Fire & Life Safety: Doors

Changing Door Locks

All doors on campus must comply with state law requiring exit doors to be operable from the inside without the use of a key or any special knowledge or effort. (California Building Code 1008.1.9, 2013 Ed.)

• The intent of this code is to provide that any occupant of a room shall be able to open the door with one single motion which causes all locks and latches to simultaneously disengage.
• Deadbolts, padlocks/combination locks with clasps, and chain locks are examples of locking devices which are in violation of the California Building Code.   
• Security locks installed on the exterior of doors (such as card access, combination locks, etc.) shall be installed with a key override for emergency access by the UC Police Department and Berkeley Fire Department. 
• If locks have been changed, please notify the UC Berkeley Fire Prevention Division when a new key is available, so that the updated key can be placed in the Fire Department Knox Box.

If a normal locking device does not provide adequate security to protect the contents of a particular room, departments should contact the UC Police Department Crime Prevention Bureau for further information regarding security systems.   

Resources

Campus Access Control Policy 

UCPD Key Request And Fabrication Guide 

Hold-Open Door Devices

• The use of wedges, lever holders, spring action floor bolts, combination holder/bumpers, or any other type of door holder is strictly prohibited when doors open into main corridors. 
• California Building Code requires that “doors leading into a one-hour corridor shall be self-closing and self-latching, with no hold-open devices”. (Section 716.5.9 and 716.5.9.1)
  • The exception is when doors are fitted with an approved automatic door closing assembly, such as an electrically operated hold-open devices designed to release the door by the activation of smoke detectors. 

If a department feels that their door needs to remain open for operational purposes or any other reasons, there are options available. 

Please call the Campus Fire Marshal’s Office at (510) 642-3073 to discuss these options.