D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 12, r. 12-H1010

Current through Register Vol. 71, No. 49, December 6, 2024

Rule 12-H1010 - DOORS, GATES, AND TURNSTILES

Insert a new Section 1010.1.9.5.2 into the Fire Code to read as follows:

1010.1.9.5.2

Public toilet facility door locking. Where a toilet room is provided for the use of multiple occupants, the egress door for the room shall not be lockable from the inside of the room. This section does not apply to family or assisted-use toilet rooms.

Strike Section 1010.1.9.7 of the International Fire Code; do not strike Items 1 through 8 of Section 1010.1.9.7. Insert a new Section 1010.1.9.7 into the Fire Code in its place to read as follows:

1010.1.9.7

Delayed egress.Delayed egress locking systems shall be permitted to be installed on doors serving any occupancy except Group A and H in buildings that are equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 or an approved automatic smoke or heat detection system installed in accordance with Section 907. The locking system shall be installed and operated in accordance with all of the following:

Insert a new Section 1010.1.9.7.1 in the Fire Code to read as follows:

1010.1.9.7.1

Delayed egress. Delayed egress locking systems shall be permitted to be installed on doors serving Group E in buildings that are equipped throughout with an automatic fire alarm system in accordance with §907.2.3. The locking system shall be installed and operated in accordance with all of the following:

1. The delay electronics of the delayed egress locking system shall deactivate upon actuation of the automatic fire alarm system, allowing immediate, free egress.

2. The delay electronics of the delayed egress locking system shall deactivate upon loss of power controlling the lock or lock mechanism, allowing immediate free egress.

3. The delayed egress locking system shall have the capability of being deactivated at the fire command center and other approved locations, if a fire command center is provided.

4. An attempt to egress shall initiate an irreversible process that shall allow such egress in not more than 15 seconds when a physical effort to exit is applied to the egress side door hardware for not more than 3 seconds. Initiation of the irreversible process shall activate an audible signal in the vicinity of the door. Once the delay electronics have been deactivated, rearming the delay electronics shall be by manual means only.

Exception: Where approved, a delay of not more than 30 seconds is permitted on a delayed egress door.

5. The egress path from any point shall not pass through more than one delayed egress locking system.

6. A sign shall be provided on the door and shall be located above and within 12 inches (305 mm) of the door exit hardware:

6.1. For doors that swing in the direction of egress, the sign shall read: PUSH UNTIL ALARM SOUNDS. DOOR CAN BE OPENED IN 15 [30] SECONDS.

6.2. For doors that swing in the opposite direction of egress, the sign shall read: PULL UNTIL ALARM SOUNDS. DOOR CAN BE OPENED IN 15 [30] SECONDS.

6.3. The sign shall comply with the visual character requirements in ICC A117.1.

7. Emergency lighting shall be provided on the egress side of the door.

8. The delayed egress locking system units shall be listed in accordance with UL 294.

Strike Section 1010.1.9.11 of the International Fire Code in its entirety and insert a new Section 1010.1.9.11 into the Fire Code in its place to read as follows:

1010.1.9.11

Stairway doors. Interior stairway means of egress doors shall be openable from both sides without the use of a key or special knowledge or effort.

Exceptions:

1.Stairway discharge doors shall be openable from the egress side and shall only be locked from the opposite side.

2. This section shall not apply to doors arranged in accordance with Section 403.5.3 of the Building Code.

3. In stairways serving not more than four stories, doors are permitted to be locked from the side opposite the egress side, provided they are openable from the egress side and capable of being unlocked simultaneously without unlatching upon a signal from the fire command center, if present, or a signal by emergency personnel from a single location inside the main entrance to the building.

4.Stairway exit doors shall be openable from the egress side and shall only be locked from the opposite side in Group B, F, M and S occupancies where the only interior access to the tenant space is from a single exit stairway where permitted in Section 1006.3.2.

5.Stairway exit doors shall be openable from the egress side and shall only be locked from the opposite side in Group R-2 occupancies where the only interior access to the dwelling unit is from a single exit stairway where permitted in Section 1006.3.2.

6. In buildings five or more stories in height, including existing buildings without a fire command center complying with Section 911, doors are permitted to be locked from the side opposite the egress side, provided they are unlocked without unlatching upon activation of the building's fire alarm system and the stairway is provided with a telephone or other two-way communication system in accordance with Section 403.5.3 of the Building Code.

Insert a new Section 1010.1.9.12 into the Fire Code to read as follows:

1010.1.9.12

Elevator lobby doors. Exit access doors in the elevator lobby serving a single Use Group B occupancy tenant are permitted to be equipped with an approved egress access control system when all of the following conditions are met:

1. The building is equipped throughout with either an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Subsection 903.1.1 or an approved automatic smoke or heat detection system installed in accordance with Section 907.

2. The elevator lobby exit access doors shall unlock upon loss of power to the access control system.

3. A readily accessible and visible manual unlocking device is installed 40-to 48-inches (1016 mm to 1219 mm) vertically above the floor and within 5 feet (1524 mm) horizontally of the secured doors, identified by a sign with minimum 1/2- inch inch (12.5 mm) high letters that reads "EMERGENCY DOOR RELEASE -ACTIVATE TO OPEN DOORS". Activation of the device shall unlock the doors for a minimum of 30 seconds.

4. Activation of the building fire alarm system, if provided, shall automatically unlock the doors, and the doors shall remain unlocked until the fire alarm system has been reset.

5. Activation of the building automatic sprinkler or fire detection system, if provided, shall automatically unlock the doors. The doors shall remain unlocked until the fire alarm system has been reset.

6. Where a manual fire alarm system is required by Subsection 907.2, a manual fire alarm box shall be provided and located within the elevator lobby.

D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 12, r. 12-H1010

Final Rulemaking published at 67 DCR 5679 (5/29/2020)