1010.1.9.2 Hardware height.

Door handles, pulls, latches, locks and other operating devices shall be installed 34 inches (863.4 mm) minimum and 48 inches (1220 mm) maximum above the finished floor. Locks used only for security purposes and not used for normal operation are permitted at any height.

   Exception: Access doors or gates in barrier walls and fences protecting pools, spas and hot tubs shall be permitted to have operable parts in compliance with Section 3109.4.2 or 3109.5.1.7, as applicable.

1010.1.9.3 Locks and latches.

Locks and latches shall be permitted to prevent operation of doors where any of the following exist:

   1.   Places of detention or restraint.

   2.   Places where extra safeguards are required such as banks, museums, and jewelry stores subject to the approval of the commissioner and provided the locks are equipped with electrical release devices for remote control in case of emergencies. However, museums shall be subject to further special review by the commissioner and Fire Commissioner.

   3.   Main entrances in Occupancy Groups B, M, and S as permitted by Section 1010.1.4.4.

   4.   Doors from individual dwelling or sleeping units of Group R occupancies having an occupant load of 10 or less are permitted to be equipped with a night latch, dead bolt or security chain, provided such devices are openable from the inside without the use of a key or tool.

   5.   Doors serving R-2 occupancies as required by Section 1010.4.

   6.   In educational occupancies classified in Occupancy Group B or E, and college or student dormitories in Group R-1, stairways leading from the top floor to a roof may be provided with locked wire mesh gates openable by key.

   7.   On roofs that are not intended to be accessed by occupants other than building maintenance personnel, the use of a hook and eye closing device or other similar non-self-locking devices on the stairway side of all doors openable without the use of a key or special knowledge to roofs shall be permitted.

   8.   Fire doors after the minimum elevated temperature has disabled the unlatching mechanism in accordance with listed fire door test procedures.

1010.1.9.4 Bolt locks.

Manually operated flush bolts or surface bolts are not permitted.

   Exceptions:

      1.   On doors not required for egress in individual dwelling units or sleeping units.

      2.   Where a pair of doors serves a storage or equipment room, manually operated edge- or surface-mounted bolts are permitted on the inactive leaf.

      3.   Where a pair of doors serves an occupant load of less than 75 persons in a Group B, F or S occupancy, manually operated edge- or surface-mounted bolts are permitted on the inactive leaf. The inactive leaf shall not contain doorknobs, panic bars or similar operating hardware.

      4.   Where a pair of doors serves a Group B, F or S occupancy, manually operated edge- or surface-mounted bolts are permitted on the inactive leaf provided such inactive leaf is not needed to meet egress capacity requirements and the building is equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1. The inactive leaf shall not contain doorknobs, panic bars or similar operating hardware.

      5.   Where a pair of doors serves patient care rooms in Group I-2 occupancies, self-latching edge- or surface-mounted bolts are permitted on the inactive leaf provided that the inactive leaf is not needed to meet egress capacity requirements and the inactive leaf shall not contain doorknobs, panic bars or similar operating hardware.

1010.1.9.5 Unlatching.

The unlatching of any door or leaf shall not require more than one operation.

   Exception: More than one operation is permitted for unlatching doors in the following locations:

      1.   Places of detention or restraint.

      2.   Where manually operated bolt locks are permitted by Section 1010.1.9.4.

      3.   Doors from individual dwelling units and sleeping units of Group R occupancies as permitted by Section 1010.1.9.3, Items 4 and 5.

1010.1.9.5.1 Closet and bathroom doors in certain Group R occupancies.

In community residences or intermediate-care facilities classified as Group R-1, R-2 or R-3 occupancies pursuant to Section 308.3.2, Exception 1, 2 or 3, within such facilities, closet doors that latch in the closed position shall be openable from inside the closet, and bathroom doors that latch in the closed position shall be capable of being unlocked from the ingress side.

1010.1.9.6 Controlled egress doors in Groups I-1 and I-2 .

Electric locking systems, including electro-mechanical locking systems and electromagnetic locking systems, shall be permitted to be locked in the means of egress in Group I-1 or I-2 occupancies where the clinical needs of persons receiving care require their containment. Controlled egress doors shall be permitted in such occupancies where the building is 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, provided that the doors are installed and operate in accordance with all of the following:

   1.   The door locks shall unlock on actuation of the automatic sprinkler system or automatic fire detection system.

   2.   The door locks shall unlock on loss of power controlling the lock or lock mechanism.

   3.   The door locking system shall be installed to have the capability of being unlocked by a switch located at the fire command center, a nursing station or other approved location. The switch shall directly break power to the lock.

   4.   A building occupant shall not be required to pass through more than one door equipped with a controlled egress locking system before entering an exit.

   5.   The procedures for unlocking the doors shall be described and approved as part of the emergency planning and preparedness required by the New York City Fire Code.

   6.   All clinical staff shall have the keys, codes or other means necessary to operate the locking systems.

   7.   Emergency lighting shall be provided at the door.

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

   Exceptions:

      1.   Items 1 through 4 shall not apply to doors to areas occupied by persons who, because of clinical needs, require restraint or containment as part of the function of a psychiatric treatment area.

      2.   Items 1 through 4 shall not apply to doors to areas where a listed egress control system is utilized to reduce the risk of child abduction from nursery and obstetric areas of a Group I-2 hospital.

1010.1.9.7 Delayed egress locking systems.

Subject to special review and approval by the commissioner, approved, listed, delayed egress locking systems may be permitted on doors serving spaces where extra safeguards are required 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, provided that the doors unlock in accordance with Items 1 through 8 below.

   1.   The delay electronics of the delayed egress locking system shall deactivate upon actuation of the automatic sprinkler system or automatic fire detection 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.

   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 of 15 pounds (66.7 N) 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. Except where approved by the department, 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. Except where approved by the department, in Group I-2 or I-3 occupancies, the egress path from any point in the building shall pass through not more than two delayed egress locking systems provided the combined delay does not exceed 30 seconds.

   6.   A sign shall be provided on the door and shall be located above and within 12 inches (304.8 mm) of the door exit hardware. Except where approved by the department, in Group I occupancies, the installation of a sign is not required where care recipients who because of clinical needs require restraint or containment as part of the function of the treatment area.

      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 SECONDS. Except where not more than 30 seconds is permitted on a delayed egress door is approved by the department, such sign shall read: PUSH UNTIL ALARM SOUNDS. DOOR CAN BE OPENED IN 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 SECONDS. Except where not more than 30 seconds is permitted on a delayed egress door is approved by the department, such sign shall read: PULL UNTIL ALARM SOUNDS. DOOR CAN BE OPENED IN 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.

   Exceptions:

      1.   Delayed egress locking systems shall not be permitted in buildings or spaces in Group A, E, F and H occupancies. However, in museums, delayed egress locks may be installed on exit doors subject to special review by the commissioner and Fire Commissioner.

      2.   Places of detention or restraints in Group I-3 are permitted to install delayed egress locking systems without the special review by the commissioner, provided that the installation complies with all of the other requirements of this section.

1010.1.9.8 Sensor release of electrically locked egress doors.

The electric locks on sensor released doors located in a means of egress in buildings with an occupancy in Group A, B, E, M, R-1 or R-2 and entrance doors to tenant spaces in occupancies in Group A, B, E, M, R-1 or R-2 are permitted where installed and operated in accordance with all of the following criteria:

   1.   The sensor shall be installed on the egress side, arranged to detect an occupant approaching the doors. The doors shall be arranged to unlock by a signal from or loss of power to the sensor.

   2.   Loss of power to the lock or locking system shall automatically unlock the doors.

   3.   The doors shall be arranged to unlock from a manual unlocking device located 40 inches to 48 inches (1016 mm to 1220 mm) vertically above the floor and within 5 feet (1524 mm) of the secured doors. Ready access shall be provided to the manual unlocking device and the device shall be clearly identified by a sign that reads "PUSH TO EXIT." When operated, the manual unlocking device shall result in direct interruption of power to the lock-independent of other electronics-and the doors shall remain unlocked for not less than 30 seconds.

   4.   Activation of the building fire alarm system, where 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 system or fire detection system, where provided, shall automatically unlock the doors. The doors shall remain unlocked until the fire alarm system has been reset.

   6.   The door locking system units shall be listed in accordance with UL 294.