Hardware from Fenced Outdoor Area

[DTBarch]

I know this topic has been through the forum on multiple occasions in one form or another, but I'm seeking clarity on one point.

Situation:
2019 California Building Code

Commercial Office Building has a Group B tenant who wants to build a small fenced outside yard of approximately 250sf directly outside their ground floor office space to be used as an outdoor break area in a secured area. The area would be accessed from the building via a typical aluminum and glass storefront type door. They specifically do NOT want to add another independent exit gate from the fenced yard for operational reasons.

From previous forum discussions, due to the size of the outdoor space, it only requires a single exit, and since the existing door into the outdoor area would also be considered an exit from the yard, and not an exit discharge, the path of egress from this outdoor area IS allowed to re-enter the building per 1004.5. The additional occupant load is not a factor since the patio would only be used by the tenant's occupants, not the public.

The question is about the door locking hardware. Locking hardware that allows completely free egress from the outdoor fenced area back into the building would be a security concern after hours if someone jumped the fence. Does the "doors to remain unlocked while the building is occupied" provision of Section 1010.1.9.4 apply ONLY to the Main Entry doors to the Suite? Would this exit door from the outdoor yard be eligible to use this exception? Any other suggested solutions?

Thank you in advance for your input.

 

[cda]

Look to the future:::

https://idighardware.com/2020/06/decoded-egress-from-exterior-spaces/

Or make some other deal with the ahj

 

[steveray]

Does the "doors to remain unlocked while the building is occupied" provision of Section 1010.1.9.4 apply ONLY to the Main Entry doors to the Suite? Would this exit door from the outdoor yard be eligible to use this exception? Any other suggested solutions?

Thank you in advance for your input.

Technically...Yes. Only main doors. Put a gate in the fence.

 

[ADAguy]

He said he doesn't want to.

 

[ICE]

He said he doesn't want to.

Many businesses have fenced yards, parking lots, etc. Some are equipped with unfriendly dogs. There are gates with some but they are locked when the business is closed.

 

[steveray]

He said he doesn't want to.

I don't want to pay taxes...

1004.5 Outdoor areas. Yards, patios, courts and similar outdoor
areas accessible to and usable by the building occupants
shall be provided with means of egress as required by this
chapter. The occupant load of such outdoor areas shall be
assigned by the building official in accordance with the anticipated
use. Where outdoor areas are to be used by persons in
addition to the occupants of the building, and the path of
egress travel from the outdoor areas passes through the building,
means of egress requirements for the building shall be
based on the sum of the occupant loads of the building plus
the outdoor areas.

1010.1.9 Door operations. Except as specifically permitted
by this section, egress doors shall be readily openable
from the egress side without the use of a key or special
knowledge or effort.

1010.1.9.3 Locks and latches. Locks and latches shall
be permitted to prevent operation of doors where any of
the following exist:
1. Places of detention or restraint.
2. In buildings in occupancy Group A having an
occupant load of 300 or less, Groups B, F, M and
S, and in places of religious worship, the main
door or doors are permitted to be equipped with
key-operated locking devices from the egress
side provided:

 

[ADAguy]

The owner seeks to limit the yard to use during business operations. After hours is a different issue.
An issue without a "legal" solution?

 

[DTBarch]

I've learned that the tenant provides outpatient clinical services to seniors. They may want to provide the patient an opportunity to get some fresh air while they wait for services, but control their ability to "wander off". The area would be constantly monitored during occupied hours as it is adjacent to a completely transparent storefront glass wall. If they were able to simply keep the door unlocked during occupied hours, and provide the means of communication as indicated in the proposed code change, that would seem to reasonably solve the issue. Sounds like until the code change makes it's way to the CBC, it comes down to a negotiated solution with the AHJ.