UNIVERSITY SECURITY BARRIER ISSUES
INTRODUCTION
1. Eliminate Non-Student Access to Residence Hall Rooms
2. Control Student Access Through Residence Hall Windows
3. Reduce Window Breakage
4. Provide Maintenance-Free Insect Protection
5. Satisfy Local Fire Code Regulations
6. Maintain Historic Architecture
7. Secure Windows on High Rise Residence Halls
8. Accommodate Window Air Conditioners
9. Choose the Right "Screening" Material
UNIVERSITY BARRIER PRODUCT ISSUES
1. Select a HUD Certified Security Barrier
2. Aluminum Security Frames
3. Life Safety Emergency Releases
4. Infill
5. Finish Options
UNIVERSITY SECURITY BARRIER ISSUES
There are nine basic issues that concern the use of security barriers on residence hall windows. These issues are not only concerned with security, but also how barriers impact insect control, emergency egress, maintenance costs and aesthetics.
1. Eliminate Non-Student Access to Residence Hall Rooms
The degree of access to university facilities by non-students depends on the location of the university and the type of security measures that have been put in place. City schools have been aware of security issues for years and many schools have taken specific actions. These include perimeter fencing, guarded entrances, new outdoor lighting, emergency call boxes, magnetic card readers, expanded police patrols as well as security barriers on residence halls.
Security barriers and screens are used primarily to control access through windows. The barriers and screens are designed to meet different applications depending on the frames, hardware and infill. The following list describes the different applications usually specified for university situations:
Exterior Applications
Eliminate Non-Student Access to 1ST Floor Residence Hall Rooms
Reduce Window Breakage
Protect Computer/Media Labs
Secure Secluded Residence Hall Rooms
Satisfy Local Fire Code Regulations
Accommodate Window Air Conditioners
The Crime Shield® Security Barrier provides exterior high security while blending seamlessly with the building. Its unique "Patented Framing System" completely captures the barrier panel preventing intrusion by pry bars or screwdrivers. The barrier can accommodate a tamper-evident sticker or a plastic breakaway tamper tag so that unauthorized opening can be detected.
Model # E-C2I-P8-O
Interior Applications
Eliminate Non-Student Access to 1ST Floor Residence Hall Rooms
Reduce Window Breakage
Maintain Historic Architecture
With a sightline of only 2 7/16" the Exeter Narrowline Security Screen addresses those difficult interior window security applications. The high strength tubular steel main frame and perforated steel infill can secure double hung or slider type windows.
Model # E-NR5-P6-O
Secure Windows in High Rise Residence Halls
Protecting students in high rise residence halls has become a major concern on campus. Securing windows so that students can not throw debris out or even climb from one room to another can be achieved by using the Exeter Fixed Frame NarrowLine Security Screen. These screens can be placed over the operable portion of a double hung or slider type window. The window can still be operated to allow ventilation, while keeping the student secure.
Model # E-NRB-P6-Z
2. Control Student Access Through Residence Hall Windows
The best laid plans can be compromised if students leave doors, security barriers or windows open and unlocked. Security barriers installed over residence hall windows usually need to have emergency releases to meet local fire codes. This means students can open the screens from the inside at any time, potentially compromising security.
To deal with unauthorized opening, the barriers can be sealed with a tamper-evident sticker or tear-away plastic tag. While this does not prevent the barrier from being opened it does let the staff know when a screen has been opened. Some schools have instituted student fines. However, when students are informed of the benefits of a secure building, it is rarely a problem.
3. Reduce Window Breakage
Window breakage can become a maintenance headache, whether horseplay, sports activities or vandalism causes it. An added benefit of installing security barriers is the elimination of broken windows where the security barriers are installed at least 1 ½" from the glass.
4. Provide Maintenance-Free Insect Protection
In areas where insects like flies, mosquitoes and bees are a problem, a fine mesh, commercial grade, fiberglass insect screen can be installed directly behind the perforated steel panel. Stainless steel wire cloth, which is insect resistant, is an optional infill for the NarrowLine Security Screens. In either case, they eliminate the constant maintenance problem of repairing insect screens.
5. Satisfy Local Fire Code Regulations
Local fire code regulations vary considerably around the country. The Crime Shield Security Barrier is designed with a pull type, single point release. When activated by the student the barrier swings free of the subframe, offering instant egress from the room. In addition a "Tamper Shield" is fitted in front of the single point release to thwart unauthorized opening from the exterior.
The Steel NarrowLine Security Screen has a standard lift type, single point release. The student simply lifts on the handle and the two steel latches retract and the screen swings free for egress. The NarrowLine is also fitted with a "Tamper Shield." The lift release is adaptable for interior or exterior installations.
6. Maintain Historic Architecture
Maintaining the character of the university's architecture is an important issue on many campuses. At a minimum no one wants their campus to have a "fortress" look. For most buildings, doing several things can minimize the visual impact of an exterior mounted barrier:
1. Choose a barrier with a narrow sight line. Exeter's designs can provide high security levels while providing a total installed frame width of about only 3 1/2 inches.
2. The barrier frame should be painted to match the color of the existing window frame. Exeter can provide custom colors or anodized finishes.
3. The perforated steel panel or stainless steel wire cloth infill should be painted black to make it "disappear" visually.
However, in some cases the historic characteristics of the building are so distinctive that any exterior mounted barrier would greatly detract from the architecture. In these cases Exeter can provide the interior mounted Steel NarrowLine Security Screen. The narrow sight line and black painted infill render the screen almost invisible from the exterior. The specific design depends on the type of window, location of window latches, interior obstructions and fire codes.
7. Secure Windows on High Rise Residence Halls
Protecting students in high rise residence halls has become a major concern on campus. Securing windows so that students can not throw debris out or even climb from one room to the other can be achieved by using the Steel NarrowLine Fixed Frame Security Screen. By using a stainless steel wire cloth infill, the screen can also eliminate replacing costly insect screens. The NarrowLine can be placed over the operable portion of a double hung window or slider type window on the interior. The window can still be operated to allow ventilation, while keeping the students secure. An ideal solution for high rise residence halls.
8. Accommodate Window Air Conditioners
In some schools faculty housing, administrative facilities or off-campus apartments allow room air conditioners. Exeter can supply barriers with "split" operating frames that allow the barrier to be folded out of the way when air conditioners are in use and be returned to their normal positions when air conditioners are removed. This solves the problem of lost or damaged screens and insures whether the air conditioning units are installed or not.
9. Choose the Right "Screening" Material
Visually Correct Barriers
Crime Shield® Security Barriers let in as much light as normal insect screening. It's 63% open. As a result interior rooms are bright and cheerful. Exeter recommends using 18 gauge stainless steel perforated panels. The pattern of the perforated panel works visually so that there is no closed in or institutional feeling. The eye focuses directly on the exterior, ignoring the barrier.
Stainless Steel Infill
18 gauge stainless steel perforated panel or 12 mesh .028 stainless steel wire cloth meet the most rigorous demands of college life, objects thrown at the barrier and prying with large screwdrivers. Stainless steel does not corrode, thereby reducing maintenance and replacement.
BARRIER PRODUCT ISSUES
Security barriers are made from different materials, come in different finishes and have different types of hardware. The discussion below outlines the choices that need to be specified.
1. Select a HUD Certified Security Barrier
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in conjunction with the Screen Manufacturers Association (SMA) has developed a program for testing and certification to insure security screens and barriers meet real world performance standards. The screens are certified "LIGHT," "MEDIUM" or "HEAVY." Exeter screens and barriers meet the toughest standard of all "HEAVY."
"HEAVY" performance criteria are as follows:
IMPACT TEST - Resist 100 ft-lbs. of force without stretching the infill material more than 3 inches and without tearing the infill at any point.
FORCED ENTRY TEST - Resist a prying load of 150 pounds and simultaneous pulling load of 300 pounds without springing the lock or bending the frame.
SAG TEST - Resist 90 pounds of weight on the open frame with no more than .063" sag in the frame.
Exeter Crime Shield® Security Barriers and Narrowline Security Screens pass the "HEAVY" test and provide you with a high level of security. These tests should be performed by an independent testing laboratory and certified by an agency such as the National Accreditation Management Institute.
2. Aluminum Security Frames
Aluminum frames provide corrosion resistance, lower maintenance and are very strong. The Crime Shield® Barrier mainframe corners are welded for extra strength. The subframe corners are secured by an internal tension coupling, which is resistant to torsion and flexural failure. The perfect choice for exterior installations.
The Steel Narrowline Security Screen uses a 16 gauge galvanized steel tube for the mainframe. All other components are aluminum. The steel tube provides exceptional strength and rigidity. Both screens are HUD certified "HEAVY."
3. Life Safety Emergency Releases
Both the Crime Shield Barrier and Steel Narrowline Security Screen utilize a "Single Point Release." By "Single Point Release" we mean that the barrier or screen can be opened from a single release point. In the event of an emergency, simply pulling the mechanism can open the Crime Shield. The barrier pivots outward for instant egress.
The Steel Narrowline uses a "Roto-Lift" single point release. Two steel latches retain the mainframe of the screen within the subframe. When the "Roto-Lift" is activated the latches retract and the screen swings open. All "Single Point Releases" are clearly marked in red on the barrier/ screen.
Both the Crime Shield and the Narrowline have a tamper shield installed in front of the "Single Point Release" so that the barrier/screen can not be opened from the outside.
4. Infill
Perforated Panels
The stainless steel used in our perforated panel is 18 gauge thick. Round holes arranged in a standard 60-degree triangular pattern produce the strongest and most versatile perforated pattern. This is what Exeter uses. This pattern gives the perforated panel 63% open area airflow. The panels are coated with a black polyester powder coat finish to render them nearly invisible.
Wire Cloth
Stainless steel wire cloth used as an option on the NarrowLine Security Screen is 12 mesh .028 inch diameter. 12 mesh refers to the number of openings per inch. .028 refers to the diameter of the stainless steel wire that is used to weave the cloth. Over 70% of available light passes through the wire cloth. Tensile strength is 600 lbs. per lineal inch, which means it takes 600 pounds of force to get through the wire cloth. The same wire cloth is used in prison environments.
5. Finish Options
Polyester Powder Coating
The Exeter Powder Coat Finish System uses industrial thermoplastic polyester powder coatings selected for their excellent resistance to corrosion, pitting and scratching.
Surface Preparation:
5 step bonderizing process.
1. Chemical cleaning to remove surface contaminates
2. Pre-treatment etching
3. Corrosion resistance bath
4. Rinse cycle
5. Sealer Coat
Finish Coat:
1. Electrostatically applied polyester powder coat
2. Bake cycle - 20 minutes at 375 degrees
Standard Colors:
White
Beige
Grey
Dark Bronze
Black
Custom colors are available for an additional cost.
Aluminum barriers and screens can also be finished with an anodized or bronze duranodic finish, at an additional cost.