Owners and managers of secured facilities often request a card-to-exit system for select doors in an effort to monitor persons leaving the secured room. New code provisions have evolved to indirectly permit use of card-to-exit systems for access-controlled egress doors. These doors control access for entering and exiting with magnetic locks or other electronic locking devices. In addition, advancements with the strengths of electric strikes, coupled with the creative use of door contacts, provide new opportunities for card-to-exit systems.
Previous codes, including NFPA 101, dated 2000, section 7.2.1.6.2, IBC, dated 2003, section 1008.1.3.4, and BOCA, dated 1999, section 1017.4.5, did not have the provision for panic hardware on the exit side to unlock access control devices. This new provision allowed by NFPA 101, dated 2003 legally permits card-to-exit for doors with entrance and egress access control systems.