The doors shall be arranged to unlock from a manual unlocking device located 40 inches to 48 inches (1016 mm to 1219 mm) vertically above the floor and within 5 feet (1524 mm) of the secured doors. Loss of power to that part of the access control system which locks the doors shall automatically unlock the doors.ģ. The doors shall be arranged to unlock by a signal from or loss of power to the sensor.Ģ. A sensor shall be provided on the egress side arranged to detect an occupant approaching the doors. The entrance doors in a means of egress in buildings with an occupancy in Groups A, B, E, I-2, M, R-1 or R-2, and entrance doors to tenant spaces in occupancies in Groups A, B, E, I-2, M, R-1 or R-2, are permitted to be equipped with an approved entrance and egress access control system, listed in accordance with UL 294, which shall be installed in accordance with all of the following criteria:ġ.
Here are the code sections to aid in the discussion:ġ008.1.9.8 Access-controlled egress doors. Section 1008.1.9.9 does not require the lock to unlock upon fire alarm, only upon loss of power to the switch in the door-mounted hardware (panic hardware or lever set with request-to-exit switch). The difference between the two sections is that 1008.1.9.9 applies to mag-locks which use door-mounted hardware with an integral switch as the release device for the mag-lock, rather than the sensor and push button. For many years we have applied section 1008.1.9.8 to electromagnetic locks - section 1008.1.9.9 didn't exist until 2009. The code also requires the lock to unlock upon fire alarm or power failure.Ģ) Section 1008.1.9.9 is not the only section that can be used for doors with electromagnetic locks. Without the sensor and push button required by this code section, you would not be able to unlock the door from the egress side. A common example of this would be an electromagnetic lock.
The Commentary agrees with me: "An entrance door that was locked or controlled from the exterior, but allowed free egress at any time, such as with a panic bar or other standard hardware, would not be an access controlled egress door." This section applies to electrified locks when they are of a type which does not allow free egress without additional release devices. Here is my interpretation (I know - I am not the AHJ and I have no power, but this is what I do all day every day):ġ) Section 1008.1.9.8 does not apply to doors with access control readers, when the access control reader is only controlling access, not egress. The confusion comes from 2 misinterpretations (no offense if anyone has made these interpretations.I'm happy to discuss this until you agree with me ):ġ) Some have interpreted 1008.1.9.8 Access-controlled egress doors to apply to all doors that have access control readers.Ģ) Some have interpreted 1008.1.9.9 Electromagnetically locked egress doors to apply to all doors with electromagnetic locks. Between changes to the code and the revised Commentary, these sections (and others) will be much clearer. There is a lot of confusion about these 2 sections, and I'm currently working with a committee to revise the Commentary for the 2015 IBC.