Concerns Raised Over Electronic Door Locks Trapping Occupants During Emergencies
Recent fire incidents in Lucknow, Delhi, and Indore have raised concerns about electronic door locks, particularly biometric and smart locks, potentially trapping occupants during emergencies. Experts explain that locks operate on 'fail-secure' or 'fail-safe' systems: fail-secure locks remain locked without power, risking entrapment, while fail-safe locks unlock automatically during power failures. Fire officials emphasize the need for fail-safe mechanisms and manual overrides to ensure safety and compliance with emergency protocols.