The Ontario Building Code | Door Latching, Locking and Opening Mechanisms

9.9.6.7. door Latching, Locking and opening Mechanisms

(1) Principal entrance doors, exit doors and doors to suites, including exterior doors to dwelling units, and other doors in an access to exitshall,

Note: On July 1, 2017, Sentence 9.9.6.7.(1) of Division B of the Regulation is amended by striking out the portion before Clause (a) and substituting the following: (See: O. Reg. 139/17, s. 95 (1))

(1) Principal entrance doors, exit doors and doors to suites, including exterior doors serving a house or an individual dwelling unit, and other doors in an access to exit shall,

(a) be openable from the inside or in travelling to an exit without requiring keys, special devices or specialized knowledge of the door opening mechanism, or

(b) in the case of exit doors, be controlled by electromagnetic locking mechanisms in accordance with Sentence 3.4.6.16.(4).

(2) Except for doors serving a single dwelling unit and doors to accessory buildings and to garages serving a single dwelling unit, door release hardware on doors in a means of egress shall be operable with one hand and the door shall be openable with not more than one releasing operation.

Note: On July 1, 2017, Sentence 9.9.6.7.(2) of Division B of the Regulation is revoked and the following substituted: (See: O. Reg. 139/17, s. 95 (2))

(2) Except for doors serving a house or an individual dwelling unit and except for doors to accessory buildings and to garages serving a houseor an individual dwelling unit, door release hardware on doors in a means of egressshall be operable with one hand and the door shall be openable with not more than one releasing operation.

(3) Door release hardware on doors in a means of egress shall be installed not more than 1 200 mm above the finished floor.

(4) Except for hotels, a door opening onto a public corridor that provides access to exit from suites shall be designed not to lock automatically when such doors are equipped with an automatic self-closing device.