Before anyone chains, blocks, or 'fixes' an exit door — the law

What this error means

The rule, straight from the building code (IBC 1010.2, mirrored by NFPA 101): egress doors must be openable from the inside without a key, special knowledge, or effort, in not more than ONE motion. Chaining a problem panic bar shut, wedging it, adding a keyed deadbolt above it, or blocking it with storage all violate fire code — and in assembly spaces of 50+ people, panic or fire exit hardware is essentially the only legal latch. Delayed-egress (15-second) hardware exists, but only as specifically listed equipment — it's not a DIY workaround.

Symptoms

• A broken exit door someone 'secured' with a chain or wedge
• A deadbolt added above a panic bar
• Storage blocking an egress path

Try this first (safe DIY steps)

1. Remove any chain, wedge, or improvised lock from an egress door today — the liability exposure (and the human stakes in a fire) dwarf any theft concern
2. If the door won't secure properly, fix the actual hardware (see our won't-latch guide) rather than adding locks
3. If you need controlled egress, ask an integrator about listed delayed-egress hardware — the legal path

Safety: power off before any physical intervention. Never bypass covers or interlocks — fuser areas run hot enough to burn.

When to call a technician

Any modification to egress-door locking belongs with a professional who knows the code. This is one area where the cheap fix is the expensive one.