Nfpa 101-2000 Life Safety Code

I Dig Hardware / I Hate Hardware » WWYD? – Pediatric Unit Egress Doors

Last week I posted a photo of a deadlock on a pair with panic hardware, and I included a poll to find out what you all thought should be done about the problem.  I received some photos yesterday that gave me the idea to make this a regular feature of the blog – “What Would You Do?” (WWYD). Check out the photos, the code excerpts, and scroll all the way down to vote in the poll.

The photos below came from a life safety code consultant, who inspects hospitals to make them aware of their life safety issues.  These egress doors are in the pediatric unit of a hospital, and have been painted this way for at least 7 years.  The hospital has had inspections from various agencies, and the painted doors remain.

The issue with these doors is that the way they are painted could make it confusing for someone trying to exit in an emergency.

7.1.10.2.2 No obstruction by railings, barriers, or gates shall divide the means of egress into sections appurtenant to individual rooms, apartments, or other occupied spaces. Where the authority having jurisdiction finds the required path of travel to be obstructed by furniture or other movable objects, the authority shall be permitted to require that such objects be secured out of the way or shall be permitted to require that railings or other permanent barriers be installed to protect the path of travel against encroachment. 1008.1 Doors. Means of egress doors shall meet the requirements of this section. Doors serving a means of egress system shall meet the requirements of this section and Section 1020.2. Doors provided for egress purposes in numbers greater than required by this code shall meet the requirements of this section. Means of egress doors shall be readily distinguishable from the adjacent construction and finishes such that the doors are easily recognizable as doors. Commentary:  The general requirements for doors are in this section and the following subsections. The reference to Section 1020.2 is intended to emphasize that exterior exit doors must lead to a route that will allow a path to a public street or alley (see definition for “Public way”). Doors need to be easily recognizable for immediate use in an emergency condition. Thus, the code specifies that doors are not to be hidden in such a manner that a person would have trouble seeing where to egress.