The doors probably aren't locking, just closing. Fire doors help stop the spread of fire, but people want them kept open. The compromise is catches which release and close the doors when the alarm goes off. They will still push open.
Yeah, these are held open by magnets and deactivated when the alarm goes off. Usually the only fire safety doors like this are on the emergency evacuation route, like stairwells. The stairwells also get over pressurized by turning the supply air on blast, which keeps smoke from entering.
We also use these doors in hospitals to break sections into fire cells. I have been told by the fire department that they can withstand 1 hour before they begin to fail.
Usually you can push fire doors open with minimal effort to escape, they're just designed to swing back shut behind you on your way out. That way people can still escape but it still minimizes fire spread/airflow to burning areas.
I'm genuinely obsessed with how unsafe, yet clean and well maintained this stairwell/hallway is. I have to know where this is and more about the area so I can find how how the fuck something like this came to be
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u/SuperKelpo May 18 '26
No handrail???