Security Dealer & Integrator

JUL 2016

Find news and information for the executive corporate security director, CSO, facility manager and assets protection manager on issues of policy, products, incidents, risk management, threat assessments and preparedness.

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Q We have three residen- tial unit buildings oper- ating off of a single fire alarm control panel (FACP) using addressable notification. The state fire marshal unplugged the transformer to the door lock power supply in each building and said that it did not func- tion correctly because the doors didn't unlock. What am I missing? You didn't miss anything. e International Building Code and LSC require doors to unlock upon loss of AC power to the FACP — not the loss of AC power to the ACP (access control panel). e power supply used for the door's magnetic locks is allowed to keep the doors secured if only the access control panel loses its AC power. Since your FACP is in an adja- cent building, and did not lose its AC power, the batteries were correctly used to keep its building secured. Should the FACP lose its primary power, it must send a signal to each of the ACPs, causing them to instantly unlock any magnetically locked doors. NFPA 72 rules now allow this unlocking to be delayed if you supply enough FACP standby power to outlast the standby power keeping the doors locked. e Annex of NFPA 72 at A.21.9.3 explains it like this: A problem could exist when batteries are used as a secondary power source if a fire alarm control unit having 24 hours of standby operating power were to lose primary power and be operated for more than 24 hours from the secondary power source (batteries). It is possible that sufficient voltage would be available to keep the doors locked, but not enough voltage would be available to operate the fire alarm control unit to release the locks. Q The term "door unlock- ing" is confusing. I had one new fire inspector test a magnetic door unlock- ing by going outside and letting the door close behind him. He had to knock to get back in and stated the door obviously wasn't unlocked! I made the door usable by unlocking it from the inside, but the latch kept it closed when he tried to get back in. It can be embarrassing to have to explain the code to those that have been charged with its enforcement. Sometimes they may listen to you and read the code section you offer up, and sometimes they may insist on repeating their initial position. en, depending on how much they have dug their heels in, the farther up the chain of command you may have to go to get it straightened out. While any effort on your part to state your position may get you the old "I'm not here to argue with you" rebuff, you will have to stick with it or your client may see himself as hav- ing to pay for your mistakes — which wouldn't be true, but that's now how they would see it. e correct NFPA 72 passage to refer to is found at section 21.9.1 where it states that electrically locked exit doors "shall unlock in the direction of egress" (along the exit path leaving the building). If the Fire Department wishes to be able to enter the building, suggest installing a Knox Box. 58 Security Dealer & Integrator / www.SecurityInfoWatch.com July 2016 Fire & Life Safety BY GREG KESSINGER, SET, IMSA, CFPS, CDT Locking Down Door Codes Rule clarifications for door locking and release as it relates to fire alarm systems A It can be embarrassing to have to explain the code to those that have been charged with its enforcement. Sometimes they may listen to you; sometimes they may insist on repeating their initial position." few readers have posed questions to me about door locking and door release as they pertain to their interconnection with a fire alarm system. As you will see, there are clear interpretations of these door locking rules; however, the code language some- times causes confusion. As the paid professional, make sure you are knowledgeable about the rules before your installations and acceptance tests, and be ready to point out the codes which supports your position so your customers can open their buildings in a timely fashion.

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