However there are two exceptions.
Safety laws to lock doors.
This ensures a renter is able to adequately secure their living space.
Many local laws require that each apartment has a deadbolt and pin lock in the door handle.
Locking exit doors when there are less than 10 employees in a building or structure does not provide protection equivalent to or greater than compliance with applicable osha standards 1910 36 b 4 1910 37 k which require free escape regardless of the number of occupants.
According to the life safety code egress doors must require no more than one latch and or lock releasing operation residential dwelling units can have two operations or three if existing to be opened and the releasing mechanism must be apparent under all lighting conditions including the dark.
Every door of the main common entryway and every exterior door into every such apartment house other than the door of such main common entryway which is equipped as provided in the preceding sentence shall be equipped with a lock of a type approved by said state board of building regulations and standards.
Two exceptions to the rules it is against both codes to physically lock doors to prevent an occupant s exit from a building room or space.
An nfpa code allows stair doors to be locked from the stairway side if the locks will release upon fire alarm activation nfpa 101 7 2 1 5 7 2.
Any lock or handle hardware must be mounted no more than 48 inches above a finished floor.
Osha regulations for a door that is to remain unlocked during business hours legal beagle.
The occupational safety and health administration is the agency charged with enforcing workplace safety regulations.
Provided however that the said board may in writing waive any of the requirements of this section in appropriate cases in which in its opinion other security measures are in force.
Safety and criminal activity ensuring the rental property is free from criminal activity is usually the landlord s responsibility.
Thus as with an external door a card reader can be installed on the stairwell side of the door as long as it will be overridden when a fire alarm sounds.