Emergency Release Door Stops for Double-Action Doors: The Safety & Accessibility Solution

In any building, door stops play a crucial role in securing doors and preventing unnecessary damage to both doors and frames. But what happens when an emergency situation arises, and the door needs to be moved quickly? That’s where emergency release door stops come into play. Unlike regular door stops, emergency door stops are designed to be removed or depressed in critical situations, allowing the door to swing open effortlessly and provide safe and quick access.

The importance of emergency release door stops lies in their ability to prevent damage to doors during emergencies. By ensuring the door can be opened even under pressure, these mechanisms safeguard both the door and its surrounding environment. Moreover, they play a key role in ensuring safe evacuation and emergency access for people inside the building.

What’s An Emergency Release Door Stop?

An emergency release door stop operates like a regular door stop under normal conditions, keeping the door securely in place to prevent accidental movement. But in an emergency, such as when a patient falls against the door or during a fire evacuation, the stop can be easily disengaged or removed. This lets the door swing open swiftly, providing fast access to the room or building.

One key feature of emergency door stops is that they only work with doors that are operable in both directions. This means the door must be installed with pivot hinges or floor springs, allowing the door to move freely in emergency situations.

Moreover, emergency release door stops prevent potential damage to doors and frames by ensuring the door can still move when needed without causing obstruction or damage.

Key features of Emergency release door stops:

Emergency Access: Essential in healthcare—for example, if a patient collapses against a door, staff can quickly remove the stop for entry.

Bidirectional Operation: Requires doors to be hung on pivot hinges or floor springs (since standard hinges won’t allow outward swing).

Damage Prevention: Unlike fixed stops, emergency models release under pressure, preventing door and frame damage.

Types of Emergency Release Door Stops

Camax Hardware offers two types of emergency release door stops that are designed to meet the needs of different applications.

1. EMD001: Emergency Release Door Stop with Rubber Insert

The EMD001 Emergency Release Door Stop can transform double-acting doors into single-acting ones. In an emergency, the release mechanism allows the door to swing in the opposite direction, providing access to patients who may have collapsed and blocked the normal path. The stop resets automatically after release. It features a spring-action stop with fingertip release, using a Pullman-type latch bolt and a rubber bumper insert.

Allows double action door to operate as a single swing, when hung on pivots.

Emergency access is gained by depressing the stop and pulling the door outward.

Includes rubber insert for quieter action.

Stop release resets automatically.

Maintenance free.

5 x 30 mm screws included.

Material is stainless steel 304.

2. EMD002: Emergency Release Door Stop with Hold-Back Facility

The EMD002 Emergency Release Door Stop securely holds doors in the closed position during normal operation, but allows for instant emergency access when needed—simply press the center pin with a pen or similar object to release the mechanism, enabling the door to swing freely in both directions. Designed for easy installation on door frames, this essential safety device is ideal for healthcare facilities, schools, and any environment where quick emergency access might be needed while maintaining secure closure during everyday use.

Allows double action door to operate as a single swing, when hung on pivots.

Emergency access is gained by depressing the stop and pulling the door outward.

Includes hold back facility.

Maintenance free.

Plate has R8 corners.

5 x 30 mm screws included.

Material is stainless steel 304.

Emergency Release Door Stop Integrated with Pivot Hinges

When combined with pivot hinges, emergency door stops provide superior functionality. Pivot hinges allow the door to pivot from a single point, making them ideal for high-traffic areas where easy access and quick evacuation are crucial. The emergency release mechanism ensures that the door can swing open quickly in any situation.

Camax's heavy-duty pivot hinges seamlessly integrate with emergency release door stops for optimal safety. Engineered for both wooden and steel doors, these robust hinges support high-traffic use while meeting stringent standards: ANSI/BHMA A156.4 Grade 1 and UL10C 3-hour fire rating. Ideal for commercial applications requiring reliable emergency egress, our pivot hinge solutions combine durability with code compliance, ensuring smooth door operation in critical environments.

The combination of pivot hinges and emergency release door stops offers both security and emergency preparedness, ensuring that doors remain functional in normal conditions but can be easily accessed in an emergency.

Applications of Emergency Release Door Stops

Emergency release door stops provide critical safety across industries by allowing instant access during crises. In hospitals, they enable rapid entry to patient rooms. Schools use them for smooth evacuations. Offices and hotels rely on them for fire safety compliance. Industrial facilities install them to protect workers and equipment. These devices combine everyday door security with emergency-ready functionality, meeting strict safety standards while preventing door damage. Ideal for healthcare, education, and commercial spaces where both security and quick emergency access matter.

Contact Camax Hardware for Full Product Catalog and a Quote

At Camax, we offer emergency release door stops and other door hardware solutions designed to enhance safety and functionality in your commercial or residential spaces. Whether you’re outfitting a hospital, office building, or industrial facility, we have the products you need to meet safety standards and ensure emergency preparedness.

For more information about our full product range or to request a quote, contact Camax today. We’ll help you install emergency release door stops and other door hardware solutions that are tailor-made for your project.