Fire Safety

1. LOCKS & LATCHES
General: Doors shall be arranged to be opened readily from the egress side whenever the building is
occupied. Locks, if provided, shall not require the use of a key, a tool or special knowledge or effort
for operation from the egress side.
Basic locking and release arrangements are mention below:
1. Keys or tools can be advised to use in an exit if on or adjacent to the door there is a readily, visible
letters not less than 1 in. high on a contrasting background read as follows:
“ THIS DOOR TO REMAIN UNLOCKED
WHEN THE BUILDING IS OCCUPIED.”
2. A key is immediately available to any occupant inside the building when it is locked by a key.
3. Every door in a stair enclosure serving more than four stories shall allow re-entry from any from
the stair enclosure to the interior of the building, or an automatic release shall be provided to unlock
all stair enclosure doors to re-entry. Such automatic release shall be actuated with the initiation of
building fire alarm system.
4. If a stair enclosure allows access to roof, the door to the roof either shall be kept locked or allow
re-entry from the roof.

2. LOCKS & LATCHES
5. A latch or other fastening device on a door shall be provided with a releasing device having an
obvious method of operation and that is readily operated under all lighting condition. The releasing
mechanism for any latch shall be located not less than 34 in. (86 cm), and not more than 48 in. (122
cm), above the finished floor. Doors shall be operable with not more than one releasing operation.
6. Where pairs of doors are required in a means of egress, each leaf of the pair shall be provided
with its own releasing device. Devices that depend on the release of one door before the other shall
not be used.

3. LOCKS & LATCHES
Special Locking Arrangements:
 Delayed Egress locks: Approved, listed, delayed egress locks shall be permitted to be installed on
doors serving low and ordinary hazard contents in buildings protected throughout by an
approved, supervised, automatic fire detection systems or an automatic sprinklered system
provided that the following criteria are met.
1. The doors shall unlock upon actuation of an approved, supervised automatic sprinkler system or
upon the actuation of any heat detector or two smoke detectors of an fire detection system.
2. The doors shall unlock upon loss of power controlling the lock or locking mechanism.
3. An irreversible process shall release the lock within 15 seconds upon application of a force to the
release device that shall not be required to exceed 15 lbf (67 N) nor be required to be
continuously applied for more than 3 seconds. The initiation of the release process shall activate
an audible signal in the vicinity of the door.
4. On the door adjacent to the release device, there shall be a readily visible, durable sign in letters
not less than 1 in. (2.5 cm) high and not less than 1/8 in. (0.3 cm) in stroke width on a contrasting
background that read as follows: “ PUSH UNTIL ALARM SOUNDS
DOOR CAN BE OPENED IN 15 SECONDS”

4. LOCKS & LATCHES
Special Locking Arrangements:

5. LOCKS & LATCHES
Special Locking Arrangements:
 Access control Egress locks: This means of egress shall be permitted to be equipped with with an
approved entrance and egress access control system. Provided that the following criteria are met:
1. A sensor shall provided on the egress side and arranged to detect an occupant approaching the
doors and the doors shall be arranged to open in the direction of egress upon detection of an
approaching occupant.
2. Loss of power to the part of the access control system that locks the door shall unlock the doors
automatically in the direction of egress.

6. LOCKS & LATCHES
Special Locking Arrangements:
3. Activation of the building fire protective signaling system, if provided, shall automatically unlock the
doors in the direction of egress, and the doors shall remain unlocked until the fire protective system
has been manually reset.
4. Activation of the building automatic sprinkler or fire detection system, if provided, shall
automatically unlock the doors in the direction of egress, and the doors shall remain unlocked until
the automatic sprinkler or fire detection system has been manually reset.