BOP Program Statement 1600.16 § 14

a. Prison-Style Locks. Doors, grills, or gates that can be locked to restrict egress from inmate

housing units, Receiving and Discharge (R&D), Health Services observation cells, and any area

with the potential for 50 or more occupants, must have prison-style locks meeting the ASTM

F1577, Standard Test Methods for Detention Locks for Swinging Doors, test standard.

b. Builders’ Hardware Locks. Doors serving areas, other than inmate housing units, R&D, or

Health Services observation cells, with a potential occupant load of 50 people or more may be

equipped with builders’ hardware-type locks meeting the ASTM F1577 test standard.

Doors with builders’ hardware-type locks must remain unlocked when the area is occupied.

On or adjacent to the egress doors, signs with the following wording must be installed:

THIS DOOR TO REMAIN UNLOCKED WHEN THE BUILDING IS OCCUPIED.

Signs must be visible and durable, with lettering at least one inch high on a contrasting

background.

 Doors equipped with builders’ hardware locks may be locked for short periods during an

institution emergency if staff with door keys are available in the immediate area.

c. Multiple Locks. Doors in a means of egress may not have multiple locks.

d. Padlocks and Chains. Padlocks or chains may not be used on any door, grill, or gate in the

means of egress. This prohibition includes all outside grills or gates used as part of the means of

egress (i.e., evacuation route).

e. Use Condition I Facilities. Egress doors at use condition I facilities (camps) must not be

locked.

Exception. Delayed egress locking devices, in compliance with NFPA 101, are permitted with

the approval of the AHJ.

1600.16 6/22/2026 PROPERTY OF US GOVERNMENT 21

f. Fire Door Locks. ASTM F1577 prison-style locks do not provide the self-latching feature

required for fire doors. As a result, the following measures must be taken to provide an

equivalent level of protection:

 Doors installed in fire-rated wall assemblies must be built to the same standard as a listed

fire door

 Doors installed in fire-rated wall assemblies must be normally maintained in the closed

and locked position

 When fire doors must be opened, a staff member must unlock the door and remain in the

immediate area until the door can be relocked

 Doors installed in fire barriers must have listed fire door self-closing devices

g. Non-Housing Areas. Egress doors in non-housing units must be keyed from the inside. Staff

with the keys needed to unlock the doors must be available inside the locked area any time the

area is occupied.