Life Safety- Whats more important than getting out? __~NOTHING

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT SCIF CONSTRUCTION

Q.  If a room has less than 20 occupants, is it excluded from the means of egress – single-motion lock regulations?
A. Rooms in the means of egress- even those with only one occupant-or no regular occupants, are included in the rules covering the means of egress locks.

Q.  Do I need two exits from a room with 80 occupants?
A .   Not necessarily, NFPA 101 states:
39.2.4.3 A single exit shall be permitted for a room or area with a total occupant load of fewer than 100 persons, provided that the following criteria are met: The room is small enough that it does not exceed the maximum travel distance for the occupancy, if it is a high hazard area, or if it is a meeting room for 50 people or more.

Q.   If I have a room with two exits but only 40 occupants, do both exits need to conform to the single-motion lock rules for the means of egress?
A .   No.   You need two means of egress only if you have 100 or more occupants; or the room is small enough so that it does not exceed the maximum travel distance for the specific occupancy; or if it is a high hazard area; or it is a meeting room for 50 or more people.   However, the second door must still meet the general requirement for two locks.

7.2.1.5.9*   A latch or other fastening device on a door shall be provided with a releasing device that has an obvious method of operation and that is readily operated under all lighting conditions.

Q.   What is the maximum travel distance for existing business occupancies?
A . 39.2.6.2* In existing buildings not protected by an approved supervised automatic sprinkler system, the maximum travel distance is 200 ft. (61m)
39.2.6.1*   In existing buildings protected by an approved supervised automatic sprinkler system, the maximum travel distance is 300 ft. (91m)

Q.   How do you measure travel distance to exits according to NFPA 101?
A . 7.6.1* The travel distance to an exit shall be measured on the floor or other walking surface as follows.

(1)   Along the centerline of the natural path of travel, starting from the most remote point subject to occupancy.         
(2)   Curving around any corners or obstructions, with a 12-in (305-mm) clearance there from. (3)   Terminating at one of the following
      (a) Center of the doorway

      (b) Other point at which the exit begins

     (c) Smoke barrier in an existing detention and correctional occupancy as provided in Chapter 23.

Q.   Are these single-motion egress regulations old regulations, or are they relatively new?
A .   These regulations are not new. They have been in effect for many years. The clarification of these regulations by NFPA and the National Association of Fire Marshals, and the subsequent increased emphasis being placed on the training program for Fire Marshals to help them enforce the means of egress rules during both site certifications and regular inspections, are new. Also new is the increased attention being placed by customers and certification specifiers.

Q.   Why can't you have a combination lock such as an XO9 on the same door as a leverset?   The combination lock isn't supposed to be locked when the room is occupied.  
A .   The primary reason is because the NFPA has ruled that a combination lock is considered to be a second lock.   The reasoning behind this ruling is that it is always possible that any “spin dial” lock can be “spun off” while people are inside, or even slamming the door could cause a worn combination lock to lock.  

Q.   I understand that when new regulations come out such as converting to single-motion Egress Locks, that the old locks are grandfathered until they are in need of repair or replacement.
A .   You are correct that in certain cases such as GSA Containers that still have the old mechanical combination locks instead of the KABA MASXO9 Electronic Combo Locks, that “grandfathering” is allowed as you described.   The NFPA 101 Regulations on Single-motion Egress, is however, a life safety regulation not a security regulation, and as a result grandfathering is not allowed.    

Q.   I am planning to build out our third floor corporate headquarters in Virginia and part of the build-out will involve a new five door SCIF. My problem is that not all of the doors are the same.   We need Prox Readers and XO9 Combination locks on two doors, but for the other three doors we want to be able to go out, but not come back in.   How can I handle that?   Do I put exit bars but no exterior hardware on those three doors?
A .   On the two doors that require XO9 Combo Locks and hookup to the proximity card readers, I recommend using the LKM 7003 with XO9 Combination Lock and Key Bypass Cylinder.   Those two locks can be wired into your card access system and will, of course, be deadbolts not deadlatches.

On the other hand, for the three doors where you need exit-only locks, I would not recommend exit bars since they use deadlatches not deadbolts to lock and, therefore, do not meet DOD Regulations on open storage of classified information.

Instead, I would suggest you consider using the LKM 7002 exit-only lock which has no exterior handle, or key but does use a deadbolt to lock with; thus meeting all DOD and NFPA 101 Regulations.  

Q.   Can you repair the LKM 7000 and the KABA MAS-Linked Bar if we have a breakdown?
A .   We can easily repair the LKM 7000 because the parts are readily available from Lockmasters.   The KABA MAS-Linked Bar, on the other hand, comes as a complete unit with a monarch electrified exit bar, a power supply and a modified CDXO9 and individual repair parts are generally not available.

Q.   What if we had an LKM 7003 with the XO9 Combo Lock door without a card reader, and at a later date, we decided to change our minds and install a card reader, would we need to buy a whole new LKM 7000 with electronic capabilities?
A .   No.   All LKM 7000 Series Deadbolt Locks come with electronic capabilities built in.   To convert to a card reader all that is required is to wire the card reader to the LKM 7003.

Q.   Who may install a SCIF intrusion detection system?
A.   Any licensed alarm installer can. But in order to receive a UL accreditation for your CSA you need to have a UL2050 certified installer and central monitoring station.

Q:   What type of intrusion detection system can you use in a SCIF
A.   Any UL2050 accredited intrusion system with 128bit encrypted communications to the central monitoring station.

Q.   May multiple SCIF rooms be run off the same IDS panel?
A.   Yes. But you may want to have each room armed/disarmed by a separate keypad. Also, if the room containing the IDS panel is declassified, you will have to redo the security for all the other rooms.

Q.   What form do you use to apply for SCIF certification?
A.   An Underwriters Laboratories Alarm System Certificate Request. This should be supplied by your IDS security installer.

Q.   Who determines when and if your SCIF is certified?
A.   Once your SCIF is inspected by your CSA and has filled out their portion of the certificate request and mailed, it takes about a week to get your UL certificate.

Q.   What must you do yearly to maintain your SCIF certification?
A.   You must renew your UL certification.

Q.   How many times a year does your SCIF need to be inspected and tested?
A.   Semi- annually.

Q.   What other items are required for your SCIF certification?
A.   Guard response as well as a maintenance contract with 4 hour response time.