power to autodoors

[gfitzger]

I work in a hospital and looking at the code book it states that auto doors for building egress need to be on life safety branch for power, Wouldn't all doors be egress doors or would that mean doors that directly exit building? Code 517.32 (f)

 

[charlie]

I AM GUESSING! Wouldn't auto doors for building egress be fire doors that are normally be held open and will close with the loss of power or activation of a fire alarm? If this is the case, why would you need to be on life safety branch for power? I believe the doors can be manually operated if you need to get out and they will close behind you when you pass through.

 

[charlie b]

There is a citation of an NFPA 99 requirement as a note to the NEC article. That would give you the details. But as I read the NEC, IF the building has a door that is intended to be used for emergency egress, and IF that door's opening function is controlled by an electrical operator, THEN the power supply is required to be on the life safety branch.

 

[LLSolutions]

Quick way to check, if there's an exit sign above it, it should be on life safety. While you can push the doors open in an emergency imagine thousands of people trying to get out of hundreds of doors some of which aren't that strong. Security doors should all be fail safe too. IE maternal wards.