It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to construct,
erect or build any new commercial building or to substantially alter any existing
commercial building without incorporating into such building the minimum security
devices and designs set forth in the following sections of this article.
A.
Single out-swinging doors of solid construction, when
used as main entrance doors, shall be secured by an approved lockset or panic
device. These doors shall be equipped with a self-closing device, cylinder
guard and a door scope. Occupants must be able to exit through these doors
without the use of a key.
B.
Single out-swinging doors of glazed construction, when
used as main entrance doors, or doors having glazed areas within 40 inches
of the locking device, shall be secured with a double-cylinder deadlock or
an approved panic device and cylinder guard. The glazed areas in and within
40 inches of the door shall be of approved glazing material.
A.
Pairs of out-swinging doors of solid construction, when
used as main entrance doors, shall have the active leaf secured at the meeting
rails by an approved lockset or mortise panic device, self-closing device,
cylinder guard, security hinges and a door scope. The inactive leaf shall
be equipped with an approved vertical rod panic device and a self-closing
device. Out-swinging pairs shall have an astragal on the active leaf or a
fixed or removable mullion. To ensure positive latching, coordinators or open-back
strikes shall be used when mullions are not used.
B.
Pairs of out-swinging doors of glazed construction, when
used as main entrance doors, or such doors having glazed areas within 40 inches
of the locking device, shall be glazed with an approved glazing material.
The active leaf shall be secured by an approved vertical rod panic device
or a double-cylinder deadlock, and shall be equipped with a self-closing device
and cylinder guard. The inactive leaf shall be equipped with flush bolts or
an approved vertical rod panic device and a self-closing device. Out-swinging
doors with panic devices shall have a fixed or removable mullion.
Metal accordion grate- or grill-type doors shall be equipped with a
metal guide track top and bottom. The bottom track shall be so designed that
the door cannot be lifted from the track when the door is in the locked position
and shall be secured with a security padlock and a security hasp. However,
the use of accordion grate or grill-type door shall not be permitted on any
exit door required by the Fire Code of the Township of Lower Merion[1] or the State Department of Labor and Industry, except for obvious
main entrance doors.
Exterior basement access or delivery doors flush with a walkway, drive
or parking area shall be a minimum of one-eighth-inch steel plate with either
a key-operated cylinder dead bolt on the inside of the door or an externally
mounted security padlock and hasp. Where the manufacturer of the door has
made no provisions for a padlock, a security padlock and hasp shall be provided
by the owner and shall be through-bolted with security bolts. These requirements
shall not apply to any exit door required by the Fire Code of the Township
of Lower Merion, the State Department of Labor and Industry or the Building
Code of the Township of Lower Merion.[1]
All doors from a common hallway or entranceway into commercially used
spaces shall be solid wood or metal and shall be required to have a mortise,
unit or cylindrical lockset, a self-closing device, a cylinder guard, security
hinges (out-swinging doors) and an approved door scope.
All exterior in-swinging doors shall be mounted with jambs so constructed
to protect and prevent violation of the function of the strike.
All single out-swinging exterior doors shall be equipped with a hardened
and protective tamper guard protecting the area of the strike and the locking
device.
All exterior doors with externally exposed hinges shall be equipped
with security hinges.
Single sliding metal or wood framed doors of glazed construction, when
used as main entrance doors, and such doors having glazed panels within 40
inches of the locking device, shall be equipped with a double-cylinder hooked
dead bolt, cylinder guard and reinforced armor strike. The bolt shall engage
the strike sufficiently to prevent it from being disengaged by any movement
of the door within the space or clearance provided for installation or operation.
The upper track shall be shimmed or arranged in such a manner that will prevent
the door from being lifted off its track when in the locked position. The
glazed areas in the door and within 40 inches of the locking device shall
be of an approved glazing material. The stile of the doors shall be sufficient
to accept a backset deadlock of 31/32 inches.
Double sliding metal or wood framed doors of glazed construction, when
used as main entrance doors, and such doors having glazed panels within 40
inches of the locking device, shall be equipped with a double-cylinder hooked
dead bolt with inserts, cylinder guards and reinforced armor strikes. The
bolt shall engage the strike sufficiently to prevent it from being disengaged
by any movement of either or both doors in the space or clearance provided
for installation or operation. The upper track shall be shimmed or arranged
in such a manner that will prevent the doors being lifted from its tracks
when in the locked position. The glazed areas in the doors and within 40 inches
of the locking devices shall be of approved glazing material.
A.
Metal, wood or fiberglass overhead doors or swinging,
sliding or roll-type garage doors, when not otherwise controlled or secured
by electric power operation, due to type and operation of the doors and glazing,
shall have one of the following type locking devices:
(1)
Manually operated torsion-spring-type door, throw bolt
type with pin cylinder lock, mounted on the end stile of the door.
(2)
Manually operated extension spring door with heavy sliding
lock bars engaging both tracks with pin cylinder lock and back latch.
(3)
Chain-hoist-operated doors, bracket required for locking
in hand chain mounted on track or door jamb, which can be locked or opened
from the inside only.
(4)
Throw-bolt-type mounted on the end stile of the door,
engaging the track, which can be locked or opened from the inside only.
B.
If the door is secured by a padlock on the interior or
exterior, a security padlock and a security hasp are required.
C.
All cylinders are to be equipped with a cylinder guard.
D.
All glazing in the door or in the area within 40 inches
of any locking device must be of approved glazing material.
All exterior doors, excluding ground mounted basement doors, shall be
provided with illumination which is maintained to a value of not less than
2.0 footcandles, measured at the walking surface on the outside of the building.
The lighting fixture shall be equipped with a vapor cover or a cover of equal
break-resistant material.
Side and rear windows not viewable from the street and less than 10
feet from grade shall be glazed with an approved glazing material and shall
be secured from the inside with a forged locking device that is capable of
withstanding a substantial force applied in any direction; and in addition,
sliding windows shall be installed and shimmed or arranged so that they cannot
be lifted from their track when in the locked position.
Jalousie windows shall not be installed within eight feet of ground
level, adjacent structures or fire escapes.
All other exterior exit doors must be secured by an approved panic device,
which may be equipped with a built-in alarm. If these doors are of glazed
construction or have glazed areas within 40 inches of the locking device,
such glazed areas must be of approved glazing material. These doors must be
equipped with a tamper guard (mortise panic devices only), a self-closing
device, a cylinder guard and security hinges.
Outside hinges on all accessible side and rear windows shall be security
hinges. If the hinge screws are accessible from the exterior, they shall be
security screws.
All exterior transoms less than 10 feet from grade shall be glazed with
an approved glazing material and, if capable of being opened, must be equipped
with a forged locking device that is capable of withstanding a substantial
force in any direction.
A.
All glass skylights on the roof of any building used
for commercial purposes shall be provided with any of the following:
(1)
Approved glazing materials.
(2)
Iron bars of at least one-half-inch round or one-by-one-fourth-inch
flat steel material, spaced six inches apart under the skylight and securely
fastened so that the entire opening is protected.
(3)
A steel grill of at least 1/8 inch, material of two-inch
mesh, under the skylight, securely fastened and installed in such a manner
that the entire opening is protected.
B.
In the event that the skylight is used as an automatic
smoke or heat vent, there shall be an arrangement incorporated into the grill
or bars that will permit servicing of the skylight.
All hatchway openings in the roof of any building used for commercial
purposes shall be secured as follows:
A.
If the hatchway is of wooden material, it shall be covered
with a minimum of sixteen-gauge sheet steel attached with screws at six-inch
centers, maximum, around the perimeter on the inside.
B.
The hatchway shall be secured from the inside with a
crossbar and a security padlock.
C.
Outside hinges on all hatchway openings shall be security
hinges.
All air duct or air vent openings exceeding eight inches by 12 inches
on the roof or exterior wall of any building used for commercial purposes
shall be secured by covering the same with one of the following:
A.
Iron bars of at least one-half-inch round or one-by-one-fourth-inch
flat steel material spaced no more than six inches apart and securely fastened.
B.
A steel grill of at least 1/8 inch, material of two-inch
mesh, securely fastened.
C.
If the barrier is on the outside, it shall be secured
with security bolts.
Doors leading to rooftop areas shall be of solid construction, equipped
with a double-cylinder dead bolt, security hinges, cylinder guards and a self-closing
device.
All buildings having parking lots and access thereto providing more
than 10 parking spaces shall be provided with illumination to values of not
less than 2.0 footcandles, average, with proper uniformity measured at the
parking areas and adjacent walking surface. The lighting fixtures shall be
provided with a vapor cover or a cover of equal break-resistant material.
All buildings shall be provided with exterior illumination to values
of not less than 1.0 footcandle, average, with proper uniformity measured
at the walking surface. The lighting fixture shall be provided with a vapor
cover or a cover of equal break-resistant material. There shall be a minimum
of 1.0 footcandle throughout a ten-foot-radius of any exterior door.
