Equipment in stairwells

[john37]

I heard that no electrical equipment other than lighting and fire alarm (speaker/strobes) is allowed in building stairwells. Is this true? If so, what code would this fall under? I'm trying to figure out if a recently installed magnetic door locking system leading into a building stairwell is code compliant. They put all the conduits and key switches by the door leading inside the stairwell that leads into the building corridors. They also put a remote power booster above the door inside the stairwell for the locking system that is tied into the building fire alarm. The installation was done a few months ago and now they want to submit drawings for permit. Don't ask...

 

[Volta]

In NFPA's 101 'Life Safety Code' it was (probably still is) written to have no penetrations into or through an exit (stairwell) except for those that are there to serve the exit. So while you cannot usually use a stairwell as a path, for those purposes it sounds ok.

 

[mtfallsmikey]

My buildings are set up like that, passed inspection.