In December of 2018, Campus Safety Magazine published an article discussing the potential problems associated with non-code-compliant classroom barricade devices. The publication shared that they would no longer accept advertising or sponsorships from companies manufacturing security products that did not comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) standards and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) codes. This decision was applauded by the ASIS International School Safety & Security Council, the Partner Alliance for Safer Schools (PASS), the Door Security and Safety Foundation (DSSF), and the Door and Hardware Institute (DHI).
After the November 2021 shooting at Oxford High School in Michigan, the Campus Safety article was reposted, with an update from the editor who referenced claims that barricade devices were used to keep the active shooter out of the classrooms during the shooting.
The article has recently been updated yet again, when an independent report on the 2021 Oxford shooting was released. The Campus Safety editor noted the report addresses when and how the barricade devices were deployed during the tragic mass shooting, while also explaining the challenges and unknown effects of the devices.
Click here to read the article and updates on Campus Safety’s website.
The full report on the Oxford investigation can be found here.
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I like the article in the article
https://www.campussafetymagazine.com/safety/classroom-barricade-devices/
We were given a presentation on a barricade device that met the code egress and access requirements but was mainly used with bored Locks and they could not demonstrate one with a mortise lock and that is 98% of my hardware, aside from exit devices. The product name was Flip Lok. Their advertisements do not show the egress and access hardware, only the barricade device itself. I am going to build a display to test it with a mortise lock. Still will not put it on any of our classroom but may use on dorm rooms or locations used to shelter in place in office suites.
Hi Richard –
I watched a few videos on their website, and the potential code issues I see are:
a) It takes more than one motion to unlatch the door if there is latching hardware in addition to the barricade device. The IBC and IFC require classroom doors to unlatch (all latches simultaneously) with one motion. NFPA 101 allows a second releasing motion but only for existing schools, and all other criteria must be met.
b) Beginning with the 2018 model codes, authorized access must be provided from the outside with a key, credential or other approved means. I’m not sure whether this product can be unlocked from the outside.
c) Some AHJs may consider this device as requiring special knowledge or effort, since the operation is not something that would be familiar to everyone.
d) While it might be beneficial to have a security device that could be used by anyone, these security methods could be deployed by an unauthorized person to secure a room.
And finally, a standard lockset will provide the necessary level of security without compromising egress.
– Lori
Lori,
The web site does not show how the devices fully work. They said they kept the information off of the site to prevent people that would want to defeat their devices from knowing exactly how they work.
There is a piece on the door that goes under the device that has two separate functions. One is it has a key that can be used from the outside to disengage the device. This same piece also connects to interior levers so that only one motion is needed to open the door. This means that there is no special knowledge required when exiting,
Since we use mortise locks on campus for 98% of our openings that do not require exit devices, it is not something that I plan on using for main campus.
In their presentation they discussed how recently during one of the active shooter events, the suspect shot through the latch of the bored lock to gain access. Not your normal occurrence in one of these incidents, but it can happen. The hardware meets all of the code requirements, but I think it should only be used in special circumstances where Bored locks are installed and there are no other options.
We just had a HM Door and frame with a mortise lock defeated with a pry-bar. It was a 30year old door and frame that wat in the que to be replaced and if the occupants had used the deadbolt on the mortise lock the door would not have been defeated.
Very interesting. I’d love to know where a shooter shot through a latch because I have not seen that in any of the after-action reports. Let me know how your testing goes!
– Lori
I went to Houston a couple of weeks ago to go over some of the design issues with the FLIPLOK device. I am presenting these to our elementary school this Friday. The company only has devices that worked with Bored locks and not mortise lock, but a good mortise lock with a deadbolt does not need anything extra. I will email you some of the information I have on the devices.