Narrative:

My crew and I were on the airplane at the gate. While at the gate; prior to boarding; one of the flight attendants said there was no way to get back into the terminal. I responded; that's weird; it's a fire hazard not to be able to exit the airplane when the jetway is attached as the slides are no longer available (catering had blocked forward and aft service exists). I proceeded up the jetway and sure enough we could not get back into the terminal without a special electronic airport employee badge and security code. I waived down an agent (through the window peephole) and said this was a fire hazard and that people needed to be able to evacuate in case there was an emergency like a fueling fire or medical emergency. He said they'll just have to go out on the ramp. I responded; the ramp doors are locked with a cipher keypad. How are we pilots; flight attendants; cleaners; passengers supposed to evacuate to the ramp if the door is locked and we either don't have the code with us or aren't authorized to know what the code is?he responded that he didn't know. Before the fire marshall of the city determines that we are putting people at risk without proper evacuation options in case of emergency; I would like to know why this 'security' procedure is in effect. Who authorized limiting evacuation options to crews and passengers if there is not an agent immediately available to reopen the terminal door? All other airports that I know of either have an exit button unlock the door to safely and easily get back into the terminal or the door can be forced open with ensuing alarm going off. Please respond as soon as you have some information regarding this workplace hazard.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Air carrier pilot reported there is no safe aircraft emergency egress while parked at IAH with the terminal and ramp doors in the jetway both locked.

Narrative: My crew and I were on the airplane at the gate. While at the gate; prior to boarding; one of the flight attendants said there was no way to get back into the terminal. I responded; that's weird; it's a fire hazard not to be able to exit the airplane when the jetway is attached as the slides are no longer available (catering had blocked forward and aft service exists). I proceeded up the jetway and sure enough we could not get back into the terminal without a special electronic airport employee badge and security code. I waived down an agent (through the window peephole) and said this was a fire hazard and that people needed to be able to evacuate in case there was an emergency like a fueling fire or medical emergency. He said they'll just have to go out on the ramp. I responded; the ramp doors are locked with a cipher keypad. How are we pilots; flight attendants; cleaners; passengers supposed to evacuate to the ramp if the door is locked and we either don't have the code with us or aren't authorized to know what the code is?He responded that he didn't know. Before the Fire Marshall of the city determines that we are putting people at risk without proper evacuation options in case of emergency; I would like to know why this 'security' procedure is in effect. Who authorized limiting evacuation options to crews and passengers if there is not an agent immediately available to reopen the terminal door? All other airports that I know of either have an exit button unlock the door to safely and easily get back into the terminal or the door can be forced open with ensuing alarm going off. Please respond as soon as you have some information regarding this workplace hazard.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.