It is provided a method for controlling access to a physical space using an emergency delegation. The method is performed in a lock device and comprises the steps of: receiving an access request from an electronic key; obtaining a plurality of delegations, wherein each delegation is a delegation from a delegator to a delegatee, the plurality of delegations collectively forming a chain of delegations wherein when two delegations are chained together, the delegatee of one delegation is the delegator of the next delegation; determining that a delegation in the chain of delegations is an emergency delegation, the emergency delegation indicating that access should only be granted when an emergency situation occurs; determining when an emergency situation occurs; and granting access to the physical space when the chain of delegations starts in the lock device and ends in the electronic key; and when the emergency situation occurs.