Stairway Locks

[LGreene]

The IBC has a grey area that I'm going to try to address in the next code change cycle, but I'd love your input on what you would require with the code as-is.

4-story stairs can have fail-safe electrified locks that lock on the stair side, as long as they can be remotely unlocked by a switch at the fire command center or inside the main entrance. High-rise buildings can also have fail-safe locks, but require a 2-way communication system in the stair.

I have had 2 situations recently where a stair served more than 4 stories but it was not a high-rise building. I can't see any reason why a 5-story stair would not be allowed to have fail-safe locks, so the question is whether the communication system is required.

Would you require the communication system in a 5-story stair that is not in a high-rise building (for example, if there was a level below the exit discharge)? Why/why not?

If only some of the doors had fail-safe locks (for example, floors 2-4 but not 1 or 5), would that impact your answer?

Here are the sections from the 2009 IBC for reference:

1008.1.9.10Stairwaydoors. Interior stairway means of egress doors shall be openable from both sides without the use of a key or special knowledge or effort.

Exceptions:

1. Stairway discharge doors shall be openable from the egress side and shall only be locked from the opposite side.

2. This section shall not apply to doors arranged in accordance with Section 403.5.3.

3. In stairways serving not more than four stories, doors are permitted to be locked from the side opposite the egress side, provided they are openable from the egress side and capable of being unlocked simultaneously without unlatching upon a signal from the fire command center, if present, or a signal by emergency personnel from a single location inside the main entrance to the building.

403.5.3 Stairway door operation. Stairway doors other than the exit discharge doors shall be permitted to be locked from the stairway side. Stairway doors that are locked from the stairway side shall be capable of being unlocked simultaneously without unlatching upon a signal from the fire command center.

403.5.3.1 Stairway communication system. A telephone or other two-way communications system connected to an approved constantly attended station shall be provided at not less than every fifth floor in each stairway where the doors to the stairway are locked.

 

[cda]

Based on adverse fire experience where occupants have become trapped in smoke-filled stairway enclosures, stairway doors generally must be arranged to permit reentry into the building without the use of any tools, keys or special knowledge or effort. For security reasons, this restriction does not apply to the discharge door from the stairway enclosure which is often to the outside. Section 403 for high-rise buildings permits the locking of the doors from the stairway side, provided the doors are capable of being unlocked from a fire command station and there is a communication system within the stairway enclosure that allows contact with the fire command station. It would be reasonable to permit this arrangement in buildings other than high-rise buildings.

Exception 3 addresses the need for security. The exception is limited to four-story buildings to provide a short travel distance to the stairway discharge door for the building occupants. In addition, to allow quick entrance for fire fighters and emergency responders, a means of simultaneously unlocking all of the doors by emergency personnel must be provided. This provision further requires that the stairway doors be unlocked without unlatching. Stairway doors will typically be fire door assemblies, and their continued latching is necessary to maintain the integrity of the fire-resistive separation for the exit enclosure. The remote unlocking signal shall be initiated from the fire command station, if provided, or a single point of signal initiation at an approved location inside the building's main entrance.

Would you require the communication system in a 5-story stair that is not in a high-rise building (for example, if there was a level below the exit discharge)? Why/why not?

***** No code does not require it *****

If only some of the doors had fail-safe locks (for example, floors 2-4 but not 1 or 5), would that impact your answer?

****** No, stick with the written code *******

 

[cda]

OK,

between five stories and when a building becomes a high rise, they cannot lock the doors on the stariwell side.

I guess if someone wanted to lock the doors on the stairwell side, would say they have to unlock from central location, no communciations required till building meets high rise.

Yes there is a gray area

I thought we required every other floor to be unlocked from the stairwell side, but not there.

 

[cda]

maybe the gray area because of this provision:::

Not a high rise yet, but fire sprinkled::

903.2.11.3 Buildings 55 feet or more in height. An automatic sprinkler system shall be installed throughout buildings with a floor level having an occupant load of 30 or more that is located 55 feet (16 764 mm) or more above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access. [F]

Exceptions:

1. Airport control towers.

2. Open parking structures.

3. Occupancies in Group F-2.

Because of the difficulties associated with manual suppression of a fire in buildings in excess of 55 feet (16 764 mm) in height, an automatic sprinkler system is required throughout the building regardless of occupancy. Buildings that qualify for a sprinkler system under Section 903.2.11.3 are not necessarily high-rise buildings as defined in Section 202.

The listed exceptions are occupancies that, based on height only, do not require an automatic sprinkler system. Airport control towers and open parking structures are also exempt from the high-rise provisions of Section 403. Although an automatic sprinkler system is not required in open parking structures, a sprinkler system may still be needed, depending on the building construction type and the area and number of parking tiers (see Table 406.3.5).

 

[LGreene]

Thanks Charles.

 

[FM William Burns]

Must also look at the Area of Refuge/Communication requirements.....more later....