Lock the front door?



Can a front door in an apartment building be opened at night?

be completed?

In addition to the security interest of protecting against unauthorized persons entering an apartment building, the front door is part of the escape and rescue route of a building.

Fire protection is part of the state building regulations and this stipulates that in every building there must be a first escape route leading to the outside at a specified distance from each unit of use, i.e. apartment.

There are precise regulations regarding how escape and rescue routes, and therefore the corridors and staircases through which they run, are to be constructed. The frequently asked question of whether the front door may be locked at night does not concern the construction but rather the operation of a building constructed in accordance with the fire safety regulations of the state building code. Front doors also serve as emergency exit doors and must be easy to open from the inside at any time using a handle without the need for any tools, such as a key. If a fire breaks out or there is another emergency in the house, the residents are usually put under great psychological strain and there is a risk that they will forget their key in the apartment or not have the opportunity to take it with them. Elderly people or people in need of assistance, as well as children, are particularly exposed to the dangers in an emergency due to their physical limitations or inexperience. It should therefore be understandable that front doors may not be locked for fire safety reasons.

The legal basis on this topic:

• Section 3, paragraph 1 of the NRW Building Code BauO NW states: “Building structures must be arranged, constructed, modified and maintained in such a way that, in particular, life, health or the natural basis of life are not endangered.”

• Section 17 of the NRW Building Code (BauO NW) states: “Buildings must be designed in such a way that the rescue of people is possible at any time, taking into account the layout of escape routes.”

Front doors are emergency exits and must be able to be opened from the inside at any time without a key. Front doors must not be locked!

The Frankfurt am Main Regional Court has now confirmed this in a recent ruling (case no.: 2-13 S 127/12). The judges ruled that it contradicts the principles of proper administration if the house rules or the rental agreement require that the front door be locked. The judges' reasoning: A locked front door obstructs escape routes and can endanger residents if they do not have the key with them. The protection of life and health is more important than the residents' need for security against access by unauthorized persons. In a dangerous situation such as a fire, residents must be able to leave the building quickly. The right key is not always at hand. If the front door is then closed, no one can get out – and the residents are trapped.

Best solution: a panic lock!!!

These locks are called "emergency exit devices" or "panic exit devices" and are described and regulated by DIN EN 179 and DIN EN 1125, respectively. With this technology, the door can be locked from the inside with a key and still opened from the inside in the event of an emergency by pressing the door handle. This ensures burglary protection, and in the event of an emergency, the building's occupants can escape through this door.