Page 165 - Security Today, July/August 2018

classroom? The shooter now has hostages with no simple or easy way for authorities to enter through the barricaded door.
What if a mischievous student actuates an active shooter barricade to bully or physically harm another student when the teacher leaves the classroom? Administrators are locked out, unable to render assis- tance to the victimized student. What then?
These important nuances must be considered by active shooter bar- ricade innovators if they want the fire code enforcers and public safety officers to allow active shooter barricades on K-12 classroom doors. The state of Kansas has been a leader in seeking active shooter barri- cade options that both protect students while at school and protect occupants in case of fire.
Likewise, code authors, enforcers and door and door hardware innovators must look beyond the effects of smoke and fire in educa- tional buildings. Yes, their track record in that context is excellent, but one could easily argue that their narrow, singular focus and blind-eye to a door’s secure-in-place purpose has resulted in the 134-to-0 score.
Their role in the defense of current fire codes is all but passive. The National Association of State Fire Marshals has issued formal positions through a Suggested Classroom Door Checklist against any secondary locking device or mechanism that restricts egress beyond a single motion. In June 2017, the NFPA 101 Technical Committee, responsible for authoring and amending the current Life Safety Code (the trade name for the codes that detail requirements for passive fire protection and more), heard arguments for and against language that would allow for second-motion egress on classroom doors in educational buildings.
The against-influencers, which includes many fire marshals and
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most door and door hardware manufacturers, won handily, preventing yet another step toward improving the score and allowing active shoot- er barricades in K-12 schools. While subtle, the celebratory nature of that win reflects an unhealthy disregard for the 134 or more victims of active shooters since 2000. This buys them another two years of the status quo—while students, staff and faculty die at the hands of active shooters in our schools. Who knew? Now you do.
MOVING FORWARD
The economics of viable active shooter barricades and single latching/ locking doors with sophisticated hardware provided by door and door hardware manufacturers cannot be ignored. After-market active shooter barricades are significantly less expensive to install than replacing all classroom doors with more integrated options, and some active shooter barricades offer greater life-saving potential through instant mass notification capabilities.
The NFPA has fast-tracked its first code memorandum, NFPA 3000, that spells out guidelines for first responders and volunteers in an active shooter emergency. Unfortunately, the document does nothing to pave the way for active shooter barricades in K-12 schools and falls way short of any substantial change to the status
quo—no active shooter barricades in schools.
How many more children, students, staff and fac- ulty must die in our schools before progress toward school safety is made? The goal is zero.
Dave Geenens is the President of Fire Door Solutions.
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