(a) When approved by the person responsible for enforcement, as described in Section 13146, exit doors in facilities classified as Group R, Division 2 facilities under the California Building Standards Code, licensed as residential care facilities for the elderly, and housing clients with Alzheimer’s disease or major neurocognitive disorder, may be equipped with approved listed special egress-control devices of the time-delay type, provided the building is protected throughout by an approved automatic sprinkler system and an approved automatic smoke-detection system. The devices shall conform to all of the following requirements:

(1) Automatic deactivation of the egress-control device upon activation of either the sprinkler system or the detection system.

(2) Automatic deactivation of the egress-control device upon loss of electrical power to any of the following:

(A) The egress-control device.

(B) The smoke-detection system.

(C) Exit illumination as required by Section 1013 of the California Building Standards Code.

(3) Be capable of being deactivated by a signal from a switch located in an approved location.

(4) Initiate an irreversible process that will deactivate the egress-control device whenever a manual force of not more than 15 pounds (66.72 N) is applied for two seconds to the panic bar or other door-latching hardware. The egress-control device shall deactivate within an approved time period not to exceed a total of 15 seconds, except that the person responsible for enforcement, as described in Section 13146, may approve a delay not to exceed 30 seconds in residential care facilities for the elderly serving patients with Alzheimer’s disease. The time delay established for each egress-control device shall not be field adjustable.

(5) Actuation of the panic bar or other door-latching hardware shall activate an audible signal at the door.

(6) The unlatching shall not require more than one operation.

(7) (A) A sign shall be provided on the door located above and within 12 inches (305mm) of the panic bar or other door-latching hardware reading:

KEEP PUSHING.   THIS DOOR WILL OPEN IN ___ SECONDS.   ALARM WILL SOUND.

(B) Sign letter shall be at least one inch (25mm) in height and shall have a stroke of not less than one-eighth inch (3.3mm).

(8) Regardless of the means of deactivation, relocking of the egress-control device shall be by manual means only at the door.

(b) Grounds of residential care facilities for the elderly serving persons with Alzheimer’s disease or major neurocognitive disorder may be fenced, and gates therein equipped with locks, provided safe dispersal areas are located not less than 50 feet (15240mm) from the buildings. Dispersal areas shall be sized to provide an area of not less than three square feet (0.28 2) per occupant. Gates shall not be installed across corridors or passageways leading to the dispersal areas unless they comply with the exit requirements of Section 1022 of the California Building Standards Code.

(c) Exit doors may be locked in residential care facilities for the elderly that meet the requirements for Group I, Division 3 occupancies under the California Building Standards Code and that care for people with major neurocognitive disorder.

(d) This section shall become inoperative on the date the California Building Standards Commission adopts regulations regarding secured perimeters in residential care facilities for the elderly, and, as of the January 1 next following that date, is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that becomes operative on or before that January 1, deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed.

(Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 92, Sec. 134. (SB 1289) Effective January 1, 2019. Inoperative on date prescribed by its own provisions. Repealed on January 1 after inoperative date, by its own provisions.)