I have an elementary school with a classroom that has a baby gate on it for a special needs class. They have a child who is a runner. I know that egress is not to be impeded in any manner. Are there any codes that address baby gates for either preschools or educational occupancies? Thank you.
I will vote no, not allowed unless it operates like a normal door.
Put bells buzzers whatever on the doors. Assign a teacher to this student.
1031.2.1 Security devices and egress locks
Security devices affecting means of egress shall be subject to approval of the fire code official. Security devices and locking arrangements in the
means of egress that restrict, control, or delay egress shall be installed and maintained as required by this chapter.
1031.3 Obstructions
A means of egress shall be free from obstructions that would prevent its use, including the accumulation of snow and ice.
BE] 1010.1.9.5 Unlatching The unlatching of any door or leaf shall not require more than one operation.
The building safety codes are not child safety codes in terms of the safety elopement of children. However, the facility must still provide safe area for children.
In the building safety codes, there is nothing that prohibits gates (baby) in the exit access for elementary schools. So as an inspector, I could not say they are prohibited. I would be looking for deficiencies in the means of egress during the inspection for the school building as whole.
It is, however, recognized that obstructions occur on a short-duration basis. In these instances, awareness training should be provided to ensure that blockages are kept to a minimum and procedures are established for the control and monitoring of the area affected.
If I would find a permanently attached gate during a life safety inspection, I would focus on the gate meeting the means of egress provisions of for an existing educational occupancy. My attention would not be on the possibility of the gate impeding the means of egress but on the gate meeting the provisions for doors.
In terms of the 2015 NFPA 101, Life Safety Code, a gate that is a swinging barrier by which an entry is closed and opened is permitted as a door component in the means of egress providing it complies with Section 15.2.2.2 of the existing educational occupancies.
There are too many provisions in Section 7.2.1 to write them in this post.
You can view the 2015 edition of NFPA 101 a read the provisions at:
https://www.nfpa.org/Codes-and-Standards/All-Codes-and-Standards/Free-access order_src=C900&gclid=CjwKCAjw0vTtBRBREiwA3URt7pl01kc_mvRaN3hm2uA5JLFCteh5-u9aNgmUaWPm4acxYKD1H2DmBRoCm8YQAvD_BwE