When considering doors that form part of an egress route, such as those in a common area or corridor, there is a common misconception that they can be locked as long as they automatically unlock upon activation of the building’s fire alarm system. However, this belief is incorrect as there are no such provisions within the 2021 IBC that permit egress doors to be locked and only released during a fire alarm event.
Egress doors are required to be readily available and operable from the egress side without requiring a key or special knowledge (2021 IBC Section 1010.2). This requirement ensures that in non-fire emergencies (i.e., natural disasters) requiring building evacuation, occupants can readily exit without delays caused by locked doors. Any listed exceptions to the above can be found in 2021 IBC Section 1010.2.
Understanding and complying with this requirement is crucial to ensuring the safe and swift evacuation of building occupants during emergencies.