know your building fire and safety codes

When access control hardware is installed on doors in a new or existing building, it is extremely important to be aware of the fire, life-safety and building codes that impact these applications. Failure to take these code requirements into account could result in liability for blocked egress routes and fire door assemblies with labels which are null and void. Informed application of hardware will protect life safety, ensure the effectiveness of fire doors, and prevent costly replacement of non-compliant material.

Following is a summary of the code requirements for four of the most prevalent access control devices found in a typical building. Please consult the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the International Code Council (ICC), and your municipal Fire Marshal for specific requirements in your local area.

1. Fire Doors

Any product used as part of a fire door assembly must be listed for that use. This includes the access control lock or fire exit hardware, power transfer, door position switch or any other component mounted on the door or frame.

The most common issue when installing electrified hardware on an existing fire-rated opening is the limitation on field preparation. NFPA 80 limits field modifications of fire door assemblies to: 3/4-inch wood or composite door undercutting and preparation for surface-applied hardware; function holes for mortise locks; holes for labeled viewers; and protection plates. Round holes may be drilled in the field to accommodate operating components like cylinders, spindles and through-bolts with a maximum hole size of 1-inch (except for cylinder holes which may be any diameter).

NFPA 80: Standard for Fire Doors

Available for purchase and review directly from the National Fire Protection Agency website.

2. Delayed Egress

A delayed egress lock is designed to delay the door from unlocking for 15 seconds and, then, allow free egress. Immediate egress is required upon power failure or fire alarm. A delayed egress lock cannot be installed if a building is not protected by an automatic sprinkler system or approved automatic smoke or heat detection system.

An audible alarm and emergency lighting are required in the vicinity of the door, and signage stating how the delayed egress lock functions must be posted. The 15-second timer must be initiated by a 15-pound maximum force, and the lock must be rearmed manually after the release cycle is complete.

NFPA 101: Life Safety Code ®

Available for purchase and review directly from the National Fire Protection Agency website.

3. Electromagnetic Locks

Electromagnetic locks (maglocks) are often used for retrofit access control applications because installation is relatively easy compared to other electrified locks. Requirements are dictated under “Electromagnetically Locked Egress Doors” (IBC) or “Electrically Controlled Egress Door Assemblies” (NFPA 101).

Historically, older codes required maglocks to be released by all of the following methods simultaneously:

1. A motion sensor initiated by an approaching occupant.
2. A marked emergency push button mounted beside the door (unlocks for 30 seconds, independent of the access system).
3. Actuation of the building fire alarm.
4. Loss of primary power to the lock.

Modern Code Updates: New code sections now allow the maglock to be released simply by a door-mounted release device (i.e., panic hardware, touch-sense bar, or latch set with an integral switch) which has an obvious method of operation under all lighting conditions and can be operated with one hand. In the 2024 edition of the IBC, maglocks may be used on doors with panic hardware as long as actuation of the panic hardware releases the magnetic lock.

4. Stairwell Re-entry

The purpose of stairwell re-entry is to enable a building occupant to leave the stair if it becomes compromised during a fire and enter the tenant space to seek egress via another stair. It also enables firefighter access to the floors. Free egress from the tenant floors to the stairwell must be allowed at all times, except for specific exceptions detailed in the codes.

The 2003 edition of the IBC allowed stairs serving four stories or less to have mechanical locks on the stair side. However, recent editions of the IBC require fail-safe locks with remote release, even for stairs serving 4 stories or less. NFPA 101 does allow stair doors serving four stories or less to have mechanical locks, and it also allows “selected re-entry,” where some doors are locked and others are unlocked to allow re-entry.

International Building Code (IBC)

Available for purchase and review directly from the International Code Council website.

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