Egress & Fire Considerations for Tiny-House Smart Locks

Exits must be instant. Fancy features are optional; egress is not.

1) One-Motion Exit

• Choose a lockset with thumb-turn inside or passage handle + separate deadbolt.
• Verify the inside handle retracts the latch without power.

2) Fail-Safe vs Fail-Secure (Residential Context)

• For dwellings, prefer mechanical egress independent of electronics.
• Avoid configs that need an app or PIN to leave. Inside exit must be physical.

3) Latch & Strike Geometry

• Zero bind: with door pulled slightly, the latch should retract smoothly with two fingers.
• Use long screws into framing; misalignment during heat/cold slows exits.

4) Night Mode Routine (Quiet & Ready)

• Mute beeps, dim keypad, disable auto-lock timers that might re-throw during exit.
• Keep mechanical key on a glow tag by the bed; second key in a discrete box outside.

5) Secondary Egress

• Loft window ladder accessible; test quarterly.
• Nothing stored against the door swing arc. Ever.

Related Reading

• Tiny-House Community Access Playbook — Access protocols.
• Noise Etiquette for Dense Tiny-House Parks — Night mode setup.
• Quarterly Maintenance Ritual — Latch testing.