Highlights of BOCA
The
BOCA National Building Code - 1996
Regarding Doors, Frames and Hardware
This
outline is based on Hardware Specialties' interpretation of the code, all information must
be verified and approved by a registered architect, professional engineer,
and/or authority having jurisdiction.
Numbers in brackets ( ) refer to applicable section of the publication.
Note: In this document, "fire protection system" means an approved sprinkler system, approved fire alarm system, or both.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Door Hardware (1017.4)
handles, pulls, latches, locks and other operating devices shall be at a maximum height of 48" above finish floor
operating devices shall be capable of operation with one hand and shall not require tight grasping, tight pinching or twisting of the wrist to operate
maximum opening force for interior doors without closers - 5 lbs.
maximum opening force for other doors - 15 lbs.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Locks and Latches (1017.4.1)
all means of egress doors shall be readily openable from the side from which egress is to be made without the use of a key or special knowledge or effort, except as stated below
key operation shall be permitted from a dwelling unit provided that the key cannot be removed from the lock when the door is locked from the egress side
means of egress doors from individual dwelling units and guest rooms in residential occupancy having an occupant load of 10 or less shall be permitted to have a night latch, dead bolt, or security chain, provided that such devices are openable from the inside without the use of a key or tool, and are mounted at a maximum height of 48" above finish floor
in business, factory and industrial, mercantile, and
storage occupancies, the main exterior means of egress door is permitted to
be equipped with a key-operated locking device from the egress side where in
compliance with the following 3 conditions:
* locking device is of a type that is readily distinguishable as locked
* signage (THIS DOOR TO REMAIN UNLOCKED WHEN THIS BUILDING IS OCCUPIED)
* the main exterior door is a single door or a pair of doors which, when
unlocked, the door or both leafs of a pair of doors swing free
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flush and Surface Bolts (1017.4.1.1)
manually operated flush bolts or surface bolts are prohibited on means of egress doors
where automatic flush bolts are used, the door leaf having the automatic flush bolts shall not have a door knob or surface mounted hardware
the unlatching of any leaf shall not require more that one operation
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Special Locking Arrangements (Delayed Egress Locks) (1017.4.1.2)
in buildings equipped with an approved fire protection
system, doors in a means of egress serving use group B (business), E
(educational), F (factory and industrial), I (institutional), M
(mercantile), S (storage), or R (residential) shall be unlocked or shall be
equipped with approved egress control devices which shall unlock in
accordance with the items below
* a building occupant shall not be required to pass through more than one
door equipped with a special locking device before entering an exit
* door unlocks upon actuation of the fire protection system
* door unlocks upon loss of power controlling locking mechanism
* door unlocks upon loss of power to the building
* door is capable of being unlocked manually by a signal from an emergency
control station
* an irreversible and automatic process releases the lock within 15 seconds
(ahj can approve a delay of up to 30 seconds) upon application to the
release device (15 lbf for not more than 1 second)
* initiation of the release process activates an audible alarm in the
vicinity of the door
* after release, door shall not relock until it has been opened and returned
to the closed position for at least 30 seconds, any reopening of the
door shall restart the 30 second relocking cycle (an increase of the
relocking cycle time can be increased to 45 seconds with approval from the
ahj)
* signage on egress side of door (PUSH UNTIL ALARM SOUNDS, DOOR CAN BE
OPENED IN 15 SECONDS)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Panic Hardware (1017.4.2)
all doors equipped with latching devices in occupancies in assembly and educational occupancies or portions of buildings occupied for assembly or educational purposes and serving rooms or spaces with an occupant load greater than 100, shall be equipped with approved panic hardware
actuating portion of device extends at least 1/2 the width of the door leaf
device must be mounted between 30" and 44" above finish floor
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Access -Controlled Egress Doors (1017.4.5)
entrance doors in a means of egress in buildings with an
occupancy in use groups A (assembly), B (business), E (educational), M
(mercantile), R-1 (residential - hotels), or R-2 (residential - multi-family
dwellings), and entrance doors to tenant spaces in those occupancies, are
permitted to have an approved entrance and egress access control system,
provided that
*a sensor on the egress side unlocks the door upon detection of an occupant
approaching the door
* loss of power to the sensor unlocks the door
* loss of power to the lock unlocks the door
* manual release device adjacent to the door unlocks the door
* manual release device must have signage (PUSH TO EXIT)
* manual release device results in direct interruption of power to the lock,
and door remains unlocked for at least 30 seconds
* fore protection system automatically unlocks the door, and the door
remains unlocked until the fire protection system is manually reset
* entrance doors in buildings with an occupancy in use groups A, B, E, or M
shall not be secured from the egress side during periods that the building
is open to the general public
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------