Access Control System for Life Safety?

[LGreene]

When an electrified lock is required to unlock upon a signal from the fire command center (or the fire alarm depending on the code), I don't see anything specific in the code about whether the signal from the fire command center/ fire alarm has to directly unlock the hardware, or whether the fire alarm can initiate the unlocking via the access control system. For example, on a stairwell door that needs to be unlocked during a fire alarm, does the signal have to come directly from the fire alarm / fire command center, or can the signal go to the access control system and then the access control system unlocks the locks?

What say you? Is this covered anywhere in the codes?

 

[cda]

Can you give the section you are looking at

Have not really done high rises

But I would want a means to unlock the doors without setting off the fire alarm

And yes if the fire alarm goes off it drops the locks automatically

 

[Markl_AHC]

Found in two locations in IBC 2009: 1008.1.9.7 Delayed Egress Locks, and 1008.1.9.10 Stairway Doors (Exception 3). Perhaps in other location(s) too, but I did not see this specifically addressed.

Did not see anything in NFPA 72 that really specifically addresses the fire command center question either, but I am not a NFPA 72 expert. However, if signalling via the access control system were allowed, I would expect the signalling pathways would need to be protected similarly to those for the fire alarm systems. That would add some cost and complexity. Depending on the ACS capabilities - hardware/software - you might not be able to accomplish this. Maybe it would be addressed in a commentary as an example, but I don't have that.

I would rely on the F/A system for unlocking the doors, then use a separate relay contact as an ACS input to monitor if the hardware was unlocked by the F/A. Indirectly accomplishing close to the same thing, avoiding potential problems trying to integrate two separate systems, and easier to explain when the questions begin...