Life Safety- Whats more important than getting out? __~NOTHING

LIFE SAFETY CODES (NFPA 101) COVERING SINGLE MOTION EGRESS FOR MEANS OF EGRESS DOORS

The next question is: What are the “recent” clarifications to NFPA 101 that refer to locks on doors in the means of egress ? The original NFPA 101 code states:

7.2.1.5.9.2
The releasing mechanism “shall open the door with not more than one releasing operation.”

This means that:

You cannot have two locks on a means of egress door unless they can be opened from the egress side with one motion.

This code also prohibits a combination lock and leverset on a means of egress door (whether or not the combo lock is normally open) if you need two unlocking motions to exit.

NOTE: This represents a major shift from the “old philosophy” that combination locks are always considered to be unlocked when a room is occupied, or when the “safety pin” on the combination lock is used.

• The same rules apply to a deadbolt and leverset on means of egress door.

• In addition to the two releasing motions prohibition, any door that has two locks either inside or outside of the means of egress must have “locks that have an obvious method of operation and that are readily operated under all lighting conditions.” As an example, an XO9 combination lock clearly does not have an obvious method of operation from the egress side regardless of lighting conditions.

• For more application information on these two locks, please see Tutorial # 4.  

7.2.1.5.9
A latch or other fastening device on a door shall be provided with a releasing device that has an “obvious method of operation” and that is “readily operated” under all lighting conditions.

 

Solutions to the Problem:

When dealing with the need to have a combination lock (mechanical or XO9) on a means of egress door and still comply with the new Single Motion Egress requirements you have at this point in time only two locks on the market that comply with the NFPA 101 codes.

•  You can use the Lockmasters, one piece LKM 7000 Single Motion deadbolt with XO9 electronic combination lock

•  You can use the KABA MAS linked exit bar with CDXO9 electronic combination lock.

When dealing with the need to have a standard single or double cylinder deadbolt and a leverset on the same door, consider using an “interconnected lockset” which has both a deadbolt (either single or double) and a leverset but with one additional feature: to exit from the inside, simply turn the lever and both locks unlock.