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 D.C. Municipal Regulations (Last Updated: September 13, 2017)
 Title 12. CONSTRUCTION CODES SUPPLEMENT OF 2013
 SubTilte 12-H. FIRE CODE SUPPLEMENT OF 2013
 Chapter 12-H10. MEANS OF EGRESS

  Section 12-H1008. DOORS, GATES AND TURNSTILES  

Latest version.

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    Strike Section 1008.1.9.11 of the International Fire Code in its entirety and insert new Section 1008.1.9.11 to the Fire Code in its place to read as follows:

     

    1008.1.9.11 Stairway doors.  Interior stairway means of egress doors shall be openable from both sides without the use of a key or special knowledge or effort.

     

    Exceptions:

     

    1. Stairway discharge doors shall be openable from the egress side and shall only be locked from the opposite side.

     

    1. This section shall not apply to doors arranged in accordance with Section 403.5.3 of the Building Code.

     

    1. In stairways serving not more than four stories, doors are permitted to be locked from the side opposite the egress side, provided they are openable from the egress side and capable of being unlocked simultaneously without unlatching upon a signal from the fire command center, if present, or a signal by emergency personnel from a single location inside the main entrance to the building.

     

    1. Stairway exit doors shall be openable from the egress side and shall only be locked from the opposite side in Group B, F, M and S occupancies where the only interior access to the tenant space is from a single exit stair where permitted in Section 1021.2.

     

    1. Stairway exit doors shall be openable from the egress side and shall only be locked from the opposite side in Group R-2 occupancies where the only interior access to the dwelling unit is from a single exit stair where permitted in Section 1021.2.

     

    1. In buildings five or more stories in height, including existing buildings without a fire command center complying with Section 508, doors are permitted to be locked from the side opposite the egress side provided they are unlocked without unlatching upon activation of the building’s fire alarm system and the stairway is provided with a telephone or other two-way communication system in accordance with Section 403.5.3 of the Building Code.

     

     

authority

Section 10 of the Construction Codes Approval and Amendments Act of 1986 (Act), effective March 21, 1987 (D.C. Law 6-216; D.C. Official Code § 6-1409 (2012 Repl.)) and Mayor’s Order 2009-22, dated February 25, 2009, as amended.

source

Final Rulemaking published at 61 DCR 3251 (March 28, 2014 – Part 2); as corrected by Errata Notice published at 61 DCR 5246 (May 23, 2014).

EditorNote

The District of Columbia Fire Code (2013), referred to as the “Fire Code,” consists of the 2012 edition of the International Fire Code as amended by the District of Columbia Fire Code Supplement (2013) (12 DCMR H). The International Fire Code is copyrighted by the International Code Council and therefore is not republished here. However, a copy of the text may be obtained at: http://publicecodes.cyberregs.com/icod/ifc/2012/index.htm?bu=IC-P-2012-000003&bu2=IC-P-2012-000019.