Delayed Egress: The Safe Solution for Security, Loss Prevention & Patient Safety

Other relevant codes are: NFPA® 5000, Building Construction and Safety Code Chapter 11; International Fire Code® Chapter 10; NFPA® 1, Uniform Fire Code Chapter 14; International Building Code® Chapter 10 and NFPA® 101, Life Safety Code.

According to the NFPA 7.2.1.6.1 Delayed-Egress Locking Systems, approved, listed, delayed egress locking systems shall be permitted to be installed on door assemblies serving low and ordinary hazard contents in buildings protected throughout by an approved, supervised automatic fire detection system in accordance with Section 9.6 or an approved, supervised automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 9.7, and where permitted in Chapters 11 through 43, provided that the following criteria are met:

1. The provisions of 7.2.1.6.2 for access-controlled egress door assemblies shall not apply to door assemblies with delayed-egress locking systems.

2. The door leaves shall unlock upon actuation of one of the following:

(a) Approved, supervised automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 9.7

(b) Not more than one heat detector of an approved, supervised automatic fire detection system in accordance with Section 9.6

(c) Not more than two smoke detectors of an approved, supervised automatic fire detection system in accordance with Section 9.6

3. The door leaves shall unlock upon loss of power controlling the lock or locking mechanism.

4. An irreversible process shall release the lock within 15 seconds, or 30 seconds where approved by the authority having jurisdiction, upon application of a force to the release device required in 7.2.1.5.9 under the following conditions:

(a) The force shall not be required to exceed 15lbf (67N).

(b) The force shall not be required to be continuously applied for more than 3 seconds.

(c) The initiation of the release process shall activate an audible signal in the vicinity of the door opening.

(d) Once the lock has been released by the application of force to the releasing device, relocking shall be by manual means only.

SECURITRON SOLUTIONS

Securitron Magnalock Corp. offers a variety of Delayed Egress Solutions. The Locksmith Ledger interviewed Mark McBroom, Product Manager for Delayed Egress products. for more information, visit www.securitron.com. Following are the Ledger’s questions and McBroom’s answers.

Can you provide a history of delayed egress?

“Delayed Egress Locks” offered an early answer to dementia facility patient containment. Some integrators and manufacturers saw other uses for delayed egress. Department stores and restaurants used them on designated, but unused, exits to control walk-outs and pilfering. Some companies used delayed egress to give the security guard 15 or 30 seconds to respond to those who did not use their access cards for egress, since it was illegal to lock people inside a building.

Code provisions for delayed egress included either a 15- or 30-second delay time and the system had to unlock when the fire system was in alarm. The new code was called “Delayed Egress Locks” and was placed under “Special Locking Arrangements.”

Is the demand for delayed egress growing, and if so, why?

Yes, as the economy has worsened the demand for loss prevention at the retail level has grown along with the elder generation needing life safety products within the health care industry.

How many types of delayed egress systems does Securitron offer and what are the basic differences?

Securitron offers the following four types of delayed egress:

1. Modular delayed egress using any standard magnetic lock, touch sense/panic bar with switch, XDT delay egress timer and reset device.

2. Self contained delayed egress which can be initiated by either door movement (iMXDa) or external panic device with switch (iEXDa).

3. Modular door movement delayed egress using any standard magnetic lock, SB-MXD initiate device, XDT delay egress timer and reset device.

4. Modular door movement delayed egress using any model 32, 62 or 82 magnetic lock, MXD-32, MXD-62 or MXD-82 housing/initiate device, XDT delay egress timer and reset device.

For what applications are Securitron’s delayed egress systems suited?