plate or door face. These provisions are designed to allow use of the device by people with a disability.

D3D26 exceptions

There are several exceptions to D3D26(1). These include:

• D3D26(3)(a)—strongrooms and vaults, both for security purposes, and the fact that the general public would ordinarily be very unlikely to access such places;
• D3D26(3)(b)(i)—sole-occupancy units within flats, because the people in the units will generally be in possession of keys to unlock the door;
• D3D26(3)(b)(ii)—sole-occupancy units within motels or hotels, because the people in the units will generally be in possession of keys to unlock the door. However this sub-clause does not include the entrance door to sole-occupancy units in boarding-houses, guest houses, hostels, lodging-house or backpackers accommodation as the occupant may not always have possession of keys to unlock the door;
• D3D26(3)(b)(iii)—small sole-occupancy units in Class 5–8 buildings, where it would be difficult to overlook the presence of anyone at closing time; and
• D3D26(3)(b)(iv)—restricted access spaces and rooms otherwise inaccessible to people at all times, such as cleaners’ rooms and the like.

Special security arrangements—D3D26(3)(c)

D3D26(3)(c) provides for special arrangements to be made where particular security issues arise including Australian Government Security Zones 4 and 5. If this option is taken, the appropriate authority will need to be satisfied that, in the event of an emergency, access to exits will be enabled immediately with effectively no time delay.

Where the option for human control is exercised under D3D26(4)(b), the person controlling the unlocking system MUST be available at ALL times while the building is lawfully occupied. It is not acceptable for the system to be left uncontrolled. Nor is it acceptable for that person to be absent from the control post while carrying out any other work duties. A beeper or some other type of personally carried device warning of an emergency is not adequate to effect immediate opening of the locked doors. If the controlling person is absent for any reason, there must be a process enabling their relief by an equally trained person.

Fail-safe devices—D3D26(3)(d)

D3D26(3)(d) provides an exemption for buildings fitted with automatic “fail-safe devices”, where the devices are activated by another active system.

In this case, the appropriate authority must be satisfied that:

• the device is genuinely “fail-safe” (while not specifically referenced D3D26(3)(d), this would include during power failures); and
• in the event of an emergency, access to exits will be enabled immediately, with effectively no time delay.

Examples

After hours shop security may be of considerable importance, and a “fail-safe” option may be preferable to the alternative.

A special accommodation house or an institution may have residents who may be inclined to “wander”, and a “fail-safe” option may be preferable to the alternative.

D3D26 and Class 9b buildings—D3D26(5)

Egress from Class 9b buildings is a complex issue. They are often accessed by the general public, and include buildings which have people unfamiliar with their surroundings. This environment is not conducive to orderly or easy evacuation especially in places such as cinemas, theatres, sporting complexes and nightclubs.

D3D26(5) makes special provision for those which accommodate more than 100 people. D3D26(5) differs from the usual D3D26 provisions in that:

• it prohibits the use of a door handle type opening device (other than a bar) or other device (including levers or knobs) requiring more than a pushing action; and
• it applies to only one door leaf of a two-leaf door set. However, the other door must also swing open if it is needed to satisfy the required width of egress.

The provisions of D3D26(5) do not apply to schools, early childhood centres, or buildings such as churches, mosques and temples used for religious purposes. Such buildings must comply with D3D26(1).

Schools and early childhood centres are excepted because:

• the occupants are under almost constant adult supervision;
• most schools have a communication system with which occupants are familiar;
• most occupants are adequately controlled enabling easier evacuation; and
• they are used during daylight hours, and door handles and their function are more easily identified and familiar to occupants.

Testing of fire door furniture

Required fire doors must be tested as a complete unit, including the frame and furniture. The test on a fire door installed in an exit, or forming part of an exit, includes the opening devices to be used to comply with D3D26.