[MC 1973-25, § 1, July 16, 1973]
All existing and future buildings in the City used by a person for the purpose of conducting, managing, or carrying on any business, with the exception of those hereinafter described, shall, when unattended, be so secured as to prevent unauthorized entry in accordance with specifications for physical security of exterior accessible openings as provided in Sections 6:3-1 through 6:3-15 of this Code. A commercial building shall be considered unattended when not occupied by a watchman, maintenance personnel, or other authorized persons during the period that premises are closed to business. Further, all residential buildings, except one- and two-family dwellings, shall at all times be so secured as to provide the maximum possible security to the permanent and transient occupants, in accordance with the specifications provided in Section 6:3-12 of this Code. Any building used for public assembly occupancy, as defined in the Plainfield Building Code, as well as those buildings used for Group "F" occupancy of the type requiring exit doors to be equipped with panic hardware locks, shall be exempt from the provisions thereof relating to exterior doors. Those buildings used for Group "C," "D" occupancy shall be exempt from the provisions hereof.
[MC 1973-25, § 1, July 16, 1973; MC-1974-2, § 1,
Feb. 4, 1974]
The Divisions of Code Enforcement, Police, and Fire, except
as herein specifically noted, are authorized and directed to administer
and enforce the provisions of this Code relating to physical security
requirements for commercial and residential buildings in the City.
This article shall take effect July 1,1974.
[MC 1973-25, § 1, July 16, 1973]
Responsibility for compliance with the provisions of this article
shall be as follows:
If the buildings or other premises are owned by one (1) person
and occupied by another under lease or otherwise, the orders issued
in connection with the enforcing of this Code shall apply to the occupant
thereof, except where the rules or orders require the making of additions
to or changes in the premises themselves, such as would immediately
become real estate and be the property of the owner of the premises;
in such cases the rules or orders shall affect the owner and not the
occupant unless it is otherwise agreed between the owner and the occupant.
[MC 1973-25, § 1, July 16, 1973; amended by MC-1974-15,
§ 1, Aug. 5, 1974]
(a)
The enforcing authority shall cause the access points of all commercial
and residential establishments subject to the provisions of this article
to be inspected as follows:
(1)
All buildings and structures shall be inspected at least once
a year;
(2)
Buildings and structures in the process of construction shall
be periodically inspected during the process of construction, additions,
alterations, or repairs and shall be inspected at least once a year
thereafter;
(3)
In addition to inspecting to determine if the mechanical requirements
of this article have been met, the enforcing authority shall inspect
to determine that the required mechanical devices have been properly
installed and are properly functioning;
(b)
When an inspection reveals that the building or structure does not
meet the requirements of this article the following procedure shall
be followed:
(1)
Written notice of the deficiencies discovered during the inspection
shall be given the person responsible for compliance or his designated
agent;
(2)
Such notice shall set forth the amount of time within which
such deficiencies are to be corrected;
(3)
Upon correcting such deficiencies, the person responsible for
compliance or his designated agent shall transmit to the enforcing
authority notice that the deficiencies have been corrected;
(4)
The enforcing authority shall upon receipt of notice of correction
again inspect the building or structure, and either approve the corrections
or disapprove them. The enforcing authority may grant a mutually acceptable
extension of time to correct deficiencies if, in the judgment of the
enforcing authority, the owner or his designated agent, has made an
honest attempt to correct said deficiencies;
(c)
The enforcing authority or its designated agents have the right to
enter any building or structure subject to the provision of this article,
during reasonable business hours, for the purpose of inspecting the
premises to ascertain the degree of compliance with the provisions
of this article. If, after oral notification and the presentation
of evidence of identity and authority to the person responsible for
compliance or his designated agent, the right to enter the building
or structure is refused, the enforcing authority shall have the right
to apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for a search warrant.
[MC 1973-25, § 1, July 16, 1973; MC 1978-22, § 1,
Sept. 5, 1978]
As used in this article:
(a)
Activate means to make a locking device effective in preventing unauthorized
entry through the door, window, or other access point to which the
locking device is attached;
(b)
Access point means any opening in the exterior of a building or structure
including skylights and vents which has a glass or open area of ninety-six
(96) square inches or more, and which has its smallest dimension in
excess of 6 inches;
(c)
Accessible means any access point within either eighteen (18) feet
of the ground or the roof of an adjoining building or structure; or
within fourteen (14) feet of the same when the facade faces directly
on a public street; or within three (3) feet of an access point, fire
escape, or ledge in or projecting from the same or an adjacent wall
and leading to another building or structure. A roof is any surface
of a building or structure which provides a horizontal supporting
surface of six (6) feet or more in width. Diagonally opposite means
that the angle measured from the horizontal planes of the access points
or surface in question is not greater than forty-five (45) degrees.
(d)
Approved as applied to a given material, mode of construction, piece
of equipment, or device means approved as meeting the requirements
of this article by the enforcing authority or its authorized agents,
or by any other officials designated by law to give approval on a
particular matter dealt with by the provisions of this article;
(e)
Control device means a key or similar mechanical implement that is
normally used by authorized persons to activate or deactivate a locking
device;
(f)
Exterior means that portion of a building or structure which is accessible
to the public when the commercial establishment housed therein is
closed for business and includes but is not limited to those portions
of individual commercial establishments which are housed in a common
building or structure and which are accessible to the public, e.g.,
as in a shopping center or mall;
(g)
Enforcing Authority is the agency or person having the responsibility
for enforcing the provisions of this article;
(h)
Locking device means a mechanical implement or combination of mechanical
implements attached to a door, window, or other access point of a
building or structure and designed to prevent unauthorized persons
from entering the building or structure through that door, window,
or other access point when the locking device is activated;
(i)
Commercial is any building or structure used to manage, conduct,
or carry on any business and is intended to include buildings or structures
used for commercial, retail, industrial, or professional purposes
and shall include warehousing facilities.
(j)
Rated Burglary Resisting Glazing Material shall be materials which
meet Underwriters' Laboratories tests as defined in UL Bulletin UL
972.
[MC 1973-25, § 1, July 16, 1973]
(a)
The provisions of this article are not intended to prevent the use
of other devices or methods of construction than those provided herein,
provided such other devices or mode of construction provide the same
or greater degree of security than the minimum requirements of this
article.
(b)
When the person responsible for compliance desires to use such other
device or mode of construction, the burden of proving to the enforcing
authority that the requirements of this article have been met or surpassed
shall be on the person responsible for compliance.
(c)
Such other device or mode of construction may only be used upon the
approval of the enforcing authority. The enforcing authority may require
the person responsible for compliance to submit the device or mode
of construction to such tests as the enforcing authority deems necessary
and proper to determine if it meets or surpasses the requirements
of this article. Such tests shall be performed at the expense of the
person responsible for compliance.
[MC 1973-25, § 1, July 16, 1973; amended by MC-1974-21,
§ 2, Dec. 9, 1974]
No portion of this code shall supersede any local, State or
Federal laws, regulations, or codes dealing with life safety factors
with particular reference to the Fire Prevention Code of the City
of Plainfield and Title 12 of the New Jersey Administrative Code,
Chapter 115, as it pertains to lock requirements.
[MC 1973-25, § 1, July 16, 1973; amended by MC-1974-15,
§ § 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, Aug. 5, 1974; MC-1974-17,
§ § 1 and 2, Aug. 19, 1974; amended 7-10-2023 by Ord. No. MC
2023-19]
All exterior doors shall comply with the following requirements:
(a)
Wood or metal doors with panels of rated burglary resistant glazing
material, wood doors of solid core construction at least 1 and 3/8
inches thick, solid metal doors having at least equal strength to
a wood door of core construction at least 1 and 3/8 inches thick shall
be secured as in section (a) 1 below. Doors not 1 and 3/8 inches thick
or of equivalent strength shall be reinforced as in section (e) below.
Doors with glass panels or with panels of glass adjacent to the door,
including transoms, shall be secured as in section (g) below.
(1)
Single swinging doors shall be equipped with either a heavy
duty dead lock utilizing either interlocking vertical bolts and striker
or a one inch dead bolt.
(2)
Pairs of swinging doors shall be secured at the top and bottom
of one leaf with vertical bolts and secured at the center with the
type of locking device required for single swinging doors in subsection
(a)(1).
(3)
Swinging doors which do not permit a center lock, including
but not limited to tempered glass doors, shall be secured with locking
devices meeting the requirements of subsection (a)(1).
(b)
Single swinging doors or pairs of doors constructed of glass that
is not burglary resistant may be retained in old buildings or structures.
However, when such a door or doors is replaced for any reason in old
buildings or structures then the replacement door or doors shall be
constructed of rated burglary resisting glazing material. Such doors
on new buildings or structures shall be constructed of rated burglary
resisting glazing material.
(c)
Rolling, solid swinging, sliding, or accordion garage-type doors,
whether closing vertically or horizontally, shall when not controlled
or locked by electrical power operation, be secured on the inside
as follows:
(1)
Hand operated doors shall be equipped with slide or vertical
bolts, at either the top or bottom of the door or both sides of the
door depending on whether the door opens vertically or horizontally.
On horizontal garage-type doors having glass panels, a 1/4 inch hole
shall be drilled in the roller track no more than six inches from
the floor, and during the periods when the building is unoccupied
a bolt or padlock shall be placed which will restrict movement of
the door if the slide bolts are disengaged. This will not be a requirement
if the panels are of burglary resistant glazing material.
(2)
Chain operated doors shall be equipped with a locking device
for securing the chain;
(3)
Crank operated doors shall be equipped with a locking device
for securing the operating shaft.
(4)
If the door provides the only entrance, to the building or structure,
a locking device meeting the requirements of subsection (a)(1), may
be used on the outside of the door.
(d)
Metal accordion, grate, or grill type doors shall be equipped with
a metal guide track at the top and bottom and secured with either
a single cylinder lock which can only be deactivated with a key or
similar control device or with a padlock. The door and frame shall
be so constructed and installed that the door cannot be lifted from
its track when the door is closed;
(e)
Wood doors, except garage-type doors, not of solid core construction
and wood doors, except garage-type doors, of solid core construction,
but containing panels less than 1 3/8 inch thick shall be covered
on the inside with at least 16 gauge sheet steel or with a rated burglary
resisting glazing material attached with one inch No. 8 screws placed
six inches apart on the perimeter of the plate.
(f)
Accessible sliding doors shall be secured as follows:
(1)
Single sliding doors shall have the moveable section of the
door sliding on the inside of the fixed section of the door, and shall
be so constructed and installed that the movable section of the door
cannot be lifted from its track when the door is closed;
(2)
The movable section of single sliding doors shall be secured
by vertical bolts at the top and bottom and with a center locking
device as provided in subsection (a)(1). The bolt of the locking device
shall engage the strike to the extent necessary to prevent its being
disengaged by any possible movement of the doors within the clearances
provided when the door is closed and the locking device is activated;
(3)
Double sliding doors shall be secured by vertical bolts at the
top and bottom of each door, and shall meet the requirements of subsection
(f)(1) and (2).
(g)
Non-burglary resisting panels of glazing material in a door, except as provided by subsection (b), or such panels adjacent to a door frame shall be secured by replacing the existing panel with a panel of rated burglary resisting glazing material.
(h)
The provisions of this subsection shall apply in addition to the
security requirements set forth in the preceding subsection (8) hereof:
(1)
All door jambs shall be so constructed or protected as to prevent
violation of the function of the strike through such means as, but
not limited to, spreading of the door frame;
(2)
The locking device shall be so constructed and installed that
when the door is closed it cannot be made inactive through the removal
of mounting screws or bolts;
(3)
The bolts of all locking devices shall have a sufficient throw
when the door is closed and the locking device is activated so that
the bolt will imbed itself in its receptacle a minimum of one-half
inch;
(4)
All locking devices shall have a minimum of 6,000 possible combinations;
(5)
Locking devices and parts of locking devices shall not be used
if they bear any numbers or letters which, to a trained person, would
reveal a combination from which a key or similar control device could
be fashioned or selected which could be used to deactivate the locking
device;
(6)
When a padlock type locking device is used, it shall not be
capable of being deactivated through rapping or other similar shocking
techniques applied by a trained person; padlock hasps shall be constructed
and installed so that they cannot be removed when the door is closed
and the padlock is activated; padlocks shall have a minimum of a two
inch case and 7/16 inch shackle made of material that will resist
cutting with a bolt cutter of up to 15 inches in length;
(i)
Vertical or horizontal steel bars and iron or steel grills are strictly
prohibited from being used on any commercial building door.
[MC 1973-25, § 1, July 16, 1973; amended by MC-1974-15,
§ 9, Aug. 5, 1974; MC-1974-17, § 3, Aug. 19, 1974;
MC-1974-21, § 3, Dec. 9, 1974; amended 7-10-2023 by Ord. No. MC 2023-19]
Windows in residential buildings converted to professional offices shall meet the requirements set forth in Section 6:3-12(a)(3). However, whenever any such window material must be replaced, glazing material as permitted under this Code shall be used as replacement material unless the other options as set forth in this section are used. Windows in all other "commercial" buildings as defined in this Code shall be secured as follows:
(a)
Non-openable windows with an individual glass area of less than 280
square inches per section AND with a metal window frame will not require
further protection.
(b)
Non-openable windows with an individual glass area greater than 280
square inches per section or with an individual glass area of less
than 280 square inches per section constructed of wood shall be protected
with rated burglary resisting glazing material.
(c)
Openable windows shall be secured with rated burglary resisting glazing
material.
(d)
The openable sections of windows shall be secured with rated burglary
resisting glazing material, unless provisions are made for the window
locking mechanism to be securely locked when the building is unoccupied,
such that someone breaking the glass adjacent to the lock cannot deactivate
the lock.
(e)
Vertical or horizontal steel bars and iron or steel grills are strictly
prohibited from being used on any commercial building door.
[MC 1973-25, § 1, July 16, 1973]
[MC 1973-25, § 1 July 16, 1973; amended by MC-1974-15,
§ 10, Aug. 5, 1974]
All other accessible access points, including but not limited
to air ducts or vent openings, shall be secured as in Section 6:3-9(b)2
or 3 above.
[MC 1973-25, § 1, July 16, 1973; amended by MC-1974-15,
§ 11, Aug. 5, 1974; MC-1974-21, § 4, Dec. 9, 1974;
MC 1978-22, § 1, Sept. 5, 1978]
The following provisions will be RECOMMENDATIONS ONLY for apartment
structures having 3, 4, or 5 units. The provisions shall be MANDATORY
for structures having 6 or more units. Security requirements for multi-unit
structures shall be divided into two (2) categories — converted
residential and garden, townhouse, or multiple-story structures.
(a)
Converted residential.
(1)
All exterior entrance doors shall have locks as per Section 6:3-8(a)(1). Entrance doors constructed with non resistant glazing material may be retained in existing structures. However, if a breaking and entering occurs by breaking the glass in such a door, the glass shall be replaced with burglary resistant glazing material as noted in Section 6:3-5(k). Further, if the door is replaced for any reason, it shall be constructed with rated burglary resistant glazing material, or contain no more than 300 square inches of glass area. Other building entrance doors, such as to basements or garages, shall have any type of locking device to prevent access.
(2)
Entrance doors to individual apartment units shall have a lock as per Section 6:3-8(a)(1) and be so constructed that the lock may be opened from the inside without the use of key. Each entrance door to an apartment unit shall also have a chain door guard installed.
(3)
All openable ground floor windows or windows of an easily accessible
roof, shall be equipped with any device which will limit movement
of the sash in 6-inch increments, in addition to having a window-locking
mechanism. Cellar windows shall have a bolt-type locking mechanism
and burglary resistant glazing material, or grille work as noted in
Section 6:3-9(b)(2).
(b)
Garden, townhouse, and multiple-story structures. In addition to
the requirements noted in (a) above, structures in this category shall
also meet the following additional requirements:
(1)
Any building entrance door entering into a common corridor shall
be self-closing and self-locking and shall be openable from the corridor
without a key.
(2)
All doors leading to service areas shall be self-closing and
self-locking and openable from the inside without a key.
(3)
Doors to each apartment unit shall have a visitor-observation
port installed.
(4)
In the case of senior citizens' apartment structures, electronically-activated
emergency door locks are allowable under this Code in lieu of other
locks noted herein. In cases where this type of lock is used, the
installation of a door chain guard shall not be required.
(5)
Where needed, passenger elevators shall have mirrors so placed
as to make visible the whole of the elevator interior to prospective
passengers outside the elevator.
(6)
Elevator emergency stop buttons shall be installed and connected
so as to activate the elevator alarm.
(7)
Subject to the approval of the enforcing authority, alternate
locking devices may be substituted for those required herein, provided
such devices are of equal capability to resist illegal entry and further
provided that the installation of same does not conflict with other
requirements of this Code and other ordinances regulating safety of
exit.
[MC 1973-25, § 1, July 16, 1973; amended by MC-1974-15,
§ 12, Aug. 5, 1974; MC 1978-22, § 1, Sept. 5,
1978]
(a)
It is neither the intent nor in the spirit of this article to require
the installation of burglar alarm equipment in any commercial establishment.
However, if after all the requirements of this article have
been satisfied, the establishment is plagued by continued unlawful
entries, because of either the condition of the structure or the nature
of the business, the enforcing authority may require the installation
and maintenance of Underwriters' Laboratories certified burglar alarm
equipment covering all access points or a combination of interior
devices including, but not limited to photo-electrical, ultrasonic,
microwave, proximity and sound devices. The enforcing authority may
require that the equipment used be a local alarm, local alarm with
police connection, central station system.
(b)
The person responsible for compliance may request that the enforcing authority allow the commercial establishment to substitute Underwriters' Laboratories certified burglar alarm equipment or intrusion detection device for the physical security devices required by this article. The enforcing authority shall grant this request subject to the requirements set forth in Section 6:3-6.
(c)
Nothing contained in this ordinance shall prevent a commercial establishment
from installing and maintaining burglar alarm systems or intrusion
detection devices. Access points covered by a burglar alarm system
or intrusion detection device shall not require the installation of
additional security devices as noted in this code. However those access
points not covered by a burglar alarm or intrusion detection device
must conform to the Code. If a burglar alarm or intrusion detection
device is installed, it shall be maintained in an operative condition
at all times, and it shall be unlawful for any owner or occupant to
reduce the effectiveness of the system or device, except where necessary
to make tests, repairs, revisions, or additions.
[MC 1973-25, § 1, July 16, 1973]
(a)
Within ten (10) days after the receipt of written notice from the
Chief of Police requiring the installation and maintenance of photoelectric,
ultrasonic, or other intrusion detection device, the person responsible
for compliance therewith may appeal in writing to the Department of
Public Affairs and Safety. In filing such notice of appeal, the appellant
shall set forth the specific grounds wherein it is claimed there was
an error or abuse of discretion by the Chief of Police, or wherein
the issuance of the written notice was not supported by proper evidence.
(b)
Upon receipt of such appeal, the Department of Public Affairs and
Safety shall set the matter for hearing and cause notice thereof to
be given to the appellant and to the Chief of Police, or his authorized
representative, not less than five (5) days prior to the date set
for the hearing. At such hearing the appellant shall show cause on
the grounds specified in the Notice of Appeals why the action excepted
to should not be affirmed.
(c)
The Department of Public Affairs and Safety may affirm, reverse,
or modify the decision of the Chief of Police requiring the installation
and maintenance of a photoelectric, ultrasonic, or other intrusion
detection device. If the decision is affirmed or modified by the Department
of Public Affairs and Safety, the appellant shall be given written
notice thereof by the Chief of Police setting forth the installation
to be made and the period of time within which the same shall be completed.
In no event shall the period be less than originally granted appellant.
[MC 1973-25, § 1, July 16, 1973; amended by MC-1974-15,
§ 13, Aug. 5, 1974]
Any person responsible for compliance with the provisions of this article who violates an order of the enforcing authority shall be subject to the penalties as provided in Section 17:12-2 of the Municipal Code of the City of Plainfield.
