Evacuating buildings quickly and safely is a vital practice, in the strictest sense of the word, in environments such as hospitals, medical centers, workplaces, or shopping centers, among others. In this context, panic doors or emergency doors are key elements to ensure rapid and safe evacuation during emergencies. Levers are an active part of these safety systems, acting as the mechanism that ensures the door functions correctly, even under high pressure or impact.
The Importance of Having Robust Levers in Panic Doors
Levers are mechanical components that allow the lock to operate when the panic bar is pressed. Their design and material largely determine the system's reliability. In this regard, handles and levers made of zamak stand out for their combination of robustness, impact resistance, and durability.
Zamak, a zinc alloy with aluminum, magnesium, and copper, offers superior mechanical strength compared to other lightweight metals, ensuring that the panic door functions properly even after repeated heavy use. This is fundamental, as a low-strength lever can compromise the safety of the entire installation and cause failures in the panic bar mechanism, putting the evacuation of people at risk.
Zamak for High-Performance Applications
Using zamak in the manufacture of levers, as well as other parts for handles, knobs, and pulls, offers specific advantages that make it suitable for this application:
- Impact Resistance: Zamak levers absorb strong impacts without deforming, ensuring that the panic bar door remains operational in any situation.
- Durability: The alloy retains its properties even after years of constant use, reducing the need for maintenance and replacement.
- Mechanical Precision: Zamak allows for precise molding, essential to guarantee an exact fit of the lever with the locking mechanism and ensure smooth and safe operation.
- Compatibility with Fire Doors: Its resistance to deformation makes these levers suitable for fire doors, where stable mechanical performance under extreme heat or pressure is required.
Considerations for Selecting Levers for Panic Doors
When selecting levers for panic doors, purchasing managers should consider several factors:
- Lock Compatibility: The lever must perfectly fit the specific locking mechanism of each door.
- Resistance to Repeated Loads: It should withstand frequent opening and closing cycles without losing functionality.
- Environmental Conditions: Some applications require resistance to humidity, temperature changes, or exposure to chemicals, where zamak demonstrates an advantage over less durable materials.
- Integration in Fire and Emergency Doors: The component must function correctly even in doors that serve specific fire containment functions, ensuring structural safety.
- Compliance with Applicable Standards: The panic system and its components must comply with current regulations, such as UNE-EN 1125 (panic devices operated by horizontal bar) or UNE-EN 179 (emergency devices operated by handle or push plate), ensuring safe use in evacuation routes.
Jegan, Specialists in Zamak Injection for Different Sectors
Understanding lever quality is key. A low-strength lever can compromise the safety of the entire installation, cause failures in the panic bar mechanism, and put people’s evacuation at risk. Zamak handles and levers not only meet these standards but exceed requirements in terms of durability and reliability. For manufacturers and purchasing managers, this means having a component that ensures the panic door opens quickly and safely when needed, protects users, and complies with current legislation.
Contact Jegan to learn more and receive advice from our team of experts.
