I was just saying to someone the other day that after graduating with an architectural degree, I went into a related industry because I did not like the subjective nature of working as an architect. I like yes/no, right/wrong, which is why codes are such a great fit for me. If there are grey areas, my mission is to get rid of them.
The other day someone asked a question that turned out to be a grey area (as far as I can tell), and immediately went on my code development wish list:
Are delayed egress locks permitted on doors serving electrical rooms where panic hardware is required?
This might seem like a strange question…I mean, why would someone want to delay egress from an electrical room? But with the rise in data center projects which typically have higher security than other types of facilities, delayed egress is being requested in locations that might have high voltage or high amperage equipment.
The I-Codes sections on delayed egress locks state the use groups where delayed egress locks are permitted, and in NFPA 101, Life Safety Code, this information is found in the occupancy chapters. I don’t see anything that would prohibit delayed egress locks, except in assembly, educational, and high hazard occupancies.
I checked the I-Codes section that addresses panic hardware on rooms with electrical equipment, which has been revised to more closely align with NFPA 70, National Electrical Code:
1010.2.8.2 Rooms with electrical equipment. Exit or exit access doors serving transformer vaults, rooms designated for batteries or energy storage systems, or modular data centers shall be equipped with panic hardware or fire exit hardware. Rooms containing electrical equipment rated 800 amperes or more that contain overcurrent devices, switching devices or control devices and where the exit or exit access door is less than 25 feet (7620 mm) from the equipment working space as required by NFPA 70, such doors shall not be provided with a latch or lock other than panic hardware or fire exit hardware. The doors shall swing in the direction of egress travel.
If the delayed egress lock was delayed egress panic hardware it seems like technically it would meet this requirement, but it seems like a terrible idea to me. Although the delayed egress lock is required to permit immediate egress (no delay) upon fire alarm and power failure, the time between an explosion or other incident in an electrical room and the release of the delay could be crucial. I would prefer to see an exit alarm with no delay for this type of room.
What’s your take on this application? Is delayed egress prohibited for these rooms in another code or standard? WWYD?
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