I believe electromagnetically locked doors (electric strike, card readers, etc.) in the path of egress need to be tied tied into the building's fire alarm system. But does this also apply to electromagnetically locked doors not in the path of egress like private rooms, bathrooms, etc.?
All electromagnetic locks - tie into FA system?
- Thread starter cppoly
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kwired
Electron manager
- Location
- NE Nebraska
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- EC
I would think not necessary if it is still possible to exit if the door is only locked to prevent entry without a key, card, etc, but still allows opening from interior without a key, card, etc, as is the case with "panic style" latch hardware.
gadfly56
Senior Member
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Professional Engineer, Fire & Life Safety
I would also say no, unless the space is card in/card out. I'm guessing the various TLA's have such spaces. In that case they would need to unlock.
Magnets that actually hold the door shut with 600lbs of force, or magnetic latches on the hardware that always allow the door to be opened in the direction of egress?
If its the former, and your in a private restroom with one of those on the door, its still in your path of egress.
If its the former, and your in a private restroom with one of those on the door, its still in your path of egress.
ron
Senior Member
- Location
- New York, 40.7514,-73.9925
Although it is a challenge, the only place I recall seeing a reference to auto-unlock from a fire alarm in the building code (IBC) is in Chapter 10 which is in the Means of Egress.
Check your locally adopted building code and life safety code to see if there are differences.
Check your locally adopted building code and life safety code to see if there are differences.
Thanks for the replies. The only information I can find is a requirement on access controlled egress doors (NFPA 101 life safety code 7.2.1.6.2) that says they need to be tied into a fire alarm system.
I can't find any other requirement if the door is not an egress door.
I can't find any other requirement if the door is not an egress door.
ron
Senior Member
- Location
- New York, 40.7514,-73.9925
You saw the egress door requirement for tie into the fire alarm in the Building Code I hope.
gadfly56
Senior Member
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Professional Engineer, Fire & Life Safety
If you have any space within an occupancy that does not have an ADA-compliant means of exit such as a crash bar and it is electrically locked in the direction of egress, it needs to be tied to the fire alarm system. So, if the executive washroom requires a card to get out as well as in, it has to be unlocked by the fire alarm system when a fire is detected.
Yes, I should have said you can get out with a door crash bar. Security hardware it to just get in. So there's no requirement to FA tie-in?
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