Selected reentry allows some doors to be mechanically locked and some doors must allow reentry.
Stairwell doors locked.
Although the ibc would require just about all stairwell doors to be able to be unlocked remotely nfpa 101 has some exceptions.
For doors that are locked on the stair side the ibc requires the locks to be capable of being unlocked simultaneously without unlatching upon a signal from the fire command center if present or a signal by emergency personnel from a single location inside the main entrance to the building.
An nfpa code allows stair doors to be locked from the stairway side if the locks will release upon fire alarm activation nfpa 101 7 2 1 5 7 2.
The term stairwell reentry refers to the code requirements which allow a building occupant to leave a stairwell during a fire emergency and find another exit.
I seem to recall that the doors could be on magnets that release upon activation of the fire alarm and that have a touch pad that releases the doors within 15 seconds.
Thus as with an external door a card reader can be installed on the stairwell side of the door as long as it will be overridden when a fire alarm sounds.
If the stair serves 4 stories or less the stair doors can be mechanically locked on the stair side.
Can a stairwell door that leads to the outside of a hospital be locked with a lock that requires a code to unlock it.