During my hospital stay a couple of weeks ago, I was in a lot of pain but of course I was still checking out the doors.  🙂  When the security guard used the reader to let me access the treatment area from reception, I wondered what the process was to get out.  I didn’t find out until I was sent home, but my inklings were right – the access control hardware (electromagnetic locks) did not permit egress.

My visitors, who spent most of their time watching Netflix while I slept, were assigned visitor badges.  What was the purpose of the QR code?  I have no idea – it definitely didn’t unlock the doors.  The doors in question are the main doors leading from lobby to the rest of the hospital – the restroom was also behind this door.  The security guard would allow people in, and also had to allow people out unless they were staff members with an access control credential.

As many of you know, there are two code sections that typically apply to electromagnetic locks.  One requires the doors to unlock via a switch in the door-mounted hardware, and upon loss of power.  The other requires the doors to unlock for egress via a sensor on the egress side which detects an approaching occupant, an auxiliary push button, activation of the fire alarm/sprinkler system, and loss of power.  While this door does have an auxiliary push button, it would not meet the requirements of the US model codes (this hospital is in Mexico).  And there was no sensor to release the lock – my visitors had to tap on the door until the security guard let them out.

Although the model codes allow controlled egress locks to be used in certain health care units like pediatrics and memory care, this door would not qualify as a door where controlled egress is permitted.  It serves the entire hospital, including outpatient areas, lab testing, and standard hospital rooms – not areas where patients require containment for their safety or security.

To learn more about the requirements for electromagnetic locks, check out this video.  For more on controlled egress locks in health care facilities, here is a recent Decoded article.

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