Illinois Statutes Chapter 425. Fire Safety § 55/1.5. Stairwell door access

(a) Stairwell enclosures in buildings greater than 4 stories shall comply with one of the following requirements:

A telephone or other two-way communications system connected to an approved constantly attended location shall be provided on not less than every fifth floor in each stairway where the doors to the stairway are locked. If this option is selected, the building must comply with these requirements by January 1, 2006.

(b) Regardless of which option is selected under subsection (a) of this Section, stairwell enclosure doors at the main egress level of the building shall remain unlocked from the stairwell enclosure side at all times.

(c) Building owners that select the option under paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of this Section must comply with the following requirements during the time necessary to install a lock release system and the two-way communication system:

(d) Nothing in this Section applies to any stairwell enclosure door that opens directly into a dwelling unit, provided the dwelling unit door has a self-closer, latch, and no self-locking hardware. Where all doors in the stairwell meet these criteria, the stairwell shall be provided with either a two-way communication system or readily operable windows on each landing or intermediate landing.

(e) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (f), a home rule unit may not regulate stairwell door access in a manner less restrictive than the regulation by the State of stairwell door access under this Act. This subsection (e) is a limitation under subsection (i) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution on the concurrent exercise by home rule units of powers and functions exercised by the State.

(f) This Section does not apply in a home rule municipality that, on or before January 1, 2005, has passed an ordinance regulating building access from stairwell enclosures in buildings that are more than 4 stories in height.