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Delayed Egress Nitty Gritty

LGreene

LGreene

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Oct 20, 2009
Messages
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Location
San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
I know that the codes don't address every possibility, but as a manufacturer we need to make sure that our products meet all of the requirements that a code official might establish, especially when the codes leave something up to interpretation. I have some questions on your interpretation of the delayed egress requirements. Some of the questions are specific to California, but even if you are located elsewhere I hope you will give me your feedback. Here is the section from the 2010 California Referenced Standards Code:

1008.1.9.7 Delayed egress locks. Approved, listed, delayed egress locks shall be permitted to be installed on doors serving any occupancy except Group A, E, H and L occupancies in buildings that are equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 and an approved automatic smoke detection system installed in accordance with Section 907, provided that the doors unlock in accordance with Items 1 through 9 below. A building occupant shall not be required to pass through more than one door equipped with a delayed egress lock before entering an exit. Delayed egress devices shall conform to all of the following:

1. The doors unlock upon actuation of the automatic sprinkler system or automatic smoke detection system.

2. The doors unlock upon loss of electrical power to any one of the following:

2.1 The egress-control device itself.

2.2 The smoke detection system.

2.3 Means of egress illumination as required by Section 1006.

3. The door locks shall have the capability of being unlocked by a signal from a switch located in an approved location.

4. The initiation of an irreversible process which will release the latch in not more than 15 seconds when a force of not more than 15 pounds (67 N) is applied for 1 second to the release device. Initiation of the irreversible process shall activate an audible signal in the vicinity of the door. Once the door lock has been released by the application of force to the releasing device, relocking shall be by manual means only. The time delay established for each egress-control device shall not be field adjustable. For applications listed in Section 1.9.1 regulated by the Division of the State Architect-Access Compliance, see Chapter 11B, Section 1133B.2.5.

Exception: In facilities housing Alzheimer's or dementia clients, a delay of not more than 30 seconds is permitted.

5. A sign shall be provided on the door located above and within 12 inches (305 mm) of the release device reading: "KEEP PUSHING. THIS DOOR WILL OPEN IN 15 [30] SECONDS. ALARM WILL SOUND" Sign lettering shall be at least 1 inch (25 mm) in height and shall have a stroke of not less than 1/8 inch (3.2 mm).

5.1. A tactile sign shall also be provided in Braille and raised characters, which complies with Section 1117B.5.1.1, Item 1.

6. Emergency lighting shall be provided at the door.

7. Actuation of the panic bar or other door-latching hardware shall activate an audible signal at the door.

8. The unlatching shall not require more than one operation.

9. Regardless of the means of deactivation, relocking of the egress-control device shall be by manual means only at the door.

Here are my questions:

1) How loud does the audible signal need to be? Is it acceptable to have the audible signal field adjustable within a certain range?

2) Many delayed egress products have a nuisance delay / alarm, which sounds a short version of the audible alarm sound if you brush against the touchpad but don't hold it long enough (1 second) to start the 15-second timer. Is the short sound a problem - ie. could someone unfamiliar with the product think that the sound means that the timer has been activated and the door will unlock in 15 seconds (the IBC language says "push until alarm sounds", not "keep pushing")? When the timer is actually initiated, the audible sound continuous through the timer cycle.

3) Is the unlock time a total of 15 seconds (1 second to activate + 14 seconds) or a total of 16 seconds (1 second to activate + 15 seconds)?

4) After the 15-second timer is complete and the door is available for egress, the code doesn't require any notification that the status has changed. Do you think there should be some sort of audible or visual notification that the door can be opened at that point?

5) When the fire alarm sounds, the delayed egress device must unlock to allow immediate egress. Does the audible alarm on the delayed egress device need to sound during a fire alarm? (hopefully not - see #7)

6) On a pair of doors, does activation of the delayed egress lock on one leaf require the other door leaf to release as well?

7) The California code requires manual rearming of the device at the door, regardless of the means of deactivation. This means that after a fire alarm or power failure deactivates the device, someone has to go to each door and manually rearm the device, correct? Would a card reader next to the door be acceptable vs. a rearming method right on the lock?

8) Do you have any concerns about delayed egress locks used in compliance with the IBC?

Thanks for your help! I know these are a little painful!

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Your children are asking more interesting questions!!

1. Don't know, never heard the question asked before

2. Yes they could , but I think that is why the signage is required, keep on pushing

3. I would say 16, and I have never timed one.

4. No, because the door is free to open, door will open with no delay.

5. No see answer 4

6. As you say code does not address ever scenario. Have not done delayed in awhile, but I think I required double doors to unlock no matter which door was activated, only makes since.

7. Could see using a card reader, seems like it would just add cost, plus you would have to have ul bless it.

8. Nope
 
1) Not an issue to me. I look at the audible alarm as a means of notifying others that someone is attempting to open the door. (Nursing homes or daycares preventing escapees and mercantile occupancies protecting their product from shop lifters) I'd say as loud as it takes to alert a responsible person.

2) Nope, sign says to press and hold.

3) I think it is 15 seconds.

4) No, kind of related to #1. I will say that at our Nursing Homes they have two distinct sounds and the nursing director has told me, in not so many words, that the warning can sound all day but once the "open" alarm goes off, that gets their attention.

5) Nope.

6) I would think so. I think all of the ones I can think of in my jurisdiction has both of them release.

7) I think it would be acceptable, yes.

8) No, I think they are very useful for certain occupancies.
 
Seems like should be a few more replies/ thoughts ?

Anyone Bueller. Bueller. Bueller
 
cda said:
Anyone Bueller. Bueller. Bueller
Click to expand...
Um...he's sick.

My best friend's sister's boyfriend's brother's girlfriend heard from this guy who knows this kid who's going with the girl who saw Ferris pass out at 31 flavors last night. I guess it's pretty serious.

Ha, ha. My all time favorite movie; I have it memorized start to finish. Anyway...maybe I should spend more time in the code books.

OK -- back to delayed egress!!!
 
I know this is a tough one...just reading all of my questions is a commitment. I'm going to pretend I'm "one of you" and make some interpretations:

1) Since "audible" is not defined and the required sound level for delayed egress locks is not specific, I would allow an adjustable range on the product from 60 dBA to 110 dBA. Those are the limits for the fire alarm audible alarms. Does that make sense?

2) I haven't had a code official take issue to the nuisance "beep", so I would include the option in the product. If a code official thinks the beep could be misconstrued as an alarm (and the person thinking that the door will open in 15 seconds per the signage), the option could be turned off. Only California's code has the language "keep pushing"...the others say "push until alarm sounds", but I think most people would push for more than a second so I don't think the half-second beep will confuse anyone.

3) We're split on whether it is 1 second + 14 seconds or 1 second + 15 seconds (or 3 seconds + per 101). When the activation time is 1 second it's not really a big deal, but with 101 allowing 3 seconds to activate, that could be a total of 18 seconds. Still not a huge deal but a code official could have a problem with it. I'll have to think more about this one unless you have input.

4) Notification not required, could be helpful.

5) No audible alarm needed on the delayed egress lock when the fire alarm is sounding and the lock allows free egress.

6) The product should have the ability to "gang" devices together so initiation of one starts the timer for the other.

7) As long as the rearming is at the door (for CA), any device can be used to rearm.

8) No concerns as long as the code requirements are met. This has definitely changed over the last 15 years. I remember teaching a class where the code official rejected them completely and didn't want to hear about the requirements.
 
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