I received today’s Wordless Wednesday photo from an AHJ – the photo was taken in a school, where the mag-lock was added to deter elopement. Note the height of the push button!
If a door is equipped with an electromagnetic lock, it must be released for egress either by a switch in the door-mounted hardware (+ loss of power), or by a sensor on the egress side and an auxiliary push button that meets specific requirements (+ loss of power + fire alarm/sprinkler activation). You can read more about the requirements for mag-locks in this article: Decoded: Applications for Electromagnetic Locks.
An alternative for deterring elopement from a classroom would be an exit alarm or a delayed egress lock (if the classroom has an occupant load of less than 50 people). Mounting the hardware – or in this case the release switch – above the allowable mounting height is not a solution!
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The push button is within 5 feet of the door! I guess they get partial credit??? 🙁
There’s also no exit sign in the photo, but maybe they can get partial credit for the word “EXIT” on the button?
Hi Emil –
Not all egress doors require exit signs – here’s a post about that: https://idighardware.com/2017/02/ff-exit-sign-position/
– Lori
It’s supposed to be at ADA height not NBA height.
That door looks like it’s from a corridor into a class room??
Thru the view window, someone seated at a desk, and beyond exterior windows.
Could be the reason the release button is mounted 7 foot above the floor?? Supersedes the ADA code of 48″ max.
Must be setup to keep smaller people out of the room, or locked in the room?
Would be interesting to see the other side on how the mag lock is dropped. Similar release button or Prox reader?
Can we assume that mag lock is tied into the fire alarm system for ‘fail safe’
If this is a out-swinging door (RHR) some installers still have not learn “Door Hardware Etiquette”
Hi Bob –
I checked with the AHJ when I wrote the post and he confirmed that the photo is of the egress side of the door.
– Lori