Many people prop doors open for ease of access or to increase airflow. However, not all doors are allowed to be propped open. Laboratory doors and any door opening into a corridor should never be propped open.
Access to many campus labs is restricted to approved personnel due to the presence of hazardous materials and equipment, including lasers, radiation sources, as well as biological and chemical agents. These areas require specific safety training and personal protective equipment (PPE) before entry is permitted. Any lab that handles radiation, lasers, chemicals, and biological agents must have doors that self-close, lock, and shut appropriately. Our campus safety inspectors look for properly working doors in all lab spaces to establish, implement, and maintain effective safety measures. These safety measures are based on CDC and NIH guidelines1,2Additionally, our laboratory computers and files contain sensitive information that needs to be kept adequately stored and out of the reach of unauthorized people for security purposes.
Corridors and hallways are a component of egress, a system designed to allow building occupants to evacuate safely during a fire. Specific doors are kept closed to construct corridors. This inhibits the spread of heat and smoke. These doors are made of material that can resist heat and smoke when closed, similar to walls. If these doors are propped open they will be unable to help compartmentalize any fire, which is a safety hazard.
If you find a fire door propped open, please close the door in order to keep everyone safe.
