A couple of weeks ago I saw this entrance at the mall…a mini door for kids next to the full-sized egress door.
This mini door doesn’t keep me up at night – even though it doesn’t meet the size requirements for an egress door. It’s not a required means of egress and has a code-compliant door right next to it.
Then Jeff Tock of Allegion sent me the photo below…a similar mini door but this time with panic hardware on it! Technically I think it’s probably still ok, but what do you think??
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i think the stops they installed will blow the bottom hinges out. as long as the exit sign is above the main doors it should be okay.
It will be ok since there is another egress door right next to it. The closer would have to be adjusted though so the operating force would be softer for the kids to push.
we have one in our children’s room in the library, after some smashed fingers a bookcase was place in front of it.
That puck stop is going to destroy the lower hinge assembly.
It the old saying … size doesn’t matter.
If the door is not a listed or marked exit door, and not a part of the path of egress, it shouldn’t be an issue regardless of hardware right? We have a outside door with a mag lock which is released by a key from the inside and outside of the door. This door also has panic hardware installed which does not release the mag when depressed. Per our AHJ since the mag lock is fail safe and tied to the fire system and since the door is not marked as an exit it’s okay. I will take some pictures to share.
We were not allowed to have a mini door in a Children’s Hospital in California. Had to redesign.
Interesting! Did the AHJ say why it was not allowed?
– Lori
Why are the floor stops a problem in this installation and not a problem in others? And what is the right solution instead of floor stops? Thanks in advance.
Hi Dan –
I’m questioning the location because they are mounted in what could be considered the path of travel, vs. many floor stops which are mounted in less-traveled locations. The alternative would be an overhead stop or a door closer with a stop built into the arm.
– Lori
Not a big fan. I’ve seen a few of these door, mostly at facilities trying to project a child friendly image. The biggest problem I see is conditioning 2, 3, 4 year old’s to use these doors who will then grow taller and eventually strike their head on the jamb which won’t amuse parents any longer, esp if it results in an injury or a scar.
FWIW not all of the codes/occupancies require an exit sign at the main entrance because most people can remember how they entered as a way out. For that reason I could easily foresee some AHJ’s ruling these doors are part of the means of egress.
I grew up in Elkhart Indiana, and Paul Thomas shoes on Main Street had a kid sized glass door next to the adult door through the 50’s to 80’s. Mr Thomas is retired, now operates a museum in the building (with only a single normal sized door)