If a fire breaks out in your home or apartment, do you know where your house keys are? Can you find them if your apartment is filled with smoke? Are they in your purse? On the kitchen counter? In the couch?
We have had several emails in the past week regarding exterior door locks and how to stay within building codes and still maintain a high-level of security. First building codes require that people are able to unlock and exit emergency egress doors:
- without the need for special tools or special knowledge;
- operation shall be accomplished with a minimum amount of effort (no more than 15 lbf) of force;
- to protect against inadvertent operation by a young child, the release mechanism(s) requires two distinct actions to operate;
- the release mechanisms must have their operating mechanisms clearly identified for use in an emergency; and,
- release devices cannot be designed in a manner which accommodates the use of locking devices which require special tools or knowledge to operate, such as combination locks or keyed locks.
These requirements are found in buildings codes across the country, not just the District of Columbia.
There are several types of locks available on the market that meet this requirement that have a thumb release from the interior. Several folks have asked us for local companies who can help identify the best locking system for your apartment or specific brands of locks that work best. However, we cannot legally suggest specific companies or brands of locks. So if you’re a current landlord or contractors who has found a system that works well for you and stays within codes, please share your solution.
Note: Any companies or brands mentioned in the comments are not to be considered as an endorsement by DCRA.
Can you please provide a trade name or more details about this deadbolt which requires “two distinct actions to release?”
I googled “thumb release deadbolt” and “fire safe deadbolt” and came up with nothing. There is even a section on State Farm Insurance’s web site about fire safety with deadbolts, and it only describes some bizarre contraption where, apparently, the last person to leave is supposed to take the thumb-screw with them, and must remember to put it back in the lock. This sounds highly problematic at best for any household with more than one person.
I am very interested in a deadbolt locking mechanism that offers sufficient complexity that it can’t easily be opened with a “reach-around”, yet does not require a key on the inside. From this article, it sounds like there may be such a thing, but I still can’t find one online.
I have investigated this type of lock from Mul-T-Lock. It’s a great (but expensive) solution for securing doors that could be compromised by a nearby window. However, the thumb turn does not have to be in the lock to use it, so there is no way to force a tenant to put the thumb turn back in the lock. I have not yet found a double cylinder deadbolt that “requires” that in order to lock the door from the inside, you need to put the thumb turn back in place, which would be the ideal scenario. Basically, tenant can come home, lock the door from inside with a key without putting in the thumb turn, and then forget where the key is.
Marc, it sounds like you are talking about the thing that State Farm described in my original comment.
Apart from obvious issues (such as more than one person living in the house) I also don’t understand how this would improve security. If the thumbturn is supposed to be in the lock when you’re home, can’t it be compromised just like a regular thumbturn deadbolt?
It sounds like the only added security is when you’re NOT at home, and if there is more than one resident, who takes the thumbturn? This is not workable.
From the original post, though, it sounds like there are devices that offer some kind of two-handed or two-movement release mechanism which would offer additional security against a window-break opening, and not require a key.
This sounds much more practical, but I have not been able to locate any such lock online.
Heh am I literally the first comment to this incredible writing!
I was excited to read this post’s headline but felt disappointed as I read through the actual post that it addressed only doors and not the other big elephant, windows. I was hoping it was going to address an issue that received a good amount of electronic comment ink when this blog first published — i.e., many apts wanting to go legal have the issue of window bars on ground-level/basement windows for the daily security threat of a burglar/window-being-smashed-in but they are hugely problematic for obtaining a C.O. because they don’t meet the unlikely-but-need -to-be prepared-for emergency fire egress from a bedroom (having two egress from a bedroom — bedroom door and a window to outside). The Hill is improving, but it’s still not at the safety zone level where window bars are a thing of the past. Can DCRA address this issue more specifically on what the remedies are for coming into compliance that balances daily security concerns as well as fire safety.
@CapHill,
Thanks for comment. There are several options for retrofitting the window bars and several people have commented on the systems available. While we certainly understand your point about “unlikely,” there are many safety regulations where safety from the “unlikely” is required. These codes are adopted nationally and internationally, not just DC. I hope readers can post their solutions, if not we’ll post something soon. Thanks again.
DCRA, please do post something soon! Would be very helpful to have some expert insight into this issue.