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Chapter 12-3 — RELEASING SYSTEMS FOR SECURITY BARS IN DWELLINGS

Section 12-3-1 — SCOPE

2025 California Referenced Standards Code (Title 24, Part 12) · 2025 edition · updated 2026-07-29 · California

12-3-1.1 These requirements cover releasing systems for bars, grilles, mesh, glazing or other items intended to provide security at doors and windows required for emergency escape from dwelling units. When actuated by the occupant, the system allows the obstructions over the door or window to be moved so occupants can escape in the event of an emergency.

12-3-1.2 These requirements only cover the ability of the releasing system to be manually activated from the interior of a dwelling unit by an occupant to affect an escape through the protected opening.

12-3-1.3 These requirements cover releasing systems intended for use on the interior side of doors or windows in all climatic locations.

12-3-1.4 These requirements do not evaluate the ability of the releasing system or obstructions to resist an external forced entry attack.

12-3-1.5 These requirements do not evaluate the ability of the releasing system or obstructions to be opened or removed from the exterior of the residential dwelling unit by emergency response personnel during rescue operations.

12-3-1.6 Products covered by these requirements are intended for installation in dwelling units to protect door and window openings that are designated by the California Building Standards Code to be used as the secondary means of escape from the living area.

12-3-1.7 Products covered by these requirements are not intended to be used to protect doors in means of egress path for nonresidential occupancies, the common egress path of multifamily residential dwelling units or the primary means of egress path in a single-family dwelling unit.

12-3-1.8 These requirements do not cover window guards or fall prevention devices that are intended to prevent falls from upper story windows.

12-3-1.9 These requirements do not apply to storm doors and windows or light duty screens used for insect control.

12-3-1.10 A product that contains features, characteristics, components or materials new or different from those covered by these requirements, and that involve a risk of fire, electric shock or injury to persons shall be evaluated using the appropriate additional component and end-product requirements as determined necessary to maintain an acceptable level of safety.

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▸ Contents — 2025 California Referenced Standards Code (Title 24, Part 12)
2025 California Referenced Standards Code (Title 24, Part 12)
  1. Chapter 12-1 — ADMINISTRATION
  2. ▸ Chapter 12-3 — RELEASING SYSTEMS FOR SECURITY BARS IN DWELLINGS
    Overview
    1. Section 12-3-1 — SCOPE
    2. Section 12-3-2 — GENERAL
    3. Section 12-3-3 — ASSEMBLY
    4. Section 12-3-4 — MATERIALS
    5. Section 12-3-5 — TEST SETUP AND SAMPLE PREPARATION
    6. Section 12-3-6 — SECURE ATTACHMENT TEST
    7. Section 12-3-7 — OPERATION TEST
    8. Section 12-3-8 — MANUAL ACTUATION TEST
    9. Section 12-3-9 — ENDURANCE TEST
    10. Section 12-3-10 — ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE TEST
    11. Section 12-3-11 — ABUSE TEST
    12. Section 12-3-12 — MARKINGS
    13. Section 12-3-13 — INSTRUCTION MANUAL
  3. Chapter 12-4A — LABORATORY ANIMAL QUARTERS STANDARDS
  4. Chapter 12-7A — MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION METHODS
  5. Chapter 12-11A and 11B — BUILDING AND FACILITY ACCESS SPECIFIC…
  6. Chapter 12-13 — STANDARDS FOR INSULATING MATERIAL
  7. Chapter 12-31C — RADIATION SHIELDING STANDARDS
  8. Chapter 12-71 — AIR FILTERS

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