Chapter 13

© 2008 Delmar, Cengage Learning

Property Security, Emergency Response, and Fire Protection

Systems

Chapter 13


Learning Objectives

• Identify and describe the three components to the means of egress

• List and describe the override requirements for exit stairway doors in high-rise buildings

• List and describe the requirements for delayed egress locks

• List and describe the requirements for access controlled egress doors


Learning Objectives (continued)

• Describe the purpose of an emergency building entrance system

• Describe what is typically inside an emergency building entrance system

• List and describe the different methods of property access through security gates and vehicle barriers


Introduction

• Building security systems can inhibit the ability of people to exit the building during an emergency– Emergency responders must be able to access a

facility at any time to investigate emergency calls

• Model codes outline methods for ingress and egress

• Security systems must be tied to fire protection systems to allow free egress


Means of Egress

• Means of egress: continuous and unobstructed path of travel used by building occupants

• Three parts to the means of egress:– Exit access– Exit– Exit discharge


Figure 13-1 The three parts of the means of egress


Exit Access

• Exit access: portion of the means of egress that leads to the exit– Any useable space on any floor

• Travel distance: maximum allowable distance a person must move within the exit access

• Limiting travel distance minimizes a person’s exposure to a fire condition

• Travel distance determined by occupancy condition and presence of sprinkler system


Exit

• Exit: portion of the means of egress separated from the other parts of the building– Fire-resistant or fire-rated construction provides a

protected path to the exit discharge

• Exit stairways or horizontal exits built to protect people from fire

• No requirement for fire-rated construction in one-level, standalone buildings


Exit Discharge

• Exit discharge: portion of the means of egress between the exit and the public way

• Once a person leaves an exit, the outside area from the exit door leads away from the building


Maintaining the Means of Egress

• Some occupancies offer greater exiting challenges than others

• Over the past 100 years, many injuries and deaths have been exit-related– Even with advancements, egress is a challenge

• Adding ingress and egress control devices further complicates the exiting process

• Inspectors periodically mistake locked exit doors as building or fire code violations


Exit Stairway Doors

• Interior exit stairways doors required to be openable from both sides

• Under certain conditions, doors may be locked – Example: stairway discharge door must be openable

from the egress side• Locking from the ingress side permissible

• Stairway doors must remained latched so they do not blow open to allow smoke to enter


Stairway Doors in High-Rise Buildings

• High-rise buildings require additional fire protection due to selective evacuation

• Emergency responders must be able to unlock all stairway doors from fire command– Turn a key or flip a switch from the fire alarm panel

• Doors must remain latched to operate as fire doors

• Telephones or two-way communication systems must be installed in the stairways


Delayed Egress Locks• Latching device holds secure until person

applies force for one second– Example: psychiatric care facilities that need to

prevent patients from walking out unnoticed

• Requirements to follow to comply with the model codes:– Controlled doors must unlock on sprinkler/fire

detection system activation– Controlled doors must unlock on loss of power– Controlled doors must unlock by signal from fire

command center


Delayed Egress Locks (continued)

• Requirements to follow to comply with the model codes: (continued)– Applying 15 pounds of force for one second starts a

process that releases the door in 15 seconds• Alarm sounds near the door

– Relocking the door is only by manual means– Sign posted above and within twelve inches of the

release device gives operation instructions– There must be emergency lights at the door so the

sign can be read


Figure 13-4 Door equipped with delayed egress hardware


Access-Controlled Egress Doors

• Use and occupancy determines whether this type of security hardware is permissible

• Requirements for access-controlled egress doors similar to delayed egress

• Certain occupancies may be required to leave main entrance doors unlocked

• Consult local building and fire officials to determine system requirements


Fire Department Access Systems

• Forcible entry used by first responders when ready access not available– Necessary to reduce operational delays

• Emergency building entrance systems provide method of entry that is non-destructive

• Safe-like security box anchored to the wall at building entrance– Holds rapid entry keys, important documents

• Use a proprietary key specific to a jurisdiction


Security Gates

• Emergency responders must be able to enter property with little or no delay

• When no security guards, gate and barrier operation is by:– Siren-sensing device– Proprietary fire department access key– Access code or card– Radio signal– Interface with the fire protection system


Siren Sensors

• Most commonly used detection and access system

• As fire department vehicle approaches the gate, sounds a siren tone for a few seconds

• Sensor mounted near the gate detects and operates the gate mechanism

• Major benefit is that it allows personnel to stay in their vehicle– Reduces response time and increases safety


Figure 13-15 Siren Sensor


Proprietary Fire Department Access Key

• Some security gates require a key to operate• Fire departments require the key to be the same

as the one used for building access system• Control system fitted with a lock core switch

– Matches the fire department’s emergency access key pattern

• Not as efficient as the siren sensor– Operates as a backup to the siren sensor


Access Cards and Access Codes

• Least desirable access method • Requires responders to leave the vehicle, open

the security box, and locate a card or a code• Access codes and cards may no longer be valid• Fire personnel lose valuable time, placing life

and property in greater danger


Radio Frequency Sensor

• Similar to siren system, but uses the fire department radio

• Fire department radio keys a predetermined channel for a few seconds– Sensor mounted near the gate detects the frequency

and operates the gate mechanism

• Allows fire personnel to stay in the vehicle• Important to periodically inspect


Fire Protection System Interface

• Security gate control mechanisms connect to the fire alarm system

• Simple process requires an alarm initiation device to activate

• Device is a detector or water flow switch– Rarely a manual pull station

• Once signaled, the gate opens before the fire department arrives

• Reduces security


Summary

• Building and occupant security a priority for some organizations

• Security devices may hinder emergency response

• Model codes publish installation packages that require system overrides

• Emergency building entrance systems provide necessary keys, codes, or tools to enter

• Critical factor that could be life or death: time!

Chapter 13

Business

Transcript of Chapter 13