Section 400.4543. Doors.

Rule 543. (1) Doors to required means of egress shall comply with all of the following provisions:

(a)   Be side-hinged and installed at floor level.

(b)    Be not less than 36 inches wide in new and converted large and secure facilities and new small facilities, and not less than 30 inches wide in remodeled and converted small facilities, except as required by R 400.4538(10).

(c)   Be not less than 78 inches high in new, remodeled, and converted facilities.

(d)   In large and secure facilities, doors shall be hung to swing in the direction of egress, except doors to single-occupant rooms and  bathrooms.

(e)    Be equipped with at least knob-type, properly operating, approved, positive- latching, nonlocking-against-egress-type hardware which insures the opening of the door with a single motion, such as turning a knob or applying pressure of normal strength on a latch, except as where otherwise provided by subrule (2) of this rule and R 400.4545.

(2)   In secure facilities, locking hardware is permitted  if  resident sleeping rooms are equipped with approved electric locks or if there are staff present and awake, fully dressed, on duty, and in possession of keys to release residents in an emergency.

(3)     Doors entering stairs and other vertical openings and doors to fire rated enclosures shall not be held in an open position at any time by an underdoor wedge or hold-open device.

(4)   Interior doors to any enclosure which is required to have not less than a 1-hour fire resistance rating shall be B-labeled fire doors in labeled frames and shall be equipped with positive-latching hardware and self-closing devices.

History: 1983 AACS.