Sec. 591-433. - Obstruction of the means of egress.
(a) Obstructions, including storage, shall not be placed in the required width of a means of egress, except projections as allowed by the 675 IAC 13. Means of egress shall not be obstructed in any manner and shall remain free of any material or matter where its presence would obstruct or render the means of egress hazardous.
(b) Whenever an enclosed stairwell in a Class 1 structure can be used as a route of fire exit, the stairway doors shall be equipped so there is unrestricted re-entry from the stair enclosure on all floors.
Exception: Group I occupancies.
ALL Stairway Access Doors above and below grade other than the exit discharge doors shall be permitted to be locked from the stairway side, ONLY if the Stairway doors that are locked from the stairway side are capable of being unlocked, without unlatching, simultaneously;
1. Upon activation of the automatic sprinkler system or,
2. Upon activation of the building fire alarm system or,
3. Upon loss of power controlling the lock mechanism or,
4. Upon a signal from the fire command center.
Existing locked stairway doors with locking hardware will not require immediate retrofit, but as any change is made to an existing stairway door, hardware, frame and/or jamb, the door lock shall be made compliant with this section. This unlocking requirement also applies to new building projects with a building permit date after enactment of this amendment.
The existing locked stairway doors shall have a label, stencil, or sign affixed to the occupant side of the door, located 54 inches minimum and 66 inches maximum above the finished floor and near the closing edge of the door stating:
THIS DOOR IS LOCKED FROM THE STAIRWAY SIDE, NO RE ENTRY.
The label, stencil or sign shall have plainly legible letters not less than 1" (one inch) high on a contrasting background. Signs larger than this minimum shall have letter widths, strokes and spacing proportionate to their height. The signs will not be required to have special illumination.
If found in Violation, an Order Requiring Compliance will be issued to the manager or building owner and, if different, operator of the building.
(c) Any member of a police or fire department who shall discover any fire escape or means of egress encumbered or obstructed in any manner shall report such condition to the appropriate fire prevention bureau and the bureau shall immediately notify the owner or occupant to remove such encumbrance or obstacle.
(G.O. 43, 2002, § 2; G.O. 7, 2005, § 1)
