From Burg Alarms Group on Facebook:
Is this install code compliant? Why/why not?
Is This Emergency Door Open Switch Legal?
UI
Undisclosed Integrator #1
Nov 27, 2017Looks to be installed underneath what is possibly a REX button, with a fire extinguisher hanging to the left. If this is a mag lock controlled door, I have seen these emergency pulls installed as one of the means of egress in air locks where they didn't want the mag locks to be released by motion in the air lock vestibule (someone changing out of their lab coats, etc) and the emerg pull would be used if the REX button failed.
Are you referring to the height of the where the release is mounted, or its close proximity the fire extinguisher?
Michael Silva
Nov 27, 2017Many authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs) find this type of arrangement to be acceptable.
You see this type of arrangement commonly used in elevator lobbies in high-rise buildings. The doors between the elevator lobby and the office suites on each floor are kept locked, requiring the use of an access card to enter. Because the fire exit stairways are inside of the office suites, a person in the elevator lobby cannot reach an exit without going through the lobby door. The emergency door release provides a means to override the lock hardware on the door, allowing access to the exit stairways in case of an emergency.
Brian Rhodes
Nov 27, 2017That's interesting.
Is a pull connected to one door, or does it drop power to all such doors via a loop? Is there a sounder that annunciates when one is pulled?
Also, does the keyed reset give owners a concern? If it works similar to a Fire Pull, a key is needed to restore the switch, so a prankster pulling it would keep the door unlocked until the key restores it.
Michael Silva
Nov 27, 2017The pull station usually just controls the specific door that it is at. They are typically set-up so they sound an audible alarm at the door, as well as send an alarm signal to the security control center when the pull station is pulled. The responding security officer would have a key to reset the pull station.
This arrangement is less than ideal from a security standpoint for several reasons, but is often the only acceptable compromise when the AHJ requires that access to the exit stairways be maintained.
U
Undisclosed #2
Nov 28, 2017Is this considered panic hardware?
If the floor has 50 or more occupants, isn’t panic required on egress doors?
Brian Rhodes
Nov 28, 2017Is this considered panic hardware?
No. Panic hardware describes door mounted Exit Devices, while pushbuttons, PIRs, and pulls like the above are Request to Exit devices.
U
Undisclosed #2
Nov 28, 2017If there were panic bars on the doors though, the rte device likely wouldn’t be necessary, yes/no?
Also, why isn’t panic hardware required here? Isn’t this door considered part of the path of egress? Or is it just required when the occupancy is 50 or more?
Brian Rhodes
Nov 28, 2017Panic hardware may very well be required and even in use here.
The pull above very likely is associated with a maglock. In the case of a maglocked door with panic hardware sans integrated RTE switch (a very common arrangement), the pull would be used to kill all power to the maglock (permanently unlocking it) until manual reset by key.
So picture a maglocked door with a crash bar/exit device. If you push on the bar, even forcefully, but the maglock stays locked, you're just flailing against the door. This pull kills maglock power to prevent that from happening (even if the PIR RTE or RTE Pushbutton fails.)
An RTE button kills power for a timed duration, and a PIR RTE does not trigger on the outside of the door, so for elevator lobby to stairwell applications like Mike Silva describes (where someone from the outside actually needs 'in' to egress during an emergency), a more permanent form of killing power to maglocks may be needed.
New discussion
Ask questions and get answers to your physical security questions from IPVM team members and fellow subscribers.
Newest discussions