In an emergency control scheme, which action helps to facilitate door egress?

• A. Unlocking of doors
• B. Locking of doors
• C. Automatic door replacement
• D. Blocking door exits

Answer: (A)

Unlocking doors is essential because, in an emergency, people must be able to leave quickly and without hindrance. When doors are unlocked (often automatically upon an alarm), occupants can push or pull them open using panic hardware, avoiding delays or confusion about how to exit. Keeping doors locked or blocked would create bottlenecks and potential traps, slowing evacuation and increasing risk. An action like automatic door replacement isn’t relevant to facilitating egress during an emergency, and blocking door exits directly defeats the purpose of a safe escape route. The goal of an emergency control scheme is to ensure clear, unobstructed paths to exit, which is achieved by unlocking doors.