Bill Lawliss of Allegion is my boss.  Laurie Lawliss is Bill’s wife.  Gil Emery Jr. is Laurie’s friend, who saw this door in an antique store in Vermont and posted a photo on Facebook, where it was seen by Laurie and sent to me.  My plan for harnessing the power of the Earth’s population to identify and respond to code problems is working!

This antique store must have some REALLY valuable antiques in it, but it’s ok because someone has Fixed-It.

Antique Store Emergency Exit

Did you know that the part of the code that includes the signage above (“This door to remain unlocked when building is occupied.”) only applies to:

a) the following occupancy types:

  • Assembly occupancies with an occupant load of 300 or less
  • Business, Factory, Mercantile, and Storage occupancies
  • Places of religious worship

b) the following doors:

  • the main exterior door or doors

c) and the following lock types:

  • key-operated locks
  • readily distinguishable as locked

The signage must be present (1 inch high letters on a contrasting background), and the use of this type of lock can be revoked by the building official for due cause – ie. if the door is locked while the building is occupied.  If you see the sign on a door that is not the main entrance, or in an occupancy that is not one of those listed above, or with a lock that is not key-operated or readily distinguishable as locked, this should raise a red flag (get out your camera!).

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