HomeKnowledgeIBC Section 1015 — Exit and Exit Access Door and Hardware
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IBC Section 1015 — Exit and Exit Access Door and Hardware

Updated Apr 3, 2026
Specifies requirements for exit doors including swing direction, hardware, locking, and accessibility.

Section 1015 establishes detailed requirements for exit doors and the hardware controlling their operation. All exit doors must be readily recognizable as exits, unlocked from the inside without requiring keys, tools, or special knowledge, and capable of being opened with one hand without simultaneous use of both hands. Exit doors must be side-hinged, swinging in the direction of exit travel (egress direction) when serving occupancies with occupant loads exceeding 50 persons. Occupancies such as private residences and small offices may have doors that swing into the building if occupant load is limited. Sliding glass doors are prohibited as exit doors. Exit door openings must be minimum 32 inches clear width when measured from the face of the door to the edge of the stop, measured at 90 degrees to the plane of the door. Exit doors must be designed to remain open when propped during normal operations but must automatically close upon activation of fire alarms. Panic hardware or crash bars are required in buildings with large occupant loads (typically exceeding 50 persons in assembly occupancies) to permit rapid exiting by pushing the bar without knowledge of latch operation. Panic hardware must reopen exit doors by pushing (not turning the handle) and be installed across the full width of the door. Fire-rated exit doors must be equipped with self-closing devices that automatically close the door upon opening, maintaining fire-resistance rating. Electromagnetic locks on exit doors are permitted if doors revert to unlocked status upon fire alarm activation or power loss.

TAGS
ibcchapter-10doorshardwareegress
DETAILS
section
1015
category
Means of Egress
code body
IBC
code year
2021
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