Page 39 - Occupational Health & Safety, March 2017

into the door so they don’t have to fix them. (It’s very important that doors latch in case of a fire.)
For the most part, these actions are taken in ignorance rather than blatant dis- regard of the rules, but the end result could be disastrous either way if a fire emergency would occur.
According to Pennsylvania State Fire Commissioner Timothy Solobay, “While most municipalities have building code in- spectors or code persons who check to en- sure new buildings or buildings that have new ownership are up to code, not all have fire inspectors who visit industrial, commer- cial, and multi-family properties annually to make sure they’ve remained up to code.”
Key Fire Code Regulations
Some of the key fire code regulations for openings that people tend to overlook after initial installation include:
NFPA 101—Chapter 7: Means of Egress
An increase in thefts, muggings, and similar crimes has led to the practice of providing extra security on door assem- blies within the means of egress. This oc- curs most often where door assemblies to exit stairs and exit discharges are found. The provisions of 7.2.1.5 are aimed at preventing locked door assemblies in means of egress.
NFPA 80—Chapter 15-2.3
Door openings and the surrounding areas shall be kept clear of anything that could obstruct or interfere with the free op- eration of the door.
NFPA 101—Chapter 70-2.1.5.3
Locks, if provided, shall not require the use of a key, a tool, or special knowledge or effort for operation from the egress side.
To ensure that these and other regula- tions are met long past when an opening and door hardware are installed, industry professionals need to be vigilant in educat- ing building owners, property managers, and users of facilities. While most people using institutional and commercial build- ings worry most about security issues these days, fires strike far more often than those types of emergencies.
With the primary focus of Solobay’s of- fice on fire safety education and training, he agrees that proactively arming property owners and people managing and using fa- cilities with knowledge of safety hazards at exits helps to minimize fire risks.
Ongoing inspections can help to an
even greater degree. But for municipalities without fire inspectors, who will take on that responsibility?
Fire safety experts suggest hardware manufacturers and others in our industry offer free inspections to building owners.
I see positive possibilities in that for property managers, facility occupants, and manufacturers. Not only would it open the door to educating facility man- agers, but it would also give manufac- turers the opportunity to sell hardware. That’s a win-win situation. Safer exits
could result in lives saved and long-term revenue potential.
David Kase is the Lock Program Manager for DORMA USA and a member of the Builders Hardware Manufacturers Associa- tion (BHMA) Board of Directors. DORMA Americas is a leading global manufacturer of premium access solutions that enable bet- ter buildings. DORMA has earned a wide- spread reputation for products and services that provide security, safety, and convenience around the door.
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