Emergency-Egress Checker
Access control keeps the wrong people out — but on an escape route, every locked door must still let everyone out when the power fails or the fire alarm sounds. Answer each check honestly; any “No” on a life-safety item is a critical flag to fix before people occupy the building. This is a self-check for guidance only, and it runs in your browser.
On escape routes, is every access-controlled door FAIL-SAFE (it unlocks the moment power is lost)?
Fail-safe / fail-open magnetic or electric locks — never fail-secure on an escape route.
Does the fire alarm AUTO-RELEASE all egress doors the instant it activates (interlock wired and tested)?
The fire panel must drop the locks; don't rely on a person to unlock doors during an alarm.
Is there a manual break-glass / green emergency release beside each electrically-locked escape door?
A clearly marked green release lets anyone drop the lock by hand, independent of the panel.
Can people exit WITHOUT a card, PIN or app — free egress by a push bar, request-to-exit (REX) or handle?
Getting OUT must never need a credential, even where getting IN does.
Are escape doors NEVER chained, padlocked or set fail-secure while the building is occupied?
No chains, no padlocks, no deadbolts, no fail-secure mode during occupancy.
Are turnstiles / speed-gates on an escape path set to drop or swing fully open on alarm or power loss?
Mark N/A if there are no turnstiles or speed-gates on any escape path.
Is the egress behaviour tested periodically and the result logged?
Drop power / trigger the alarm on a schedule, confirm every door releases, and record it.
This is a self-check, not compliance certification. The actual egress requirement is set by the National Building Code (SP 7:2026), your state fire-safety rules and the local fire officer — this tool does not quote clause numbers or grant approval. A locked exit can kill in a fire or a crush; have a fire-safety professional inspect and sign off the real installation.
Get the egress design right
Related Guides — Deep-dive reading
Fail-Safe vs Fail-Secure Locks: The Guide (India 2026)
Why fail-safe vs fail-secure is the single most important access-control decision, and how to get it right for every door.
Home Doors & EntrancesAccess Control Maintenance in India (2026): Readers, Locks and Fail-Safe Egress
How to keep a card, keypad, fingerprint or face access-control system reading reliably and locking securely — and, above everything, how to test that its doors still release on a fire alarm and on power loss, so an access-controlled door never becomes a life-safety trap.
SecurityAccess Control Testing Checklist for India (2026): Every Door Opens and Locks as Designed
A ready-to-adapt per-door and system checklist to verify an access-control installation at commissioning and as a periodic check, with the egress and fire-to-release life-safety tests that must always pass before sign-off.
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