What is the purpose of a Vision Panel?
As the name suggests, Vision Panels are an effective way to provide visibility through doors in a number of commercial environments, whether that be in busy bars or restaurants to avoid collisions from either side, or immediate visibility in any room in the event of an emergency.
Aside from the safety aspect, these panels offer another way to let natural light in to room that may not include windows.
Particular emphasis is place on doors that subdivide escape routes and doors that swing both ways.
When are Vision Panels required?
The regulations surrounding Vision Panels come from both Approved Document M and the BS8300 Regulations, they state that:
“Fully glazed doors or Vision Panels are required in entrance doors, doors in corridors and in passageways in public buildings”
The specifics
Any door that is more than 450mm wide is required to have a suitable Vision Panel, and the regulations are quite specific on what they refer to as a “zone of visibility”. The zone of visibility is stated to be between 500mm and 1500mm from finished door level, ensuring that any potential hazards and obstacles can be detected and avoided upon entering a room or corridor.
However, the regulations do state that a complete panel is not required, but there are still guidelines that must be adhered to in this case. An obstruction to the full panel already built in to the door such as a midrail, may only be broken up in measurements between 800mm and 1150mm.
When are Vision Panels not required?
Even though the regulations around Vision Panels and doors in general in regards to Approved Document M and BS8300 are extremely strict and widespread, there are some exceptions in which a Vision Panel cannot be installed for certain reasons, these include:
· In rooms and spaces that have privacy requirements, such as toilets and changing rooms
· In rooms and spaces where security would be compromised with the inclusion of a Vision Panel
· In rooms and spaces that require the lighting to be controlled in a very specific way, such as in cinemas and auditoriums
It is important to note that some sections of both Approved Document M and BS8300 may clash with other important regulations such as those regarding fire safety. Before installing Vision Panels, check with your designated Fire Safety Officer to ensure that safety is not compromised.
When it comes to commercial spaces, Vision Panels are an essential part of safety requirements to create visibility and offer a way to maximise natural light, and making sure you follow these regulations will allow you to maximise on the benefits in all aspects. You can shop our range of Vision Panels here, and to find other corresponding safety and accessibility products, you can read our Buyers Guides for both Approved Document M and BS8300.