We have an A-3 building with 4 exits.Occupant load is 297.The owner is resisting putting on panic hardware and has taken off all the regular hardware and thinks that a free swinging door meets the code.I tried to explain to him that the doors need to latch.Is there anything in any code,mabe energy,that requires the doors to latch?Maybe for air sealing.Any code section will be appreciated.
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Door Hardware
- Thread starter jtom
- Start date
steveray
SAWHORSE
I'm betting they want to lock those exterior doors...
Swinging doors serving a Group H occupancy and swinging doors serving rooms or spaces with an occupant load of 50 or more in a Group A or E occupancy shall not be provided with a latch or lock other than panic hardware or fire exit hardware.
1010.2.9 Panic and Fire Exit Hardware
DiagramSwinging doors serving a Group H occupancy and swinging doors serving rooms or spaces with an occupant load of 50 or more in a Group A or E occupancy shall not be provided with a latch or lock other than panic hardware or fire exit hardware.
TheCommish
SAWHORSE
Fire door and smoke doors need to latch. see Steveray comment above.
Think of the Mall (yes I know they are dying) the entry door most of just have night deadbolt and are free swinging no panic hardware
Think of the Mall (yes I know they are dying) the entry door most of just have night deadbolt and are free swinging no panic hardware
arwat23
SAWHORSE
Hardware wise, a free-swinging door with no lock or latch is fine by code. I'm not sure about the energy codes where your project is, but in California, Energy Code Section 110.6 would require the doors to limit air leakage. It's probably possible to do that without a door that latches, but I've never done it (except with automatic doors).
California, Energy Code Section 110.6:
That is an example of the hideous nature of the Cult Of Climate. There can't be a simple "Make sure there's a gasket" rule. Nope. it takes a convoluted, we are important, bunch of math to get to that gasket. You get the same result but the cult method adds a boat load of expense.
That is an example of the hideous nature of the Cult Of Climate. There can't be a simple "Make sure there's a gasket" rule. Nope. it takes a convoluted, we are important, bunch of math to get to that gasket. You get the same result but the cult method adds a boat load of expense.
steveray
SAWHORSE
Only a violation when they install the lock or latch then....Assuming they meet the energy code...
tbz
SAWHORSE
I don't believe you can require it, if the plans clearly state the doors are to have no locking or latching hardware on them, ie: free swinging at all times.
Then simply state please note that for safety reasons we notify the local fire inspectors of these types of doors and they will be checking periodically that they have not been modified, remember the fine is hefty if they find they have been modified with latching or locking devices.
For some reasons correct hardware shows up at some point.
Then simply state please note that for safety reasons we notify the local fire inspectors of these types of doors and they will be checking periodically that they have not been modified, remember the fine is hefty if they find they have been modified with latching or locking devices.
For some reasons correct hardware shows up at some point.