Electromechanical locking device and connection to fire alarm system

[victor.cherkashi]

My claim is – in tenant space, if the inside lever always allows free egress (regardless of whether the lock is fail safe or fail secure), this type of lock doesn’t need (by safety code or building code) connection to building FA system to release/deactivate the door lock. Am I right?

The new architect tells me that they always provide FA alarm connection to tenant’s server rooms, I told him we can provide FA connection but FA connection is not required by safety code or building code for locks motioned in above paragraph. To be specific, this project located in NYC.

I tried to educate the architect by finding and sending him a credible guide/article/bulletin that will state straightforward “this type of lock doesn’t need FA connection”. I could find, I appreciate any help to find it.

 

[dpcarls1598]

I doubt if you will find specific wording to that effect. The 2018 International Fire Code has an entire section on doors and egress (1010) that clarifies what is needed for egress in different types of occupancies and construction. I don’t recall the entire section but if it’s like most codes, it dictates what IS needed and doesn’t necessarily notate what is NOT needed.
That said, a free egress door would serve no purpose being connected to the fire alarm system unless the activation is designed to allow ACCESS to the space. Where I work, I have about 250 doors on electronic access with none connected to the fire alarm system. However, all doors are the type you describe; free, unobstructed egress.

 

[victor.cherkashi]

I doubt if you will find specific wording to that effect. The 2018 International Fire Code has an entire section on doors and egress (1010) that clarifies what is needed for egress in different types of occupancies and construction. I don’t recall the entire section but if it’s like most codes, it dictates what IS needed and doesn’t necessarily notate what is NOT needed.
That said, a free egress door would serve no purpose being connected to the fire alarm system unless the activation is designed to allow ACCESS to the space. Where I work, I have about 250 doors on electronic access with none connected to the fire alarm system. However, all doors are the type you describe; free, unobstructed egress.

In your opinion a lock/door that requires card to enter and the inside lever always allows free egress (regardless of whether the lock is fail safe or fail secure), does it fell into section 1010.1.9.10 of IFC? Or there is no category for this type of hardware in IFC, so there is no requirements for this?

https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/IFC2018/CHAPTER-10-MEANS-OF-EGRESS

 

[dpcarls1598]

My opinion is that your situation doesn’t meet any of the requirements in the code that would require an interconnection. Codes are difficult this way... No one ever wants to state what is NOT required, but in what situations they ARE required.
My situation is in Minnesota in educational facilities. NY may have different laws and codes in additional to the IBC, NFPA, etc.
My approach would be to ask for the code reference that would require that interconnection on a free egress doorway. Or, specifically what function they expect the interconnection to provide. Allowing access into a space during a fire may be detrimental to the the evacuation of the facility.