Access Control Systems

This Standard applies to the installation of magnetic or electric type locking hardware on doors that are required for occupant egress and/or Fire Department emergency access into and throughout a building. Such hardware can create a condition where special knowledge or effort may be required by occupants to exit the building or room where these systems are installed. Additionally, fire department emergency access can be adversely impacted when doors are secured with such devices. The purpose of this Standard is to set forth mitigation measures to allow equivalent occupant safety for exiting and adequate emergency access when such systems are installed. For the purpose of this standard, these types of devices shall be referred to as, "access control systems."

The installation of an access control system on doors required for access and egress purposes, may be permitted for Groups A, B, E, M, R-1, and R-2 occupancies subject to compliance with the following criteria:

1. Exit doors equipped with access control systems shall not be secured from the egress side such that special knowledge or effort is required to unlock the door. The normal operation of door hardware or activation of a sensor device shall result in the direct interruption of power to the locking mechanism.

2. Doors secured by an access control system shall not be located in the path of egress from an occupancy that requires panic hardware on the exit doors unless the locking mechanism will immediately release (direct interruption of power to the lock) upon operation of a listed panic hardware device. The panic hardware device shall be approved and listed for such service. Sensors are not permitted as a means of releasing the securing mechanisms on such doors.

3. When sensors are provided to unlock magnetic or electric securing devices, they shall be installed on the egress side, so arranged to first detect an approaching occupant within 10 feet of the door(s). The door(s) shall unlock upon detection of an approaching occupant or loss of power to the sensor.

4. For doors that are unlocked by sensor devices, a manually activated unlocking device shall also be provided. It shall be located forty inches (40") to forty-eight inches (48") vertically above the floor and within five (5’) feet of the secured door(s). The manually activated device shall be readily accessible and clearly identified by a sign or label that reads "push to exit" or other acceptable wording. When operated, the manual unlocking device shall immediately unlock the associated door or pair of doors (direct interruption of power to the lock). The door(s) shall remain unlocked for a period of at least 30 seconds.

5. Loss of power (or standby power if provided) to the access control system or door securing devices shall automatically unlock* secured doors.

   * Required fire rated doors shall always remain in the latched position. Loss of power shall only unlock such door(s) to allow for free access and egress.

6. A key operated switch shall be provided adjacent to the main building entrance or affected tenant space entrance (or as otherwise approved by the Fire Department) for Fire Department use. Operation of the switch shall unlock all doors in the building or tenant space equipped with an access control system. (Note that required fire rated doors shall always remain in the latched position. Operation of the switch shall only unlock such doors). All doors shall remain unlocked until the system is manually reset. The switch shall be keyed to the Fire Department's Knox Key System. In lieu of the Knox key switch, a Fire Department approved key lock box containing keys to the access control system may be installed immediately adjacent to a system-deactivating switch.

   Exception: When approved by the Chief, a key switch is not required if a sufficient number of master keys are provided (in a key lock box). The keys shall unlock all doors in the building or tenant space that are equipped with an access control system such that the doors will remain unlocked until manually re-locked.

7. The applicant shall submit: a completed "Application for use of Alternate Material, Method of Construction, or Modification of Code" form, a floor plan showing the location(s) of the secured doors, system hardware and component specifications and a detailed written description of the system operation.

SD&S SI-6/DJM/081902 (web)