Delayed Egress Code: Requirements for 15-Second Door Locks

Author: Esteban Galicia

Updated:

Red sketch title card with door and timer

The delayed egress code lets a locked exit door hold a person for a short time, but only under strict rules. In the model codes, the delay is 15 seconds, or up to 30 seconds where the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) approves it. The building must have sprinklers or fire detection throughout. The lock must release at once when the fire alarm, sprinklers or power fail. This guide walks through each rule, where New York City differs, and what to check before you order a door.

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TL;DR

  • A delayed egress lock may hold an exit for 15 seconds, or 30 seconds with AHJ approval, after a person pushes on the door with no more than 15 pounds of force for up to 3 seconds.
  • The building needs an automatic sprinkler system or automatic fire detection. Without it, the lock is generally not allowed.
  • The delay must drop out on fire alarm, sprinkler activation or loss of power. The timer must be preset, not field-adjustable.
  • Hardware must be listed and the listing must go in the permit package. In New York City, the commissioner must give special approval.
  • Delayed egress is not controlled egress. They are different systems with different uses.

Table of Contents

What delayed egress means

A delayed egress lock is an exit door lock with a timer. A person pushes on the door. An alarm sounds. After the delay, the door unlocks and the person leaves. The purpose is security: staff get time to respond to a door that someone is using without permission.

The code treats it as an exception. Exit doors normally must open freely. A delay is allowed only where the code names the occupancy and the building has fire protection. The UpCodes text of IBC 1010.2.13 is the usual starting point for contractors, and it lists the occupancies and conditions in full.

The system works in a set order:

  1. A person applies force to the door hardware.
  2. The delay process starts and cannot be reversed.
  3. A local alarm sounds near the door.
  4. The door unlocks when the delay ends, or sooner if a fire or power event occurs.

The UpCodes summary states that once the process starts it is irreversible, and that an audible alarm sounds in the vicinity of the door.

The 15-second rule and the 30-second exception

The delay has a hard limit. According to UpCodes, the system must allow egress within 15 seconds after a person applies no more than 15 pounds of force for no more than 3 seconds. A delay of up to 30 seconds is allowed where the AHJ approves it.

Three points trip up project teams:

  • The timer is preset. The time delay must be factory set and not field-adjustable, per the same UpCodes section. An installer cannot tune it up for more security.
  • The 30-second delay is not automatic. It is an approval, not a default. Ask the AHJ before you design around it.
  • Only one system in the path. The egress path from any point generally may not pass through more than one delayed egress lock. Some institutional occupancies get an exception for two systems with a combined delay of no more than 30 seconds, as shown in the IBC language reproduced by the Door and Hardware Institute community.

Sprinklers or fire detection come first

This is the rule that catches people. Delayed egress locks are permitted only in buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system or an approved automatic fire detection system. The South Carolina Office of State Fire Marshal guidance makes the same point for classroom doors and tells owners to work with the fire marshal early.

If the building lacks this protection, the hardware will not pass inspection, however good it is. Do not assume any door can be retrofitted. Talk to the AHJ about alternatives before you buy.

Check this before you write the hardware schedule. It costs nothing, and it saves a rejected permit.

What the lock must do in an emergency

The delay has to disappear when people need to leave. Under IFC 2021 section 1010.2.13.1 and the matching IBC text, the installation must meet these conditions:

  • The delay electronics deactivate when the sprinkler system or fire detection system activates.
  • The delay electronics deactivate on loss of power to the lock, giving immediate free egress.
  • The system can be deactivated from the fire command center and other approved locations.
  • Once deactivated, the delay is rearmed by manual means only.

The items above are summarized in the IBC text reproduced by iDigHardware. Read the adopted edition in your jurisdiction for the full list, including signage wording.

NFPA 101 adds its own details. According to the NFPA 101 public input report, the system should have emergency lighting at the door and signage telling users about the delay.

UL 294 and UL 1034 listings

The lock must be listed. For years, the reference was UL 294 for access control system units. Newer NFPA 101 cycles also recognize UL 1034, the standard for burglary-resistant locking mechanisms, as stated in the NFPA 101 report. The iDigHardware code proposal discussion covers the same pairing for the IBC.

What to do about it:

  • Check which edition your jurisdiction has adopted. Model codes and local rules do not always move together.
  • Put the product listing sheet in the permit submittal. Missing listings are a common reason for rejection.
  • Specify hardware tested and certified to the listing your AHJ accepts.

Which codes apply

There is no single “delayed egress code”. Three sets of rules overlap.

Code Where the rule sits What to know
IBC Section 1010.2.13 in recent editions Delay of 15 seconds, 30 with approval; sprinklers or detection required
IFC Section 1010.2.13.1 Operating conditions: release on alarm, release on power loss
NFPA 101 Chapter 7 Listing, inspection, signage and lighting provisions
State and city codes Local amendments NYC, California and others change details

States amend the model codes. The 2025 California guide, for example, carries its own delayed egress section. Always check the edition your local jurisdiction adopted.

New York City: special approval required

NYC does not simply follow the IBC. Under Building Code section 1010.1.9.7, approved and listed delayed egress systems may be permitted on doors serving spaces that need extra safeguards. They require special review and approval by the commissioner. The building must have sprinklers under Section 903.3.1.1 or an approved smoke or heat detection system under Section 907.

The same section requires that the egress path from any point not pass through more than one delayed egress system, with a limited exception for Group I-2 or I-3 occupancies.

In practice, this means the door package starts with an approval, not a purchase order. Plan the review into your schedule, and keep the listing documents ready.

Delayed egress vs. controlled egress

These two terms are mixed up often. Delayed egress holds a person for a short, fixed time. Controlled egress is a different arrangement, used mostly in healthcare for patients with clinical needs, such as dementia or psychiatric units.

Delayed and controlled egress compared

The NFPA Healthcare Interpretations Task Force document from June 2024 addresses delayed egress system override. It is worth reading if you manage a healthcare facility. Do not swap one system for the other. Each has its own code path, and your AHJ decides which applies.

The same document discusses whether authorized access control, such as a card reader on the secured side, can work with a delayed egress system. Confirm with your AHJ and the lock’s listing before you design that.

Where delayed egress locks are used

Typical uses are doors that staff want to watch without blocking the exit in a fire:

  • Stairwell doors in occupied buildings where reentry is controlled.
  • Storage and stockroom exits in retail.
  • Back-of-house exits in offices and warehouses.
  • Classroom doors where supervision is needed, where the state permits it, as in the South Carolina guidance.

The occupancy must be on the code’s permitted list. Check the list before you promise a client a delayed egress door.

Historic buildings and matching existing doors

Renovation work adds one more step. Older buildings often have original doors and millwork that the owner wants to keep. In those cases, the delayed egress lock still has to meet the code. The door leaf, its rating and the hardware prep need to be settled together with the AHJ. For wood door restoration and period matching on historic projects, a custom millwork and historic door restoration shop can help with the non-rated architectural pieces. Rated openings still need rated assemblies.

Our view

We supply fire-rated steel doors, hollow metal frames and commercial hardware, and we see the same delay again and again. Teams buy the door first and ask about the lock later. Then the permit stalls.

Our advice is plain. Settle the lock type and its listing first. Then confirm the door and frame preparation that goes with it. A fire-rated door must keep its rating after the lock is installed, so the prep, the hardware and the label have to agree.

We also see owners treat the delay as a security setting they can adjust. It is not. The code fixes it, and an inspector will check it.

If you are unsure, call the AHJ before you order. A short conversation is cheaper than a second delivery.

— Esteban

Specifying the door and frame

The delayed egress lock is one part of the opening. The door and frame carry the fire rating. Check these items:

  1. Fire rating of the opening. Match the door, frame and hardware to the rating the plans call for.
  2. Hardware prep. Confirm the lock’s cutouts, reinforcements and any electrical raceway before fabrication. Electrified locks need power and wiring routed to the frame.
  3. Panic or exit device. Many delayed egress locks work with an exit device. Our commercial panic bars and exit devices are one place to start for the push-side hardware.
  4. Listing documents. Collect them for the submittal.
  5. Inspection. NFPA 101 calls for inspection of these electrical locking systems, as noted in the NFPA report. Plan for ongoing checks.

For general hardware choices, see our commercial door hardware guide.

Common mistakes

  • Ordering hardware before confirming sprinkler or detection coverage.
  • Assuming the 30-second delay is standard.
  • Leaving the listing sheet out of the permit package.
  • Setting the timer in the field.
  • Mixing up delayed egress and controlled egress.
  • Forgetting signage and emergency lighting at the door.
  • Using more than one delayed egress lock in a single egress path.

Need doors for the opening?

We manufacture and install fire-rated steel doors and hollow metal frames, and we offer same-day or next-day delivery. Browse our fire-rated steel doors and hollow metal frames, or ask about door and frame installation in NYC. If a door fails and you need it fixed fast, see our emergency door service. Bring your hardware schedule, and we will check that the door prep fits it.

FAQ

How long can a delayed egress door hold someone?

Up to 15 seconds in the model code. Up to 30 seconds is allowed where the AHJ approves it. The delay starts after a person pushes with no more than 15 pounds of force for up to 3 seconds, according to UpCodes.

Does a building need sprinklers for delayed egress?

Yes, it needs an automatic sprinkler system or an approved automatic fire detection system throughout. Without one, the installation is generally not allowed. Ask your AHJ or state fire marshal about options early.

Can I adjust the delay on site?

No. The time delay must be preset and not field-adjustable. This keeps the safety window the same across the facility.

Is delayed egress the same as controlled egress?

No. Delayed egress is a timed hold with an alarm. Controlled egress is mainly a healthcare arrangement for patients with specific clinical needs. See the NFPA healthcare interpretations for the distinction.

Are delayed egress locks allowed in New York City?

Yes, with special review and approval by the commissioner. The building must have sprinklers or an approved detection system, as set out in NYC Building Code 1010.1.9.7.

Sources

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