Which of the following statements about revolving, sliding and overhead doors as exits is correct?

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Sometimes true
• D. Only in certain occupancies

Answer: (B)

Doors that serve as exits must be readily operable from the means of egress and not hinder evacuation. Revolving doors, sliding doors, and overhead doors generally fail this standard. Revolving doors can slow occupants, cause bottlenecks, or trap people during an emergency; sliding doors may be hard to operate quickly or under stress, and can jam or require non-emergency actions to open; overhead doors rely on power or mechanisms that can fail when fire or smoke is present, making them unreliable as an exit path. Because of these reliability and safety concerns, the idea that these door types can serve as standard exits is not correct. There are very limited, specific exceptions (for example, revolving doors may be allowed only if there is another, separate exit available), but the general rule is that they are not acceptable as the primary means of egress.