Monrovia Municipal Code Ch. 15.08 Building Security

(A) The purpose of this chapter is to require security devices in certain buildings used for business, industrial, and/or manufacturing purposes, as a burglary and theft-prevention measure.

(B) Where reference to COMMERCIAL BUILDING is found in this chapter, it shall mean business, industrial and manufacturing buildings.

(`83 Code, § 15.08.010)

(A) All future buildings in the city used, constructed, altered, repaired or increased 50% of the total building valuation, or 50% of the total square footage, for the purpose of conducting, managing, or carrying on any business, with the exception of those described in this section, shall, when unattended, be equipped with such security as to discourage unauthorized entry, in accordance with specifications for physical security of exterior accessible openings as provided in §§ 15.08.060 through 15.08.090. A commercial building shall be considered unattended when not occupied by a watchman, maintenance personnel, or other authorized persons during the period that the premises are closed to business.

(B) Exceptions.

(1) Any building used for Group “A” or “B” public assembly occupancy as defined in the 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 provision of this chapter relating to exterior doors.

(2) Those buildings used for Group “C,” “D,” “H,” “I” and “J” occupancy shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter.

(3) “J-I” occupancy shall be included where such building is to be located in the “C” or “M” zone in the city.

(`83 Code, § 15.08.020)

The Building Official is hereby authorized and directed to administer and enforce the provisions of this code. No building permit shall be issued for buildings within § 15.08.020 unless this chapter is complied with. No final approval of any building permit until final approval of installation required in this chapter.

(`83 Code, § 15.08.030)

The owner of said building shall bear the responsibility for compliance with the specifications set forth in this code concerning physical security for exterior openings of buildings subject to the provisions of this chapter.

(`83 Code, § 15.08.040)

All exterior accessible openings of any building used for business subject to the provisions of this chapter and which are not otherwise protected by photoelectric, ultrasonic or other intrusion detection devices, designed, installed and maintained by a qualified burglary prevention specialist shall be provided with security as provided in this chapter; provided, however, exit doors serving an occupant load of more than ten and serving hazardous rooms or areas shall be openable from the inside without the use of a key or any special knowledge or effort, and any additional locking device used to meet the requirements of this code shall be approved by the Building Official.

(`83 Code, § 15.08.050)

All front doors of any building or premises used for business purposes and subject to the provisions of this chapter shall comply with the following requirements:

(A) Solid wood or metal doors, and doors that do not have glass panels adjacent to the door frame, shall be provided with security as follows:

(1) A single door shall be equipped with a cylinder dead lock that unlocks from the outside by key and inside by turn-piece, handle, or knob, or with dead locking latch having guarded bolt that unlocks from the outside by key and inside by turn-piece, handle or knob.

(2) On double doors, the active leaf shall be equipped with a type of lock as prescribed for single doors above and the inactive leaf shall be equipped with flush bolts at head and foot.

(B) Doors with glass panels and doors that have glass panels adjacent to the door frame shall be provided with security as follows:

(1) A single door shall be equipped with cylinder dead lock that unlocks form both the outside and inside by a key but must not be locked during business hours and must be posted as such.

(2) On double doors, the active leaf shall be equipped with cylinder dead lock that unlocks from both the outside and inside by a key, and the inactive leaf shall be equipped with flush bolts at head and foot.

(C) Rolling overhead doors that are not controlled or locked by electric power operation shall be equipped on the inside with the following protective devices:

(1) Manually-operated doors shall be provided with locking slide bolts.

(2) Chain-operated doors shall be provided with a metal keeper and pin for securing the hand chain.

(3) Crank-operated doors shall be provided with a means for securing the operating shaft.

(D) A solid overhead, swinging, sliding or accordion garage-type door shall be equipped with a cylinder lock, padlock, and/or metal slide bar, bolt or crossbar on the inside when not otherwise controlled or locked by electric power operation. If padlock is used, it shall be of hardened steel shackle and pin-tumbler operation.

(E) Metal accordion grade or grille-type doors shall be equipped with metal guide track at top and bottom and a cylinder lock and/or padlock with hardened steel shackle and pin-tumbler operation.

(F) Outside hinges on all front doors shall be provided with non-removable pins.

(`83 Code, § 15.08.060)

All rear, side, basement and roof doors shall comply with the following requirements:

(A) All doors of the types listed in this division shall comply with the requirements of § 15.08.050 for front doors.

(1) Tempered glass doors; wood or metal doors with tempered glass panel;

(2) Metal doors;

(3) Solid wood doors;

(4) Rolling overhead doors;

(5) Solid overhead, swinging, sliding or accordion garage-type doors;

(6) Metal accordion grate, or grille-type doors.

(B) Doors with glass panels and doors that have glass panels adjacent to the door frame shall be provided with security as follows:

(1) The glass panel shall be covered with bars of at least ½-inch round of one inch by ¼-inch flat steel material spaced not more than five inches apart; or

(2) Iron or steel grilles of at least 1/8 inch material of two-inch mesh;

(3) If the protective barrier is on the outside of the door with the glass panel, it shall be attached with rounded-head flush bolts with rounded head on the outside.

(4) If the remaining portion of a door panel exceeds 8 inches by 12 inches, excluding door frame, is of wood but not of solid core construction, said portion shall be covered on the inside with at least 16 gauge sheet steel attached with screws.

(C) Wood doors which are not of solid core construction shall be covered on the inside with at least 16 gauge sheet steel attached with screws.

(D) Locking devices.

(1) A single door shall be equipped with either double cylinder dead lock that unlocks from both the outside and the inside by key; with cylinder dead lock that unlocks from the outside by key and the inside by turn-piece, handle or knob; or with approved slide-bar bolt, crossbar and/or padlock. If padlock is used, it shall be of hardened steel shackle and pin-tumbler operation.

(2) On double doors, the active leaf shall be equipped with a type of lock as prescribed for single doors above, and the inactive leaf shall be equipped with flush bolts at head and foot.

(E) Outside hinges on all rear, side and basement doors shall be provided with non-removable pins.

(F) All rear and side entrances shall be lighted with an exterior light equivalent in candlepower to a 100-watt bulb. The light fixture shall be of a protected type.

(`83 Code, § 15.08.070)

(A) All glass skylights and all air ducts or air vent openings 8 inches by 12 inches on the roof of any building or premises used for business purposes and subject to the provisions of this chapter shall be provided with:

(1) Iron bars of at least ½-inch round or one inch by ¼-inch flat steel material over or under the skylight and securely fastened; or

(2) A steel grille of at least 1/8-inch material of two inches mesh over or under the skylight and securely fastened.

(B) All hatchway openings of the roof of any building or premises used for business purposes and subject to the provisions of this chapter shall be provided with security as follows:

(1) If the hatchway is of wooden material, it shall be covered on the inside with at least 16-gauge sheet steel attached with screws.

(2) Outside hinges on all hatchway openings shall be provided with non-removable pins.

(`83 Code, § 15.08.080)

(A) All windows located at the rear, on the side, or serving the basement of any building used for business purposes and subject to the provisions in this chapter shall be provided with:

(1) Iron bars of at least ½-inch round or one inch by ¼-inch flat steel material securely fastened on the inside or outside of the windows not accessible for removal from the outside; or

(2) A steel grille of at least 1/8-inch material of two-inch mesh on the inside, or outside windows not accessible for removal from the outside.

(B) Exception. Those windows which are at least 15 feet above the highest adjacent grade within ten feet measured horizontally from the windows; or 15 feet above the highest adjacent room, ledge, balcony, porch or any appendage within ten feet measured horizontally from said windows.

(`83 Code, § 15.08.090)