Hmmm.....which sign do I use???
In this photo, we have a vestibule with doors on multiple sides. All doors are unlocked from the office side - allowing for egress. The green arrow shows egress paths (i.e. - any door can be used for egress). However, two of these doors are locked from the INSIDE OF THE VESTIBULE to prevent people from entering INTO the office space. Again, doors are not locked from the office side.
From the inside of the vestibule, the signs currently read "EMERGENCY EXIT." Is this the correct sign?
1910.37(b)(5) states “Each doorway or passage along an exit access that could be mistaken for an exit must be marked "Not an Exit" or similar designation or be identified by a sign indicating its actual use (e.g., closet).”
My concern is that if someone is standing inside the vestibule, one could argue the existing signs tell the person these two doors can be used as an emergency exit, therefore, something like “Not an Exit” should be used. HOWEVER, one could also argue that you cannot use “Not an Exit” because the doors are truly egress doors; therefore, keep the existing signs in place.
Thoughts? Is there a better sign for this application? Which sign would you recommend?
Comments (2)
I would say put emergency exit signs on the inside of the doors leading to the office (so that the emergency exit sign faces the office, not the vestibule) since it's still able to be used as an exit route for the office workers.
Personally, I would not put anything on the vestibule side of those two doors because it's apparent that the front doors (right side of the picture) are the exit doors, so there would be no confusion. The "NOT AN EXIT" sign is only required when there could be confusion as to whether it's an exit door or not, but I don't see that being an issue.