Bowman's fire alarm was an emergency exit

[NYC Liberal]

53. Can't speak for this particular door

or Congressional buildings in general since might exempt from certain building codes they’ve passed, but usually an exit with a delayed release like this will open immediately under certain conditions like heat or smoke detected, fire alarm is active, loss of power, etc. They’re very common, especially in retail stores to deter theft.

This is from the DC fire code:

1010.1.9.7.1 Delayed egress. Delayed egress locking systems shall be permitted to be installed on doors serving Group E in buildings that are equipped throughout with an automatic fire alarm system in accordance with § 907.2.3. The locking system shall be installed and operated in accordance with all of the following:

1. The delay electronics of the delayed egress locking system shall deactivate upon actuation of the automatic fire alarm system, allowing immediate, free egress.

2. The delay electronics of the delayed egress locking system shall deactivate upon loss of power controlling the lock or lock mechanism, allowing immediate free egress.

3. The delayed egress locking system shall have the capability of being deactivated at the fire command center and other approved locations, if a fire command center is provided.

4. An attempt to egress shall initiate an irreversible process that shall allow such egress in not more than 15 seconds when a physical effort to exit is applied to the egress side door hardware for not more than 3 seconds. Initiation of the irreversible process shall activate an audible signal in the vicinity of the door. Once the delay electronics have been deactivated, rearming the delay electronics shall be by manual means only.

Exception: Where approved, a delay of not more than 30 seconds is permitted on a delayed egress door.