Regulations, Codes & Standards Q&A: Stairwell card-access readers

Q: Section 7.2.2.5.3 of the 2012 Life Safety Code (LSC), says there shall be no enclosed, usable space within an exit enclosure, including under the stairs, nor shall any open space within the enclosure be used for any purpose that has the potential to interfere with egress. Does this also refer to access control card readers mounted inside the stairwell controlling ingress?

A: Card-readers are not directly addressed in the Life Safety Code but my observation of the major AHJs reveals that they are permitting wall-mounted access-control hardware, such as card-readers inside stairwells.

Brad Keyes, CHSP, is the owner of KEYES Life Safety Compliance, and his expertise is in the management of the Life Safety Program, including the Environment of Care and Emergency Management programs.