State Mulls Barricade Locks On Classroom Doors.
State Mulls Barricade Locks – In a major about face for building and fire codes that may filter into applications internationally, Massachusetts legislators are pushing for amendments to the state’s building and fire codes to allow the use of barricade locks on classroom doors.
Barricade locks, which incorporate metal tabs that slide into a slot to prevent doors being pushed or pulled open breach Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as well as National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) codes.
Their use would save life during active shooter situations by denying perpetrators access to classrooms where students are taking shelter. Currently, teachers and students are required to create barricades by stacking heavy furniture against doors, which is more challenging and much slower if young students are unable to assist. Repeated studies have shown hastily constructed classroom barricades have saved many lives.
“We have seen shootings where students and teachers have been tragically injured or killed,” said Sen. Michael Moore (D-Millbury), one of 2 legislators who filed bills to amend the existing state codes. “These barricade door locks provide the technology to be used, on a temporary basis, to create a safe harbor in school classrooms.
“The Department of Homeland Security has determined that properly locked doors can have a significant impact on the outcomes of an active shooter event, particularly when combined with adequate lockdown procedures,” he says.
Under the State Building code, egress doors must be “readily openable from the egress side with a single operation and without the use of a key, special knowledge or effort,” according to State Fire Marshal Jon Davine.
State Mulls Barricade Locks
School door locks have other requirements designed to allow easy operation, including no tight grasping, pinching, or wrist-twisting required to operate a lock, locking hardware must be installed between 34 and 48 inches above a finished floor, manual bolt locks or surface locks are not permitted, and unlatching of a door or door leaf must be completed in one action. Under the code, electromagnetic locks are approved for use and if a latching door serves a space that may house more than 50 people, panic or fire exit hardware is required throughout the exit route.
State Mulls Barricade Locks – School districts can already apply for a variance from local building and fire inspectors to install barricade devices, but according to Davine, the majority of retrofit classroom door security and barricade devices do not comply with the requirements of the building code, in spite of the fact door-locking devices are available that do comply and can “provide a level of safety while still maintaining egress from within a classroom”.
One of the proposed bills presented to the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security, would direct the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety, the Executive Officer of Education, and the School Building Authority to write new regulations for operation of barricade locks. State Mulls Barricade Locks – Regulations would also need to go through a local approval process in cities and towns, including consultations with fire and police departments. The proposal also calls for educators to get trained in lock use by first responders and for annual inspections of the devices.
You can learn more about barricade locks here or read more SEN news here.
“State Mulls Barricade Locks On Classroom Doors.”
