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Lock on Balcony Door in R-2 Apartment

1

100eyeballs

Bronze Member
Joined
Sep 7, 2011
Messages
45
Location
Michigan
In a new construction (IBC 2015) R-2 residential apartment building, there are balconies with dividers to prevent occupants from accessing the neighboring balcony. The dividers can be circumvented by occupants, so locks are desired for security purposes to prevent others from entering the apartment via the balcony. There is a concern that the code may not allow a lock on this door, as it would be restricting occupants on the balcony from having egress if the door was locked while the balcony is occupied. The apartments range from 2-6 bedrooms and would be considered having less than 10 occupants per dwelling unit. Does the code address this situation?
 
So the lock is on

The divider

Or

Balcony door back into the apartment??
 
100eyeballs, are you saying that:
a) the common balcony is the only means of egress from each apartment's interior spaces (no other unit entry exit available other than the balcony)?, or
b) the balcony is one of the two required means of egress for each of the upper story apartment units?, or
c) the balcony serves the emergency escape windows for each bedroom?

Under what code section is this balcony serving as the means of egress?
 
Each apartment has an egress door to an interior corridor, the balcony is not the means of egress from within the apartment. This is a highrise building. The lock in question is on the living room side of the balcony door.
In theory if 2 people lived in the apartment, one person could lock the other person on the balcony and they would have no other means of egress from the balcony.
I would not consider the balcony to be a "common balcony" as occupants only have access to a 6'x10' area outside their living room. However, an creative individual could circumvent the divider between balconies if they were intent on breaking into their neighbors apartment.
 
100eyeballs said:
Each apartment has an egress door to an interior corridor, the balcony is not the means of egress from within the apartment. This is a highrise building. The lock in question is on the living room side of the balcony door.
In theory if 2 people lived in the apartment, one person could lock the other person on the balcony and they would have no other means of egress from the balcony.
I would not consider the balcony to be a "common balcony" as occupants only have access to a 6'x10' area outside their living room. However, an creative individual could circumvent the divider between balconies if they were intent on breaking into their neighbors apartment.
Click to expand...


Sounds like a normal set up??

I was at a high rise hotel yesterday and the balcony door had a lock on it.
 
So the basic question is: Is this door considered an Egress Door and governed by 1010.1.9 Door operations and 1010.1.9.3 Locks and Latches. Specifically does exception 4 apply: Doors from individual dwelling units of Group R occupancies having an occupant load of 10 or less are permitted to be equipped with a night latch, dead bolt or security chain, provided such devices are openable from the inside without the use of a key or tool.

To me, this sounds like the front door of the apartment to the the corridor and not necessarily applicable to the door to the balcony. I think of the balcony as another room within the apartment and putting a lock on it would allow you to lock someone in a room. Am I overthinking it?

Maybe it does not apply because the balcony is not a habitable space.
 
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cda said:
Hummm


HABITABLE SPACE. A space in a building for living, sleeping, eating or cooking. Bathrooms, toilet rooms, closets, halls, storage or utility spaces and similar areas are not considered habitable spaces.

Not bragging but I cook and sleep on mine:::

https://browse.startpage.com/do/show_picture.pl?l=english&rais=1&oiu=https://cdn.decoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Lavish-penthouse-balcony-with-unabated-views-of-Petah-Tikva.jpg&sp=9ff9cbe38723c125bb540ae0eb55fdbf&rl=NONE&t=default
Click to expand...

A space IN a building...
 
CDA
not within the gross floor area definition of a building

FLOOR AREA, GROSS. The floor area within the inside perimeter of the exterior walls of the building under consideration, exclusive of vent shafts and courts, without deduction for corridors, stairways, closets, the thickness of interior walls, columns or other features. The floor area of a building, or portion thereof, not provided with surrounding exterior walls shall be the usable area under the horizontal projection of the roof or floor above. The gross floor area shall not include shafts with no openings or interior courts.
 
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If you can lock the door so that you can't get out of the unit, what makes you think you can not lock all of the doors "inside" the unit?
 
Why is anyone debating this?

It is perfectly acceptable to have a lock on the interior of a sliding patio door serving a balcony. This is TYPICAL of every apartment/hotel/etc.

The balcony is not a habitable space required to be served by a means of egress.
 
^^^^Same outcome, just don't agree with your terminology.....We debate it because it is code...


MEANS OF EGRESS. A continuous and unobstructed path
of vertical and horizontal egress travel from any occupied
portion of a building or structure to a public way. A means of
egress consists of three separate and distinct parts: the exit
access, the exit and the exit discharge.

OCCUPIABLE SPACE. A room or enclosed space
designed for human occupancy in which individuals congregate
for amusement, educational or similar purposes or in
which occupants are engaged at labor, and which is equipped
with means of egress and light and ventilation facilities meeting
the requirements of this code.
Occupiable spaces are those areas designed for
human occupancy. It applies to both residential and
nonresidential spaces alike. Most spaces in a building
are occupiable spaces. Based on the nature of
the occupancy, various code sections apply. All habitable
spaces are also considered occupiable (see the
definition of “Habitable space”); however, all occupiable
spaces are not habitable.
 
Ty J. said:
Why is anyone debating this?

It is perfectly acceptable to have a lock on the interior of a sliding patio door serving a balcony. This is TYPICAL of every apartment/hotel/etc.

The balcony is not a habitable space required to be served by a means of egress.
Click to expand...



Slow day at the office....

Makes one read the good book,,, for exact wording.
 
Builder Bob said:
room or enclosed space.......... hhhhmmmm, Me thinks balcony not qualify....... for occupiable space therefore does not qualify for required means of egress.


Besides, we used to call those people dumb&*^ when it happened to them in college.....
Click to expand...

Or spouse mad at you, and it is freezing outside
 
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steveray said:
^^^^Same outcome, just don't agree with your terminology.....We debate it because it is code...


MEANS OF EGRESS. A continuous and unobstructed path
of vertical and horizontal egress travel from any occupied
portion of a building or structure to a public way. A means of
egress consists of three separate and distinct parts: the exit
access, the exit and the exit discharge.

OCCUPIABLE SPACE. A room or enclosed space
designed for human occupancy in which individuals congregate
for amusement, educational or similar purposes or in
which occupants are engaged at labor, and which is equipped
with means of egress and light and ventilation facilities meeting
the requirements of this code.
Occupiable spaces are those areas designed for
human occupancy. It applies to both residential and
nonresidential spaces alike. Most spaces in a building
are occupiable spaces. Based on the nature of
the occupancy, various code sections apply. All habitable
spaces are also considered occupiable (see the
definition of “Habitable space”); however, all occupiable
spaces are not habitable.
Click to expand...

Love the word smithing on this, (engaged in labor, this would imply mechanical rooms, janitors closets and toilet rooms (smiling))?
 
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