Allow for temporary door locks during emergency situations

Emergency door locks allowed in public buildings

The law allows temporary door-locking devices in public buildings during shelter-in-place, emergency lockdowns, or drills. Use is allowed only with approval from the local fire department, law enforcement, or the code official in charge. Devices must be temporary and used only for the duration of the emergency. They may not change door closers, panic bars, or fire-exit hardware. They must engage and be removed without opening the door. From the exit side, release cannot require a key. From the entry side, removal can require a key or credential and must take a single motion. The main device is not permanently mounted to the door; only small parts may be. Install height cannot be above 48 inches, and the device must keep the door’s NFPA fire rating. Buildings must include these devices in safety plans, drills, and training for staff and first responders. This is a narrow exception to rules against blocking fire exits and is now in effect.