Residential Balcony - Code question

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Author Message Russ Hinkle, AIA, CDT, LEED BD+C Senior Member Username: rhinkle Post Number: 142 Registered: 02-2006 Posted on Tuesday, December 04, 2018 - 08:34 am:    We have "balcony" access from residential units in a high rise. The balconies are shared in the sense that the neighbor can hop the fence. So the doors have locks. We consider these generally not habitable space, so we don't see an issue even though someone could get locked out on the balcony. The question has come up from the contractor and owner. Before we go to the AHJ, we wanted to investigate this issue. Have others run into this? Russ Hinkle Ronald L. Geren, FCSI Lifetime Member, AIA, CCS, CCCA, CSC, SCIP Senior Member Username: specman Post Number: 1523 Registered: 03-2003 Posted on Tuesday, December 04, 2018 - 11:20 am:    They should be lockable for security reasons--not just from neighbors, but from anyone who has the ability to climb from floor to floor. I've seen them in every hotel with a balcony that I've ever stayed in. Ron Geren, FCSI Lifetime Member, AIA, CCS, CCCA, CSC, SCIP Ellis C. Whitby, PE, CSI, AIA, LEED Senior Member Username: ecwhitby Post Number: 433 Registered: 03-2003 Posted on Tuesday, December 04, 2018 - 03:54 pm:    Russ; If the Owner is so concerned, a door bell could be added on the balcony. Of curse, it the person locking themselves out was the only person home they may be in a bit of a problem. Chris Grimm, CSI, CCS, SCIP, LEED AP BD+C Senior Member Username: chris_grimm_ccs_scip Post Number: 446 Registered: 02-2014 Posted on Tuesday, December 04, 2018 - 03:58 pm:    https://www.google.com/search?q=bnl+ninjas+lyrics Chris Grimm, CSI, CCS, SCIP, LEED AP BD+C Senior Member Username: chris_grimm_ccs_scip Post Number: 447 Registered: 02-2014 Posted on Tuesday, December 04, 2018 - 03:59 pm:    (Just one more reason Ron & Ellis are correct!) ken hercenberg Senior Member Username: khercenberg Post Number: 1201 Registered: 12-2006 Posted on Tuesday, December 04, 2018 - 04:01 pm:    I'm not aware of ever having an AHJ question locks on balcony doors. If someone gets locked out, couldn't they climb over and ask their neighbors to let them in? I guess I better make sure I have cell phone service before heading out the door. Guest (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Tuesday, December 04, 2018 - 04:39 pm:    Would it be acceptable to the Owner to have a locking device that wouldn't automatically lock behind you if you close the balcony door? A deadbolt for example. That way the only way to get locked out is purposefully from someone on the inside closing and locking the door while you're out on the balcony. Dave Metzger Senior Member Username: davemetzger Post Number: 738 Registered: 07-2001 Posted on Tuesday, December 04, 2018 - 06:07 pm:    Guest is dead on. In my condo, the balcony doors have double-cylinder deadbolts, so one can't access the balcony without a key