Regulations, Codes & Standards Q&A: Suite doors

Q: Does the 2012 edition of the Life Safety Code permit existing suite doors opening into the corridor to be compliant if they do not latch shut? We have different interpretations of 19.2.5.7.1.2.

A: No. Corridor entrance doors to suites must latch. Section 19.3.6.3.5 requires all corridor doors to latch. CMS does not allow the exception for a device that holds the door closed with 5 lbs. of force. Since a suite is nothing more than a room, the barrier that separates the suite from the corridor must meet the conditions for corridor walls, which means the door must latch. The provision in 19.2.5.7.1.2 (2) is there to allow existing suites to have smoke resistant walls when fire-rated barriers are required by the corridor walls.

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.