ASCIP
RISK ALERT!
Date: June 22, 2011
Attention: ASCIP Members
Subject: Classroom Door Locking Mechanisms
Following the 1999
Columbine High School and the 2007 Virginia Tech University shootings, safety
and security experts focused their attention on preventing similar type events
from occurring in the future. Findings
indicated that lockdowns, wherein students/staff are contained in locked rooms
until a threat is controlled, is an effective tool in minimizing this type of
occurrence on school campuses. However, many campuses lack classroom doors with
interior locking mechanisms. In February
of 2009, Assembly Member Mendoza brought forth Assembly Bill 211, which added
Education Code Section 17075.50 requiring all new construction submitted to the
Division of State Architect (DSA) to include “locks that allow doors to classrooms and any room with an occupancy of five or more persons to be locked from the
inside.”
The requirements
under Education Code Section 17075.50 become effective on July 1, 2011 and
require all new construction projects
submitted to DSA to comply with this Section of the code. AB 211 was originally
introduced to require these lock types on modernization projects, but
was amended in April of 2009 striking the requirement for modernization
projects. Section 17075.50 does not affect alteration,
modernization or reconstruction projects.
Interior door
locking mechanisms raise concerns over fire and life safety codes where door
locks may prevent the safe egress from a classroom or other room. While doors in new construction projects must
lock from the inside, they must still comply with Title 24 (California Building
Code) for Egress Door Hardware – being “readily
openable from the egress side without the use of a key or special knowledge or
effort.”
Doors that remain
locked from the outside at all times and restroom doors are exempt from Section
17075.50 as are doors to classrooms and any other room where the occupancy is 4 persons or less.
Rooms with an occupancy of 5 or more shall
comply with this new section of Education Code.
Members should
review Education Code Section 17075.50 with their Facilities staff; Maintenance
& Operations staff; Architects; Construction Managers; and other safety,
security, risk management and emergency operations staff to ensure that all new
construction projects are in compliance with these
regulations.
ASCIP
Staff is available to assist in answering concerns as they may arise.
Related Risk Alerts
2007
Building Code