Sec. 2. (a) Except as provided in subsections (b) and (d) and section 2.5 of this chapter, an owner of a public building shall not permit an exit to be locked or obstructed in any manner that denies the public a continuous and unobstructed means of egress while lawfully occupied by anyone who is not an officer or an employee.

     (b) The commission may adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 that:

Terms Used In Indiana Code 22-11-17-2

  • Commission: refers to the Indiana fire prevention and building safety commission. See Indiana Code 22-11-17-1
  • Exit: means a continuous and unobstructed means of egress to a public way designated as an exit pursuant to the rules of the commission. See Indiana Code 22-11-17-1
  • Owner: means a person having control or custody of any building covered by this chapter. See Indiana Code 22-11-17-1
  • Property: includes personal and real property. See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5
  • Public building: means any structure used in whole or in part as a place of resort, assemblage, lodging, trade, traffic, occupancy, or use by the public, or by three (3) or more tenants. See Indiana Code 22-11-17-1
  • Special egress control device: means an electronically controlled exit locking system that:

    Indiana Code 22-11-17-1

  • Verified: when applied to pleadings, means supported by oath or affirmation in writing. See Indiana Code 1-1-4-5
(1) allow the owner of a public building to equip an exit with a special egress control device;

(2) limit the circumstances under which a special egress control device may be used; and

(3) allow an exit that was in compliance with the rules of the commission when the exit was constructed to be equipped with a special egress control device.

     (c) An owner of a public building shall not permit a fire alarm to be disconnected or otherwise rendered inoperative, except in cases of routine maintenance or for repair.

     (d) A school that has one (1) or more employees shall develop a plan to address unplanned fire alarm activation as part of its emergency operations plan.

     (e) A school’s emergency operations plan for unplanned fire alarm activation shall include procedures for the following:

(1) Evacuation of the building when the fire alarm is heard. A school with a fire alarm panel that allows for a positive fire alarm sequence may:

(A) develop a plan to investigate an unplanned fire alarm activation before activating the audible and visual alarms requiring evacuation;

(B) designate school officials to acknowledge that an alarm has been activated and initiate an investigation within fifteen (15) seconds;

(C) secure-in-place for up to three (3) minutes in order for a designated school official to determine, by investigation, if an active shooter is on the property; and

(D) following the three (3) minute period under clause (C), the school must evacuate, unless an active shooter has been verified to be on the school’s property.

(2) Compliance with all provisions of 675 IAC 28-1-28.

As added by Acts 1982, P.L.140, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.169-1996, SEC.2; P.L.211-2018(ss), SEC.14; P.L.187-2021, SEC.66.

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