BS EN 179:1998

Building hardware
Emergency exit devices operated by a lever handle or push pad
Requirements and test methods

Classifies emergency exit devices using a 9 digit coding system.

Each digit refers to a particular feature of the product measured against the standard's performance requirements.

• Digit 1 - Category of use
  - grade 3: High frequency use by public and others with little incentive to exercise care.
  
  
• Digit 2 - Durability
  - grade 6: 100 000 cycles.
  - grade 7: 200 000 cycles.
  
  
• Digit 3 - Door mass
  - grade 5: Up to 100kg.
  - grade 6: Up to 200kg.
  
  
• Digit 4 - Fire resistance
  - grade 0: Not approved for use on fire/smoke door assemblies.
  - grade 1: Suitable for use on fire/smoke door assemblies, subject to satisfactory assessment of the products contribution to the fire resistance of specified fire/smoke door assemblies. This is assessed outside of BS EN 179.
  
  
• Digit 5 - Safety
  - grade 1: All exit devices are required to satisfy the essential requirement of safety in use.
  
  
• Digit 6 - Corrosion resistance
  - grade 3: High resistance.
  - grade 4: Very high resistance.
  
  
• Digit 7 - Security
  Products covered by BS EN 179 have the opportunity of greater security than those covered by BS EN 1125.
  - grade 2: 1 000 N.
  - grade 3: 2 000 N.
  - grade 4: 3 000 N.
  
  
• Digit 8 - Projection of device
  - grade 1: Projection up to 150mm (standard)
  - grade 2: Projection up to 100mm (low projection).
  
  
• Digit 9 - Type of device
  - Type A: Emergency device with lever handle operation.
  - Type B: Emergency device with push pad operation.

The following marking denotes an emergency exit device tested to 200 000 operations for a door mass up to 200kg. Suitable for fire door use with high corrosion resistance, providing grade 4 security and low projection. Type B.

UNION Escape Hardware successfully type-tested for conformity to BS EN 179:1998

UNION U804 Panic Pad Latch

UNION L224402, 224402,
2224402 Escape Nightlatch Lock

UNION L224403, 224403,
2224403, L224404, 224404,
2224404, L224405, 224405,
2224405, L224406, 224406,
2224406 Escape Mortice Lock