Maximizing Space and Egress with the Safescape® S7900 Side Acting Fire Door

 

McKeon® Door of DC led a multi-story tenant fit-out in Reston, Virginia. McKEON®’s S7900 fire door system’s horizontal exit solution helped address the project’s egress requirements while preserving the architectural design and functionality of the office space.

The architect, Interior Architects, needed a horizontal exit to maximize the allowable occupant load on the floor while maintaining the building’s two required exit stairs. Positioned along a primary office corridor, the 12-foot-wide opening required a solution that could accommodate pedestrian flow without creating the bottleneck that conventional swing doors would present.

 

A Space-Saving Solution for Complex Layouts

The side acting, fire-rated McKEON® S7900 was selected for its long, narrow pocket design, which integrated seamlessly with the architect’s existing plans. Unlike other side-acting shutter configurations, the S7900 minimized the impact on the surrounding conference room geometry, allowing the original layout to remain largely intact.

By fitting parallel within the wall cavity, the shutter pocket maximized usable floor space while providing the required horizontal exit protection.

Maintaining Design Flexibility

Another key design consideration was the architect’s vision for double-acting swing doors positioned side by side at the center of the curtain. The design also needed to eliminate the need for a floor track.

McKEON®’s solid steel frame design made it possible to accommodate the desired double-acting swing door configuration without a floor track, helping preserve both the intended aesthetic and the functionality of the opening.

Innovative Solutions for Modern Buildings

Completed in Spring 2025, this Reston project demonstrates how McKEON®’s S7900 fire door systems can address complex egress requirements while supporting architectural intent, efficient space planning, and unobstructed circulation.

Through thoughtful integration and design flexibility, the fire rated S7900 provided a solution that balanced life safety requirements with the practical demands of a modern commercial office environment.