Means of Egress: Delayed Egress Devices

Learning Objective: The student shall be able to identify the requirements for delayed egress devices.

Frequent flyers are familiar with this type of door arrangement that provides a direct means of egress from the terminal to the outdoors. The door is secured to keep unauthorized personnel from wandering around the flight line while providing an escape route in the event of an emergency.

The model building codes allow these devices known as “delayed egress locks,” but do not agree on where they may be installed. The International Building Code® prohibits delayed egress locks in
Group A, E, and H occupancies, while NFPA® 5000, Building Construction and Safety Code allows them in all occupancies except detention and correctional facilities.

Where delayed egress locks are installed, all of the following safety features must be included
• The building must be equipped with a supervised automatic detection or sprinkler system.

• Delayed egress locks must release automatically upon operation of the sprinkler system or the fire detection system (specific requirements for release on fire detection differ between the model building codes).

• Doors must unlock when power to the door locking equipment is lost.

• The panic hardware must unlock within 15 seconds* after minimum pressure is applied continuously.

• Once the door is unlocked it must remain unlocked until manually restored.

• There must be a readily visible sign on the door leaf adjacent to the hardware reading “PUSH UNTIL ALARM SOUNDS. DOOR CAN BE OPENED IN 15 [30] SECONDS.”

• Emergency lighting must be installed in the vicinity of the door.

For additional information and specific requirements refer to NFPA® 5000, Building Construction and Safety Code Chapter 11, International Fire Code® Chapter 10, NFPA® 1, Uniform Fire Code Chapter 14, International Building Code® Chapter 10, or NFPA® 101, Life Safety Code.