In Tuesday’s post, I wrote about a change that is coming in the 2027 edition of the International Building Code (IBC).  This change will allow individual restrooms and bathing rooms to have hardware – such as a latchset and separate deadbolt – that requires two non-simultaneous releasing motions to unlatch the door for egress.  Current and past editions of the IBC do not include this exception, so individual restrooms must currently have hardware that unlatches with one motion.

The other change that I mentioned in that post is related to bedrooms within a dwelling unit or sleeping unit, typically dormitory suites.  There is often a desire to have separate deadbolts on these bedroom doors within a dwelling unit or sleeping unit, but current and past editions of the code only allow the second releasing motion for the entrance doors serving dwelling units and sleeping units, not for bedrooms within those units.  I wrote about this issue back in 2020, so you can read all about it here.

The Unlatching section of the 2027 code mentions this change in Exception 3, but the most important part of the change occurs in Item 5 of the Locks and Latches section, which states:

5. Doors complying with any of the following are permitted to be equipped with a night latch, manual bolt, or security chain that requires a second non-simultaneous releasing motion, provided that such devices are openable from the inside without the use of a key or tool.

5.1. Doors from individual Group R dwelling or sleeping units where a single exit complies with ‎Section 1006.2.1 or 1006.3.4.

5.2 Doors from individual sleeping rooms within sleeping units of congregate living facilities ‎of Group R-2 and Group R-3 occupancies provided the doors from the sleeping units require not more than one motion for egress.

5.3 Doors from individual sleeping rooms within  dwelling units of Group R-2 occupancies serving ‎as college or university student housing provided the doors from the dwelling units require not more than one motion for egress.

Item 5.1 is basically restating (in a slightly different way) what was in the code previously.  Entrance doors serving dwelling units and sleeping units are permitted to have hardware that requires an additional non-simultaneous releasing motion.

Items 5.2 and 5.3 address bedrooms within sleeping units of congregate living facilities and bedrooms within dwelling units of college or university dormitories.  These bedrooms may be equipped with hardware that requires a second releasing motion for egress.  Note that if this hardware is used on the individual bedroom door within the suite, the entrance door to the unit (corridor to dorm suite, for example) must unlatch with one releasing motion for egress.  In addition, the locking and latching hardware must be operable for egress without a key or tool.

Remember, this change does not technically apply until the 2027 edition of the IBC is adopted in a project’s jurisdiction, although an AHJ may allow a code modification based on the upcoming change.

Image: University of Tennesee – Knoxville, where my kid is a proud Vol grad! 

You need to login or register to bookmark/favorite this content.