Tornado-Resistant Exit Device meets FEMA 361 guidelines.

Press Release Summary:



Designed as 2-point surface vertical rod exit device, FM8700 Series helps protect lives by securing community shelters and safe room entries. It surface-mounts to door and meets all life safety code requirements for panic egress and fire resistance. During FEMA 361 testing, this 2-point latching panic hardware, mounted on one pair of ASSA ABLOY doors, kept them safely latched and closed during windload pressures and 5 missile shots from 2 x 4 lumber with velocities of 100 mph.



Original Press Release:



Sargent Offers Industry's First Tornado-Resistant Exit Device



Only 2-Point Latching Panic Hardware to Meet FEMA's Strict Guidelines for Community Shelter Protection

NEW HAVEN, Conn., March 9, 2009 - SARGENT Manufacturing Company (www.sargentlock.com) a market leader in locksets, cylinders, door closers, and related products, offers the FM8700 Series exit device, the only 2-point latching panic hardware that complies with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) 361, Design and Construction Guidance for Community Safe Rooms.

Enacted in July 2000, FEMA 361 was created to assist in mandating that emergency shelters must incorporate door and hardware products that not only meet strict testing standards, but also stand up to the destructive forces of a severe windstorm.

The FM8700 is a FEMA 2-point surface vertical rod exit device developed to help protect lives, secure community shelters and safe room entries. This hardware is designed and constructed to not only withstand extreme wind speeds and flying debris - the two main threats to doors and hardware during a severe windstorm - but also to meet all life safety code requirements for panic egress and fire resistance.

The FM8700 requires no complicated or expensive door prep and is surface mounted to the door. Specially machined rail and internal components make this product sturdier and more robust than standard hardware products. During FEMA 361 testing, this hardware mounted on a pair of ASSA ABLOY doors, kept the doors safely latched and closed during the high windload pressures and 5 missile shots from 2 x 4 lumber with velocities of 100 miles per hour.

Shelter openings must implement systems that are designed, tested and certified to withstand pressure and impact standards set forth by FEMA, various model building codes and state and local government authorities.

The FM8700 is part of a complete FEMA compliant, UL certified ASSA ABLOY windstorm system with CECO StormPro® 361, CURRIES StormPro® 361 and FLEMING BARON F-5 doors and frames and McKINNEY heavy weight hinges. Ideal applications include: Community Shelters and Safe Rooms, Corporate Campuses, Schools, Healthcare Facilities and Government Facilities.

About SARGENT

Founded in the early 1800s, SARGENT is a market leader in locksets, cylinders, door closers, exit devices, electromechanical products and access control systems for new construction, renovations and replacement applications. The company's customer base includes commercial construction, institutional and industrial markets. SARGENT is a wholly owned subsidiary of ASSA ABLOY, the world's leading lock group. For more information, call SARGENT at 800-727-5477 or visit www.sargentlock.com.

About ASSA ABLOY

ASSA ABLOY is the global leader in door opening solutions, dedicated to satisfying end-user demands for security, safety and convenience.

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