Guide to Locking Egress Doors

In almost every building, owners or tenants have a need for some level of security or access control. The IBC covers a wide range of door locking and control techniques, but the shear number of sections and underlying requirements can be tough to digest. Many folks have trouble knowing which code sections apply, and even if the correct section is identified, it can be a challenge to understand the requirements.

In this post, I take a number of these door locking requirements and translate them into (hopefully) more clear and concise language. I also provide some general commentary on my experience in using each type of door/locking arrangement. References are provided to the last 4 editions of the IBC. All references within the article itself are to the most recent code edition.

Click one of the door/lock types in table below to jump to that section.

Component	2015 IBC	2018 IBC	2021 IBC	2024 IBC
Revolving Doors	1010.1.4.1	1010.1.4.1	1010.3.1	1010.3.1
Power-Operated Doors	1010.1.4.2	1010.1.4.2	1010.3.2	1010.3.2
​Special Purpose Horizontal Sliding, Accordion or Folding Doors	1010.1.4.3	1010.1.4.3	1010.3.3	1010.3.3
Educational Occupancies	-	1010.1.4.4	1010.2.8	1010.2.7
Security Grilles	1010.1.4.4	1010.1.4.5	1010.3.4	1010.3.4
Group I-1 and I-2 Controlled Egress	1010.1.9.6	1010.1.9.7	1010.2.14	1010.2.13
Delayed Egress	1010.1.9.7	1010.1.9.8	1010.2.13	1010.2.12
Sensor Release of Electrically Locked Doors	1010.1.9.8	1010.1.9.9	1010.2.12	1010.2.11
Electromagnetically Locked Doors	1010.1.9.9	-	-	-
Door Hardware Release of Electrically Locked Doors	-	1010.1.9.10	1010.2.11	1010.2.10
Correctional Facilities	1010.1.9.10	1010.1.9.11	1010.2.15	1010.2.15
Stairway Doors	1010.1.9.11	1010.1.9.12	1010.2.7	1010.2.6
Panic and Fire Exit Hardware	1010.1.10	1010.1.10	1010.2.9	1010.2.8
Elevator Lobby Exit Access Doors	-	-	-	1010.2.14

 

Revolving Doors

Many designers don't realize that a revolving door can be used in an egress path, as long as certain requirements are met.

All revolving doors must meet the following requirements, but be sure to check out the paragraph below this one for additional requirements for egress/non-egress doors.

1. Comply with BHMA A156.27 and the manufacturer's instructions.
2. Each revolving door must have "breakout" capability per BHMA A156.27 and have an aggregate width of at least 36 inches.
3. A revolving door must be at least 10 feet from the top or bottom of stairs and escalators. A dispersal area must be provided between the stair/escalator and the revolving doors.
4. The revolving door speed (in RPMs) cannot exceed the maximum rpm as specified in BHMA A156.27. Manual revolving doors must comply with Table 1010.1.4.1(1). Automatic or power-operated revolving doors shall comply with Table 1010.1.4.1(2).
5. An emergency stop switch is required near each entry point of power or automatic operated revolving doors within 48 inches of the door and between 24 inches and 48 inches above the floor. The activation area of the emergency stop switch button must be at least 1 inch in diameter and red in color.
6. Each revolving door must have a side-hinged swinging door that complies with IBC 1010.1 in the same wall and within 10 feet of the revolving door.
7. Revolving doors cannot be part of a required accessible route.

Manual Revolving Doors
​Max Door Speed

Door Diameter (Feet)	Max Speed (RPM)
6	12
7	11
8	10
9	9
10	8

Auto/Power Revolving Doors
Max Door Speed

Door Diameter (Feet)	Max Speed (RPM)
8	7.2
9	6.4
10	5.7
11	5.2
12	4.8
12.5	4.6
14	4.1
16	3.6
17	3.4
18	3.2
20	2.9
24	2.4

Revolving Doors in Egress Components must meet the following requirements:

1. Count towards no more than 50% or required egress width or capacity.
2. Each door counts towards a maximum of 50 occupants when performing egress calculations.
3. Maximum breakout force of 130 pounds.

Revolving doors that are not egress components must have a breakout force of 180 pounds or less. A breakout force of more than 180 pounds is permitted if the breakout force reduces to 130 pounds or less under one of the following conditions:

1. Door power failure
2. Sprinkler system activation
3. Smoke detector activation with 75 feet of the revolving doors
4. Activation of a manual control switch in a clearly identified location

 

Power-Operated Doors

Power operated doors are common in building entrances, as well as in occupancies where people may struggle to open a door by themselves, such as a Group I-2 nursing home.

Horizontal sliding doors, like you might see an an airport, are an example of power operated doors.

Any egress door that is operated or assisted by power must have the capability to be manually opened or closed. The forces required to open the doors must comply with IBC 1010.1.3 door opening force requirements, except the force to set the door in motion must not exceed 50 pounds. The door must have the capability to open from any position to the full width of the opening when a force is applied on the egress side.

Power-operated swinging doors, power-operated sliding doors and power-operated folding doors must comply with BHMA A156.10. Power-assisted swinging doors and low-energy power-operated swinging doors must comply with BHMA A156.19. (2018 and Beyond): Low-energy power-operated sliding doors and low-energy power-operated folding doors must comply with BHMA A156.38.

Exceptions to the above requirements:

1. Group I-2 occupancies
2. Special purpose horizontal sliding, accordion or folding doors (see related section in this article)
3. For a biparting door in the emergency breakout mode, a door leaf located within a multiple-leaf opening is exempt from the minimum 32-inch single-leaf requirement, provided that a minimum 32-inch clear opening is provided when the two biparting leaves meeting in the center are broken out.

 

​Special Purpose Horizontal Sliding, Accordion or Folding Doors

Special purpose doors, such as horizontal sliding doors, are most commonly used in situations where a fire door is needed in an egress path but there is a desire to have the door normally open, or perhaps concealed. A sliding or folding fire shutter would fall into this category. These are the only type of doors in this article that specifically require an integrated standby power supply, typically provided as a battery pack above the door.

A horizontal sliding fire door with egress functionality (image courtesy of Won-Door).

Horizontal sliding, accordion or folding doors can be used in all occupancies except Group H when allowed by Exception 6 of IBC 1010.1.2. Use of these doors requires the following (IBC 1010.3.3):

1. The doors are power operated and are capable of being operated manually in the event of power failure.
2. The doors are openable by a simple method from both sides without special knowledge or effort.
3. The force required to operate the door cannot exceed 30 pounds to set the door in motion and 15 pounds to close the door or open it to the minimum required width.
4. The door must be openable with a maximum force of 15 pounds when a force of 250 pounds  is applied perpendicular to the door adjacent to the operating device.
5. The door assembly must comply with the applicable fire protection rating and, where rated, must be:
   1. Self-closing or automatic closing by smoke detection in accordance with IBC 716.2.6.6.
   2. Installed in accordance with NFPA 80.
   3. Comply with IBC 716.
6. The door assembly must have an integrated standby power supply.
7. The door assembly power supply must be electrically supervised.
8. The door must open to the minimum required width within 10 seconds of the operating device.

 

​Locking Arrangements in Educational Occupancies

Locking of egress doors in educational occupancies has been a hotly-debated topic in recent code cycles. Some argue that being able to lock a classroom door from the inside is necessary to protect occupants during certain emergency situations. Others argue that this actually poses a greater risk to occupants inside the classroom. The requirements for such locking arrangements are provided below.

In Group E occupancies, Group B educational occupancies and (2021/2024 only) Group I-4 occupancies, egress doors from classrooms, offices and other occupied rooms with locking arrangements designed to keep intruders from entering the room are permitted with the following requirements:

1. The door is capable of being unlocked from outside the room with a key or other approved method. Remote door unlocking is permitted in addition to the key.
2. The door is openable from within the room per IBC 1010.2
3. Modification are not permitted to listed panic hardware, fire door hardware or closers.
4. (2021/2024 only) Modifications to fire doors assemblies must be in accordance with NFPA 80.

 

​Security Grilles

Security grilles are an important part of building security systems, particularly in retail spaces such as a shopping mall. The IBC allows security grilles in Group M occupancies, as well as Groups B, F and S.

In Groups B, F, M and S, horizontal sliding or vertical security grilles are permitted at the main exit and must be openable from the inside without the use of a key, special knowledge or effort when the space is occupied. The grilles must remain secured in the full-open position anytime the space is occupied by the general public. Where two or more means of egress are required, no more than half of the exits or exit access doorways can be equipped with security grilles.

 

​Group I-1 and I-2 Controlled Egress Doors

Group I-1 and I-2 occupancies include assisted living facilities, nursing homes, hospitals, psychiatric treatment centers, all facilities where people receiving care may​ require some level of containment. There are many situations where allowing a care recipient to freely exit may actually endanger that person or others. The IBC recognizes this risk and provides an avenue to provide locking control on egress doors in such occupancies.

Electric locking systems are permitted in Group I-1 and I-2 occupancies where the clinical needs of the care recipient require their containment. In order to use this code provision, the building must be either fully sprinkler-protected or equipped throughout with smoke detectors and meet all of the following requirements:

1. The door must unlock upon actuation of the sprinkler or smoke detection system, allowing immediate free egress.
2. The door must unlock upon power loss, allowing immediate free egress.
3. The door must have an unlocking switch, located at the fire command center, nursing station or other approved location, that directly breaks power to the lock.
4. No more than one controlled egress door before reaching an exit
5. Door unlocking procures must be included and approved in the required Fire Code emergency planning (see IFC Chapter 4).
6. All clinical staff must have a key or other means to operate the locked door
7. Emergency lighting is required at the door.
8. The door locking system must be UL 294 listed.

Exceptions: Items 1-4 above do not apply to the following situations:

1. Areas where persons require restraint or containment as part of the function of a psychiatric treatment area or (2021 only) cognitive treatment area.
2. Where a listed egress control system is used to reduce child abduction risk from nursery and obstetric area of a Group I-2 hospital.

 

Delayed Egress

Using a delayed egress system is one of the most common approaches to achieve some level of access control on an egress door. They provide a deterrent to occupants using the door unless there is a true need (e.g. a fire emergency), but still allow for full egress use after the delay period. A key limitation of delayed egress systems is they are limited by occupancy , for example, Group A spaces cannot use delayed egress systems, regardless of the occupant load.

Where permitted:

2015:
Delayed egress locking systems are permitted in any occupancy except Groups A, E or H when the building is fully sprinkler protected per NFPA 13 or provided with smoke/heat detection throughout.

2018 and Beyond:
Delayed egress locking systems are permitted in the following situations when the building is fully sprinkler protected per NFPA 13 or provided with smoke/heat detection throughout.

1. Group B, F, I, M, R, S and U
2. Group E classrooms with an occupant load less than 50
3. In courtrooms, on other than the main exit doors, when the building is fully sprinkler protected per NFPA 13.

The delayed egress locking system must meet all of the following requirements:

1. The delay electronics must allow immediate and free egress upon actuation of the sprinkler system or fire detection system.
2. The delay electronics must allow immediate and free egress upon power loss.
3. The delay electronics must have the capability to be deactivated from the fire command center or other approved location.
4. When an effort is applied to the egress door hardware for not more than 3 seconds, an irreversible process must star that allows for the egress door to open in 15 seconds or less. The irreversible process must activate an audible signal near the door. Once the delayed egress door has been deactivated, the door can only be rearmed by manual means.
   1. Exception: Where approved by the AHJ, a delay of not more than 30 seconds is permitted.
5. The egress path cannot pass through more than one delayed egress locking system.
   1. 2015 Exception: In Groups I-2 or I-3, the egress path can pass through up to two delayed egress locking systems if the combined delay is 30 seconds or less.
   2. 2018 Exception: In Groups I-2 or I-3, the egress path can pass through up to two delayed egress locking systems if the combined delay is 30 seconds or less. In Groups I-1 or I-4, the egress path can pass through up to two delayed egress locking systems if the combined delay is 30 seconds or less and the building is fully sprinkler protected per NFPA 13.
   3. 2021/2024 Exception: In Groups I-1 Condition 2, I-2 or I-3, the egress path can pass through up to two delayed egress locking systems if the combined delay is 30 seconds or less. In Groups I-1 Condition 1 or I-4, the egress path can pass through up to two delayed egress locking systems if the combined delay is 30 seconds or less and the building is fully sprinkler protected per NFPA 13.
6. A sign must be provided on the door and located above and within 12 inches of the door exit hardware:
   1. For doors swinging in direction of egress, the sign must read “PUSH UNTIL ALARM SOUNDS. DOOR CAN BE OPENED IN 15 [30] SECONDS.”
   2. For doors swinging in against the direction of egress, the sign must read “PULL UNTIL ALARM SOUNDS. DOOR CAN BE OPENED IN 15 [30] SECONDS.”
   3. The sign must comply with the visual character requirements in ICC A117.1.
   4. Exception: Where approved in Group I occupancies, the sign is not required where care recipients have a clinical needs requiring restraint or containment as part of the function of the treatment area.
7. Emergency lighting must be provided on the egress side of the door.
8. The delayed egress systems must be UL 294 listed.

 

​Sensor Release of Electrically Locked Doors

Electrically locked doors using a sensor release are frequently used in situations where it is helpful to have an egress door unlock prior to an occupant physically reaching the door. Note that this type of door release functionality can be used in conjunction with an electromagnetic locking mechanism (Mag Lock).

Sensors must be mounted such that the door unlocks as an occupant is approaching.

Where Permitted:

2015:
Sensor release locks are permitted on any egress door in Groups A, B, E, I-1, I-2, I-4, M, R-1 or R-2 occupancy.

​2018 and Beyond:
Sensor release locks are permitted on any egress door except in Group H occupancies.

Sensor release locks must be installed and operated per the following requirements:

1. Sensor installed on egress side of door to detect an occupant approaching the door and cause the electric lock system to unlock.
2. Door unlocks upon loss of power or signal to the sensor.
3. Door unlocks upon loss of power to the lock or locking system.
4. Doors can be unlocked from a manual device located 40” to 48” above the floor and with 5 feet of the doors. The unlocking device must be readily accessible and be clearly identified with a “PUSH TO EXIT” sign. The unlocking device must directly interrupt power to the lock independent of other electronics and keep the door unlocked for at least 30 seconds.
5. Door unlocks upon activation of the building fire alarm system and remain unlocked until fire alarm system is reset.
6. Door unlocks upon activation of the sprinkler system or fire detection system and remain unlocked until the fire alarm is reset.
7. Door lock system must be UL 294 listed or (2024 only) UL 1034 listed.
8. (2021/2024 Only) Emergency lighting must be provided on the egress side of the door.

 

​Electromagnetically Locked Doors

Electromagnetically locked egress doors, commonly referred to as “Mag Locks” are permitted in Group A, B, E, I-1, I-2, M, R-1 and R-2 occupancies. Use of such locks requires a built-in switch on the door and compliance with the following:

1. Hardware is affixed directly to the door leaf and has an obvious method of operation under all lighting conditions.
2. Hardware can be operated with one hand.
3. Operating the door hardware immediately interrupts power to the Mag Lock and unlocks the door immediately.
4. Door unlocks upon lows of power to the locking system.
5. Where panic or fire exit hardware is required, operation of that hardware also releases the Mag Lock.
6. Lock system must be UL 294 listed.

 

​Door Hardware Release of Electrically Locked Doors

Starting in 2018, the Mag Lock section above was expanded to any electric locking system with a door hardware release. The requirements here are essentially the same as the Mag lock requirements from 2015.

Door hardware release of electric locking systems on egress doors is permitted in all occupancies except Group H and requires compliances with the following:

1. Hardware is affixed directly to the door leaf and has an obvious method of operation under all lighting conditions.
2. Hardware can be operated with one hand and meets IBC unlatching requirements.
3. Operating the door hardware immediately interrupts power to the lock and unlocks the door immediately.
4. Door unlocks upon lows of power to the locking system.
5. Where panic or fire exit hardware is required, operation of that hardware also releases the lock.
6. Lock system must be UL 294 listed or (2024 only) UL 1034 listed.

 

​Correctional Facilities

Correctional and detention facilities are permitted to have locked egress doors when occupants are required to have controlled movements for security purposes. Such doors must have an egress control devices that unlocks the door manually and by at least one of the following means:

1. Activation of the building sprinkler system
2. Actvaition of a manual fire alarm pull station
3. A signal from a constantly attended location.

In the 2015 IBC, use of this provision is limited to Groups A-2, A-3, A-4, B, E, F, I-2, I-3, M and S occupancies within correctional and detention facilities. In 2018 and beyond, use of this section is permitted in any building within a correctional and detention facility.

 

​Stairway Doors

In some cases, stair doors can be locked from the inside.

Generally, interior stair doors must be openable from both sides without the use of a key or special knowledge, though the following exceptions allow you to lock the stair door:

1. Stair discharge doors can be locked from the outside (must be unlocked in direction leaving the stair).
2. Stair doors in high rise buildings complying with IBC 403.5.3 (see section below).
3. (2015 Only): In stairs serving 4 stories or fewer, stair doors can be locked from the inside provide they have the capability of being simultaneously unlocked (without unlatching) by a signal from the fire command center or location inside the main entrance of the building.
4. (2018/2021): Stair doors can be locked from the inside provide they have the capability of being simultaneously unlocked (without unlatching) by a signal from the fire command center or location inside the main entrance of the building.
5. (2024 Only): Stair doors can be locked from the inside provided they have the capability of being unlocked without unlatching by any of the following:
   1. Individual or simultaneous unlocking by a signal from the fire command center or location inside the main entrance of the building.
   2. Simultaneous unlocking upon activation of a fire alarm signal.
   3. Upon failure of the power supply to the electric lock or locking system.
6. Stair doors in Group B, F, M and S occupancies where the only interior access to a tenant space is from the exit stair can be locked from the inside of the stair (must be unlocked in direction of egress).
7. Stair doors in Group R-2 dwelling units where the only interior access to the unit is from the exit stair can be locked from the inside of the stair (must be unlocked in direction of egress).

In high rise buildings, stairway doors can be unlocked from the stairway side provided they have the capability of being unlocked (without unlatching) by a signal from the fire command center. when this provision is used, a telephone or other two-way communication system connected to a constantly attended location is required on every fifth floor in every stairway with locked doors.

 

​Panic and Fire Exit Hardware

Panic and fire exit hardware itself does not involve locking a door. Rather, panic or fire exit hardware can be used in conjunction with one of the locking arrangement described in this article. 

 

Elevator Lobby Exit Access Doors

In the 2024 IBC, a new allowance was introduced allowing for the electrical locking of exit access doors providing egress from elevator lobbies. This new allowance requires compliance with the following:

1. All occupants on the floor have access to at least two exits without passing through the lobby.
2. The building is fully sprinkler-protected per NFPA 13, equipped throughout with an NFPA 72 fire alarm system and the elevator lobby is equipped with smoke detection.
3. Upon activation of the fire alarm system by any means besides a manual pull station, the elevator lobby doors automatically unlock and remain unlocked until the fire alarm system is reset.
4. The locks unlock upon loss of power to the locks or locking system.
5. The locks have the capability of being unlocked by a switch at the fire command center, security station or other approved location.
6. A two way communication system complying with IBC 1009.8.1 and 1009.8.2 is located in the lobby adjacent to the locked door and connected to an approved constantly attended location that has the ability to unlocked the lobby doors.
7. Emergency lighting is provided on both sides of the locked lobby door(s).
8. The locking devices is listed to UL 294 or UL 1034.

Conclusion

There are numerous options in the IBC for providing some form of access control on egress doors. Keep in mind that these code references typically only apply in the direction of egress (stairway doors being a notable exception). If a door (or one side of a door) is not part of the egress path, the code generally allows locking of the door.