I'll try to summarize this briefly. A lawyer college is defending a client of his who's Achilles tendon was severed by the bottom corner of a metal door. The lawyer has asked us to look into whether or not there are any code violations with the door closer.
My main question is: Does the building code, or another code, designate the maximum allowed CLOSING speed or force of a door closer? 2012 IBC 1008.1.3 provides maximum allowed opening force, but I see nothing regulating closing force or speed.
Here's the background info I know so far: This is a four-unit apartment building and the injury happened at an exit door from the building (not one of the individual apartment doors.) It's a steel door with window wire safety glass. There is a closer at the top inside of the door and the door swings out. There is a single step down immediately at the exterior side of the door, down to a landing. The concrete slab of the building interior floor protrudes beyond the exterior side of the door by approximately a couple inches, then steps down to the landing.
Second question: Does the code allow a step immediately outside an exterior egress door for this type of building? From what I understand so far, it appears the injured party's heel was caught between the door edge and the concrete step.
Any suggestions on relevant code sections are much appreciated.
My main question is: Does the building code, or another code, designate the maximum allowed CLOSING speed or force of a door closer? 2012 IBC 1008.1.3 provides maximum allowed opening force, but I see nothing regulating closing force or speed.
Here's the background info I know so far: This is a four-unit apartment building and the injury happened at an exit door from the building (not one of the individual apartment doors.) It's a steel door with window wire safety glass. There is a closer at the top inside of the door and the door swings out. There is a single step down immediately at the exterior side of the door, down to a landing. The concrete slab of the building interior floor protrudes beyond the exterior side of the door by approximately a couple inches, then steps down to the landing.
Second question: Does the code allow a step immediately outside an exterior egress door for this type of building? From what I understand so far, it appears the injured party's heel was caught between the door edge and the concrete step.
Any suggestions on relevant code sections are much appreciated.