[smokingfrog]

I’ve been trying to think of a way someone could block or lock a stairwell door without being too obvious about it, but haven’t come up with anything. Maybe squirt some quick cure epoxy into the lock?

[1_Rain_Drop]

There's this gadget but it would work only inside the stairwell.

Secure portable door safety lock

[eartick]

I’ve been trying to think of a way someone could block or lock a stairwell door without being too obvious about it,”

You put sheet metal screws in the door to the frame from the hall way side or take a 4’ piece of pipe and secure it across the opening to the panic door handle if it is the old type.

The door is “blocked” in yankee terms or what I would call, will not open from the stair well.

[PapaBear3625]

I’ve been trying to think of a way someone could block or lock a stairwell door without being too obvious about it, but haven’t come up with anything. Maybe squirt some quick cure epoxy into the lock?

Gorilla Construction Adhesive. Dries in 30 seconds. Just before you are about to do your thing, apply all along the edges of the door, then close the door. It will be hard to open.

For an added measure, since the door opens inward on the stairwell, it needs a handle on the stairwell side. If you remove the handle, it would be harder to open the stair door without tools.

[Sacajaweau]

I think they said it was done with screws and a bar.