Crack the Codes: Lock and Life Safety Code Considerations for Campuses
This primer will help to ensure your school, university or hospital selects door security solutions that also comply with fire protection and accessibility codes.
Learn the appropriate fire and accessibility codes so your campus doesn't sacrifice life safety for security.
Fire doors are required to close and latch in order to provide protection during a fire. One strategy for locking classroom doors quickly is to leave the door hardware locked at all times but prevent the lock from latching under normal circumstances. A thin magnet or other material is placed over the strike on the frame and can be removed if a lockdown is implemented. Because this prevents the door from latching, it is not acceptable for use on a fire door unless allowed by the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).
Other devices are designed to keep the door open just enough to prevent the door from latching. Mechanical hold-opens and wedges cannot be used on a fire door – the door must close and latch. This prohibition includes devices that hold the fire door open a small amount. Fire inspectors will often remove wedges and other non-compliant accessories. They may even fine a facility for repeated offenses.
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When alterations are made to a fire door assembly in the field, holes for new hardware are typically limited to 1 inch diameter, and existing holes left by the removal of hardware must be filled with steel fasteners or the same material as the door or frame. There is also a fire door caulk that has been tested and listed for use filling small holes in wood fire doors. Fire doors that have been modified improperly or have not been maintained in code-compliant condition will be noted as deficiencies during the annual fire door assembly inspection re
quired by current codes.
Electrified Hardware
Some facilities are considering the use of electrified hardware in their plans for securing campus buildings. While these products can facilitate a lockdown quickly, there are code requirements that must be followed. Many electrified locks allow free egress at all times and only control access – these are typically code-compliant. But other electrified products, such as delayed egress locks and electromagnetic locks, are specifically addressed in the codes.
While it may be tempting to use a delayed egress lock on a school’s emergency exit, the International Building Code and International Fire Code do not allow delayed egress locks to be used in assembly or educational use groups. Electromagnetic locks may be used on campus, but releasing devices that provide immediate free egress are required. When electrified hardware is desired, it’s best to check the code that has been adopted in the campus’ jurisdiction to verify all requirements.
Codes Have Been Created for a Reason
Code requirements that provide for life safety, egress, fire protection and accessibility frequently impact the devices used to secure doors. In most cases, free egress is required at all times, not only when the fire alarm is activated. Fire doors can’t perform as designed and tested if they are not kept in code-compliant condition. Accessibility standards are intended to provide access and egress for each building occupant.
There are limited exceptions where these rules do not apply, and these requirements must be considered when making decisions regarding physical security. Failure to do so can result in unsafe conditions, removal of the offending devices, increased liability, citations and fines, or other serious consequences. An understanding of the codes will help to ensure the selection of code-compliant security methods.
Lori Greene, AHC/CDC, CCPR, FDAI, FDHI is the manager of codes and resources for Allegion, www.allegion.com.
Clarification: In a photo and caption that previously appeared in this story, the author made claims that a particular door locking security device did not meet code requirements for egress. The manufacturer of that product denies the author’s assertions and informs Campus Safety that the product in the photo has been approved by the Michigan State Fire Marshal and other officials in multiple jurisdictions for use in schools and other public buildings. The article reflects the opinion of the author only. Campus Safety expresses no opinion with respect to either the author’s or manufacturer’s assertions. Campus Safety does not endorse individual products. The photo and caption have been removed from the slideshow.
Photo ThinkStock
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