The Brief
MGC was called to replace outdated timber emergency exit doors at the City of London College with modern commercial aluminium doors. The job needed to improve safety, thermal efficiency and full compliance with current legislation, including PART L and Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) standards.
The installation included three sets of emergency exit doors, each customised to meet the above functional and regulatory requirements. Upgrading these doors was critical for creating a safe and accessible college while improving energy performance.
Our Approach
We selected the Pure Commercial Door system by Senior Architectural Systems, featuring advanced PUR thermal break technology. This system provides exceptional thermal efficiency with U-values as low as 0.89W/m²K, making it a perfect choice for modern building compliance and energy-saving goals.
Custom Solutions for Each Door
Door 1: Corridor to Japanese-Inspired Courtyard
- Purpose – Restricted access to the courtyard while allowing emergency entry from outside.
- Features – The door had no internal handles to prevent unrestricted corridor access. An emergency panic bar lock was installed on the exterior to enable access into the building if needed.
Door 2: Classroom Emergency Exit
- Purpose – Providing safe emergency egress from a classroom.
- Features – An internal emergency panic bar for quick exits was included. No external handles were installed to maintain security.
Door 3: Corridor to Assembly Hall
- Purpose – Facilitating emergency egress from a key corridor.
- Features – Similar to Door 2, it featured an internal emergency panic bar and no external handles. Fixed side windows were included for additional natural light.
- Soft-Closing Overhead Closers – Manufactured by GEZE for smooth and controlled door operation.
- Finger Trap Stiles – A safety feature on the hinge side to prevent injuries.
- Low Aluminium Thresholds – Ensuring wheelchair accessibility as per DDA requirements.
- High-Security Glazing – For thermal performance, 6.8mm laminated security glass paired with 6mm toughened Low-E glass, Argon gas filling and warm-edge spacer bars.
- Panic Bars – Supplied by Briton for reliable emergency egress functionality.
Key Features of All Doors
The Outcome
The newly installed emergency exit doors strengthened safety, energy efficiency and accessibility for the City of London College students and staff. Each door was made and installed to meet strict regulatory requirements, creating a secure and inclusive environment. We transformed the college’s emergency exit systems into high-performance, compliant installations. The project’s success highlights our expertise in delivering custom commercial doors and window glazing solutions.
Does your facility need an upgrade? Contact MGC Glazing today to discuss how we can help with your next project.