{"id":13660,"date":"2013-03-01T16:46:27","date_gmt":"2013-03-01T21:46:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.constructionspecifier.com\/?p=13660"},"modified":"2017-01-20T14:01:16","modified_gmt":"2017-01-20T19:01:16","slug":"code-requirements-for-doors-with-access-control","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.constructionspecifier.com\/code-requirements-for-doors-with-access-control\/","title":{"rendered":"Code requirements for doors with access control"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"All<\/a>
All photos courtesy Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies<\/em><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

by Lori Greene, AHC\/CDC, CCPR, FDAI
\n<\/strong>When specifying electrified hardware for an access control system, there is often confusion about which code requirements to follow and which system components are needed. For example, one set of requirements is titled \u201cAccess-controlled Egress Doors,\u201d leading to a common misunderstanding all electrified hardware used with an access control system must comply with this section.<\/p>\n

\u201cAccess-controlled Egress Doors\u201d is found in both International <\/i>Building Code<\/i> (IBC<\/i>) and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 101, Life Safety Code, <\/i>as Section 1008.1.4.4 and 7.2.1.6.2, respectively. It is typically applied to doors with electromagnetic locks released by a motion sensor. These types of locks are essentially an electromagnet in a housing mounted on the underside of the frame head, and a steel armature mounted on the door face.<\/p>\n

When the magnet is energized, it bonds to the armature and locks the door. To allow access or egress, a switch must be provided to de-energize the magnet. In addition to the motion sensor, the lock must be unlocked by actuation of the fire alarm system, loss of power, and a signal from a push button mounted within 1.5 m (5 ft) of the door, which unlocks the lock for 30 seconds independent of the access control system.<\/p>\n

\"As<\/a>
As its name suggests, an electromagnetic lock is essentially an electromagnet in a housing mounted on the frame, with a steel armature mounted on the door. Without the proper release devices required by code, doors with electromagnetic locks will not provide egress.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The 2009 IBC<\/i> includes a new section\u2014\u201cElectromagnetically Locked Egress Doors\u201d (1008.1.9.8)\u2014that allows doors with electromagnetic locks to be addressed in another way. The 2009 NFPA 101 added a similar section, called \u201cElectrically Controlled Egress Door Assemblies\u201d (7.2.1.5.5). When electromagnetic locks are specified, either the original \u201cAccess-controlled Egress Doors\u201d section or the new sets of requirements may be used, depending on the application and the edition of the code applied to the project.<\/p>\n

The difference with the new requirements is the electromagnetic lock may be released by a door-mounted device instead of a motion sensor and push button. This door-mounted release device could be panic hardware or a lockset with a request-to-exit (RX or REX) switch, or a bar with an electronic touch sensor. This code section does not require the lock to unlock upon actuation of the fire alarm, but only when there is power loss to the switch in the door-mounted hardware.<\/p>\n

Comparing the requirements<\/b>
\nThe two sets of requirements, as shown in the 2009 IBC<\/i> (NFPA 101 requirements are very similar), bear comparison.<\/p>\n

1008.1.4.4\u2013Access-controlled Egress Doors<\/i><\/p>\n