Security Sales & Integration

September2013

SSI serves security installing contractors providing systems and services; surveillance, access control, biometrics, fire alarm and home control/automation. Coverage in commercial and residential product applications, designs, techniques, operations.

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PHOTO: ©ISTOCKPHOTO.COM the IBC). When access control is required for schools or university lecture halls, for example, the hardware used on the doors is typically required to be panic hardware or fre exit hardware if used on a fre door assembly. However, school classrooms would not typically require panic hardware unless they were large rooms with an occupant load of 50 people or more. In buildings that are not assembly or educational occupancies, panic hardware is often specifed for durability and ease of use. Te IBC and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 101 allow delayed egress devices to be used to restrict egress for 15 seconds when certain criteria are met. However, the IBC does not allow the use of delayed egress devices on doors serving assembly, educational or high hazard occupancies. In many schools, there is a preference for compartmentalizing the building so that if one area is used after-hours, occupants do not have access to the rest of the building. If the doors in question are part of a required means of egress, the IBC will not allow the use of delayed egress devices in this occupancy type. Alarms could be used to signal when the door is opened, as long as the doors allow free egress. In occupan- cy types where delayed egress devices are allowed, only one delay may be encountered before entering an exit (IBC) or within an egress path (NFPA 101). SECURING STAIRWELLS AND ELEVATORS Campuses with tall buildings must be especially aware of stairwell codes. When stair doors are locked on the stair side to provide security for the individual foors of the building, recent editions of the IBC require failsafe electrifed locks or fre exit hardware with failsafe levers to be installed. Tese locks can be unlocked by a signal from the fre alarm system or fre command center, while still maintaining the positive latching required for fre doors (a failsafe electric strike may not be used because electric strikes on fre doors must be fail secure). Te purpose of the stairwell re-entry requirements is to ensure an alternate means of egress if an exit stairs become compromised by smoke — the doors unlock to allow building occupants to leave the stairs and fnd another exit. Although the 2003 edition of the IBC included an exception for stairs serving four stories or less, this exception is not included in subsequent editions. NFPA 101 allows some doors within a SEPTEMBER 2013 / SECURITYSALES.COM / 99

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