Richmond Municipal Code Ch. 6.32 Building Security Code

Footnotes:

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Editor's note— Prior ordinance history: Ordinance No. 6-73 N.S. as amended by Ordinance No. 22-73 N.S.

These regulations shall be known as the "Building Security Code," may be cited as such, and will be referred to herein as "this chapter."

This code is one of the technical codes of Building Regulations and is administered under Chapter 6.02 of the Municipal Code of the City of Richmond as such.

The purpose of this chapter is to regulate commercial, industrial and dwelling buildings, located within this city by requiring the owners thereof to comply with the structural specifications set forth in this chapter in order to assist in making such buildings more secure against burglaries and other unlawful trespasses.

The Uniform Security Code, most recent edition as of January 1st of any year published by the International Conference of Building Officials is adopted by reference the same as though fully set forth in this chapter.

Three copies of the Uniform Security Code as adopted by Section 6.32.030, and all amendments thereto, shall be kept on file in the office of the City Clerk for inspection by the public.

The specifications in the following schedule are in addition to the "Uniform Building Security Code." These security specifications shall be complied with whenever any of the items of equipment listed in said schedule are installed on any building for which a permit for construction is required under Chapter 6.02 of the Richmond Municipal Code with the following exception:

EXCEPTION: Group R, Division 3 Occupancies.

(A) Exterior Door. Each exterior door shall be equipped with a double cylinder deadbolt that unlocks from both the inside and outside by a key or with a single cylinder deadbolt without a turn piece. In the case of each exterior glass rail door, the above equipment shall be installed at both the top and bottom rails. Glass panels in exterior doors and glass panels within forty inches reach of the inside locking mechanism of any exterior door shall be resistant to burglary. Each exterior door shall be illuminated with an intensity of not less than five foot candle power within a three foot horizontal radius of the locking mechanism of the door.

(B) Exterior Double Door. Each exterior double door shall be equipped in the manner required in Paragraph (A) of this section. Flush bolts in the inactive leaf at the top and bottom of each door shall be equipped with a five-eighths inch throw or a multiple point lock activated by the cylinder of the active leaf.

(C) Exterior Overhead Door. Each exterior overhead door shall meet one of the following criteria:

1. Be controlled or locked by electrical power equipment;

2. Be hand chain operated and equipped with a hardened steel keeper pin for securing the chain;

3. Be secured with a cylinder lock;

4. Have a means for securing the crank where the door is crank operated; or

5. Be secured with a 5 pin or lever operated padlock with a hardened steel shackle which has a nonremovable key when in the unlocked position; provided that such padlock shall have all keying numbers obliterated when locked on the outside and that the padlock hasps shall be of hardened steel and installed so that the hasps' screws are concealed when in the locked position.

(D) Exterior Windows, Skylights and Transoms. Each accessible exterior window or transom, as defined below, on the rear and side of each building and each skylight shall be secured in one of the following ways:

1. The glazing and window assembly shall be of burglary resistant construction;

2. It shall be protected by hardened steel bars of one-half inch fiat steel material spaced five inches apart as approved by the Fire Marshal;

3. It shall be protected by iron or steel grills one-eighth inch round of two inch mesh as approved by the Fire Marshal; or

4. It shall be protected by security screening as approved by the Fire Marshal.

If the window or skylight barrier is on the exterior, the barrier shall be secured with carriage bolts. An exterior window or transom shall be deemed accessible if it is less than eighteen feet from the ground level or within ten feet of adjacent structures or within common areas such as hallways and corridors.

(E) Exterior Hatchway. Each exterior hatchway shall lock from the inside with a slide bolt.

(F) Exterior Air Duct or Vent. Each exterior air duct or vent opening which exceeds forty square inches shall be secured in one of the ways specified in items (2) through (4) of paragraph (D) of this section. Fire Marshal approval not required for this paragraph.

(G) Exterior Lighting. Every parking lot and the exterior portion of commercial and industrial buildings shall be illuminated with an intensity of at least one and one-half foot candle power. The address of all buildings shall be illuminated so that it shall be easily visible from the street.

(H) Safes. Each safe that is installed in a commercial or industrial building shall be placed where it is clearly visible from the street and shall be securely fastened to the floor if the net weight thereof is less than one thousand pounds or when the safe rests upon wheels or dollies. Each such safe shall be illuminated with an intensity of at least three foot candle power at the portions thereof which are visible from the outside of the building.

BUILDING, COMMERCIAL means a building or portion thereof used as a business for profit or nonprofit, including schools and churches.

BUILDING, INDUSTRIAL means a building, all or a portion of which is used in the manufacturing of goods or products for profit or nonprofit.

BURGLARY RESISTANT means materials capable of resisting the act of burglary as approved by an approved testing agency; or the Building Official; or the Fire Marshal; or the Chief of Police, of the City of Richmond.

LOCK means a device for fastening, joining, or engaging two or more objects, and in a locked or fastened condition limits, and in an unlocked position permits relative movement or separation of the objects, and includes a means to operate the device into the locked or unlocked position.

SECURITY SCREENING means wire cloth screening or equivalent material capable of withstanding five fifty foot pound impacts.

For the hearing of appeals as relating to this chapter the Chief of Police shall be added as a member of the Appeals Board provided for in Chapter 6.02 of the Municipal Code of the City of Richmond.

(Source: Ordinance No. 20-86 N.S.)