Keeping unauthorised people out is only half the job of your access control systems. Allowing staff, tenants, and visitors to leave the building safely and quickly is just as vital. When you design a security setup, you must ensure that every exit route works flawlessly, especially during an emergency.
Door Entry Online was founded by experienced installers who spent years fitting access control systems across the UK. Because of this hands-on background, we know exactly what it takes to build a secure, fully compliant setup. We carefully curate our kits to ensure that professional tradespeople and retail consumers alike receive dependable hardware they can trust for every installation.
In this guide, you will learn how to choose the right exit devices, understand basic wiring principles, and keep your building compliant with UK safety regulations.
Balancing Building Security with Life Safety
Health and safety officers, installers, and building owners often face a common dilemma. You want to lock down the property to prevent theft and vandalism, but you also must guarantee that occupants can escape instantly if a fire breaks out.
A reliable setup balances these two needs perfectly. Standard exit devices handle the day-to-day flow of people leaving the building, while emergency egress devices act as a fail-safe override. If you get this balance wrong, you risk trapping people inside during a crisis or leaving your property vulnerable to intruders.
Standard Egress: Press to Exit Buttons and No Touch Sensors
For daily use, occupants need a simple way to release the electronic lock and leave the building. You achieve this using standard egress devices.
The most common option is the traditional "Press to Exit" button. These are usually large, green dome buttons or stainless steel plates fitted on the secure side of the door. When a user presses the button, it momentarily cuts the power to the magnetic lock or triggers the electric strike, allowing the door to open.
Why hygienic "No Touch" buttons are becoming the standard
In recent years, the market has shifted heavily towards contactless technology. "No Touch" exit sensors use infrared technology to detect a hand waving in front of the panel.
These sensors are highly recommended for hospitals, food preparation areas, and busy multi-tenant offices. Because users never physically touch the device, you drastically reduce the spread of germs and bacteria. They also suffer less physical wear and tear than mechanical buttons, making them a highly reliable addition to modern access control systems.
Emergency Egress: The Role of Break Glass Switches
Standard exit buttons rely on the main controller to process the exit request. If the controller malfunctions or a fire damages the system's wiring, a standard button might fail to release the door.
This is why emergency egress devices are a mandatory requirement. Green break glass switches (also known as emergency door releases) provide a direct, physical override. You wire these switches directly in line with the power supply to the lock. When someone presses the glass (or plastic equivalent), the circuit breaks, dropping power to the lock instantly.
Highlighting products like the ABK-SPC Reset Switch
Modern emergency switches do not actually shatter glass, which makes resetting them much safer and easier. Devices like the ABK-SPC resettable break glass switch feature a plastic element that drops down when pressed. Once the emergency is over, the building manager simply uses a special key to reset the plastic element, restoring the circuit without needing replacement parts.
UK Fire and Building Regulations for Access Control Systems
Compliance is non-negotiable. If you install access control systems on fire escape routes, you must adhere to UK fire safety regulations and building codes.
The core rule is that doors on escape routes must open easily without the use of a key, and without requiring special knowledge. For electronic locks, this means:
- You must use fail-safe locks (like maglocks) on fire doors, which unlock automatically when power is lost.
- You must install a green emergency break glass unit on the secure side of the door.
- The system must link to the building's main fire alarm panel so that all doors drop open the moment the alarm sounds.
Always consult with a local fire safety officer or a qualified inspector if you are unsure about the specific requirements for your building.
Wiring Exit Devices (Normally Open vs. Normally Closed)
Understanding how to wire exit devices is crucial for a safe installation. You will frequently encounter two terms: Normally Open (NO) and Normally Closed (NC).
- Normally Open (NO): The circuit remains open (off) until you press the button, which closes the circuit and sends a signal to the controller to release the door. Standard press-to-exit buttons usually wire into the NO terminals of your controller.
- Normally Closed (NC): The circuit allows power to flow constantly until the button is pressed, which breaks the circuit. Emergency break glass units must always be wired in series on the NC circuit directly to the lock's power supply. This ensures that if the wire is cut or the switch is activated, the power drops and the door opens.
Choose Trusted Exit Hardware for Your Next Job
Specifying the correct exit devices protects your property and saves lives. Whether you need heavy-duty push buttons, hygienic no-touch sensors, or fully compliant emergency break glass units, choosing hardware curated by experienced installers guarantees peace of mind.
Explore our extensive range of Door Exit Devices to ensure your next installation is safe, reliable, and compliant. We support UK trade professionals with automatic tiered discounts to help you maximise your margins on every job. Secure 3% off orders over £250, 10% off orders over £750, and a massive 15% off orders over £1,500.
