www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk

recently i fitted a new britton panic bar to a fire escape door. u retained the original outside access device as it was only really needed to turn the handle to open the door. i stripped it down anyway as it was a bit tight. the screws were well shagged from when the door was originally fitted.

anyway, i had to try a couple of diffeent ways fitting the new hardware and one of the original screws holding the outside access device got totally knackered.

anyone know what type of screw i would need to replace it with? i do have a couple of screws kicking about for pvc door handles. perhaps they would be the same? the screw size is bigger than a socket screw or the sort of screw that bolts a pair of kitchen units together.

outside access device is also manufactured by britton but is approx 20 years old now

Does the old one still comply with current fire regs ? I would replace it to be safe.
Also i know it may sound anal but changing the original screws can lose its rating.
It is the same with bs3621 locks, they are tested to that standard and only retain the rating if the original fixings supplied are used.Now i appreciate the screws with most locks are crap but its the type of thing insurance companies use to get out of paying out.If this happens you can be sure the person who fitted it will be taken to court by owners to recoup their losses.
Regulation is daft in this country and a sign of the times.

Very true lockie. You can't replace the screws without knowing the BS rating. Imaging a fire starts and the door is used and the screw shears because its not strong enough! People could die as a result! And as the chippie that made the judgement call on replacing the screw, you're responsible. The whole shabang will end up on your shoulders, or on your public liability insurance if you've got it!

The external access device should be replaced completely!

ok guys ill mention it. however. the door this is fitted to leads from inside the building (panic bar fitted to the inside) to a corridor and imediately next to this door is an exit to outside. the only reason the door is fitted with the oad is because there is a living quaters upstairs. there is plenty of other routes out.

incidentally i saw an oad on ebay for £25 with bs ratings. perhaps this would prove better. thats if its compatible with a britton panic bar

and ill add i did say it should be replaced but it was decided to see how it worked with the original unit. that was before the screws got chewed up. (wish people would use the correct driver bits so as to avoid screws like that getting chewed up in the first place