Can Locking Devices Be Installed on Safe Room Door Handles?

According to Sections B5.2.3 and B5.2.7 of FEMA P-361, the egress doors of the safe room should be operable from the inside without the use of keys, special knowledge, or effort. Furthermore, model building codes and life-safety codes often include requirements for securing doors in public areas (areas with assembly classifications). These codes often require panic bar hardware, single-release mechanisms, or other hardware requirements. For example, the 2021 IBC and the NFPA life-safety codes require panic bar hardware on doors with no other lock or latch on swinging doors for assembly and educational occupancies of 50 persons or more. A design professional will need to establish what door hardware is required by the applicable code and ICC 500 and what hardware is permitted. In all cases, a detailed operations and maintenance plan should be developed. The operations and maintenance plan should clearly identify who is responsible for unlocking and securing the safe room before and after an event, describe the critical operations plans, and provide backup plans in case the people in charge of those duties are unavailable. More information about operations and maintenance plans can be found in Chapter A4 of FEMA P-361.  Information on the maintenance and inspection of door assemblies can be found in FEMA’s Community Tornado Safe Room Doors: Installation and Maintenance Fact Sheet.