scope:

INTRODUCTION

COMMERCIAL SECURITY HOLLOW METAL SYSTEMS

For many years, hollow metal door and framing systems have been used as the primary and initial defense against forced entry. Architects, specifiers, and end users have come to understand the advantages of using hollow metal doors and frames in commercial security applications, such as, airports, convention centers, hotels, and offices, and in foreign and domestic government buildings such as, embassies, offices, and barracks.

This standard, ANSI/NAAMM HMMA 862-03, has been developed to provide guidance in the specification of commercial security hollow metal doors and frames where protection from vandalism, forced entry, theft, and firearms attack is a paramount concern.

It is necessary when writing a commercial security specification to keep in mind the security aspects of the entire opening - door, frame, hardware, glazing and wall construction. The test performance criteria set forth in this document simulates the "total opening" and its ability to frustrate forced entry, and ballistic penetration.

DESIGN VERSATILITY

Commercial hollow metal construction provides the architect with a great deal of freedom in the design of hollow metal products. The architect can also take advantage of the expertise acquired by those hollow metal manufacturers experienced in commercial security work. Over the years NAAMM/HMMA manufacturers have developed advanced methods and equipment enabling them to efficiently manufacture hollow metal assemblies, which address today's difficult commercial security applications. These applications include working with the latest in burglary and bullet resisting hardware and security glazing. A number of these manufacturers offer proven economical and functional designs of commercial security hollow metal systems.

EVALUATING COMMERCIAL SECURITY HOLLOW METAL SYSTEMS

In order to evaluate the performance of commercial security hollow metal, it has been necessary to develop testing methods which simulate in the laboratory the system's ability to frustrate attacks initiated by unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled burglars and/or the system's ability to resist ballistic penetrations. One objective of this development work is to provide a standardized means of measuring performance which architects can call for in their specifications. Another objective is to provide manufacturers standardized means of testing and inspecting their products, improving their designs and maintaining high quality construction. Finally, maintenance of rigorous standards and methods of testing construction and performance gives assurance of protection to the end user and the public in general. The performance requirement and methods of testing set forth in this voluntary standard will go a long way towards realizing the stated objectives.

TESTING

This standard for commercial security hollow metal has been developed to allow architects to specify doors and frames based on the level of security required for specific openings. There are six Security Rating Classifications, 1 being the lowest or least secure, and 6 being the highest rating. This standard considers two conditions, Forced Entry Resistance and Ballistic Resistance. There are tests described by this specification which shall be conducted in accordance with; ASTM F476, "Standard Test Methods for Security of Swinging Door Assemblies"; SD-STD-01.01, Revision G, 1993; "Certification Standard on Forced Entry and Ballistic Resistance of Structural Systems"; UL Standard 752, "Bullet Resisting Equipment"; and LPS 1175: Issue 5 (2000), "Specification for Testing and Classifying the Burglary Resistance of Building Components, Strong Points and Security Enclosures". A brief description of the tests follows:

1) Bullet resistance tests

2) Door static load test

3) Door assembly impact testing Soft body impact attack test Class 1, 2, 3 Hard body impact attack test Class 4, 5, 6

4) Removable glazing stop test for vision systems

5) Forced entry

6) Jamb/wall stiffness test

7) Edge crush test

The bullet resistance test is conducted in accordance with UL Standard 752 and SD-STD-1.01, Rev. G. These standards cover bullets fired from super power rated handguns to high-powered rifles using armor-piercing ammunition. "Bullet resisting" signifies protection against complete penetration, passage of fragments of projectiles, or spalling (fragmentation) of the protective material to the degree that injury would be caused to a person standing directly behind the bullet resisting barrier.

Under the static load test, a door complete with hardware is mounted in its frame with the entire assembly in the vertical position so that the door and locking elements are operable. The assembly is then subjected to a series of static loads. The test performance standard requires that the door not exceed a specified maximum deflection when a specified load is applied.

The impact test provides a realistic measure of an assembly's ability to withstand the treatment it can receive under attempted forced entry using simulated ramming techniques. Using an assembly prepared exactly as identified in the static load tests, the assembly is subjected to a series of impacts using either a soft body ram (simulating a person using a shoulder to gain entry) or hard body ram (simulating a person using a sledge hammer to gain entry). The removable glazing stops test is also done with impact loads. Its purpose is to assure that the glazing stops used in the frame, when fastened in place, are at least equal to the strength of the security glazing they support.

The jamb/wall stiffness test gauges the frame assembly's ability to withstand prying pressure apparent when trying to disengage the lock bolt from the strike.

The edge crush test gauges the door's ability to withstand prying pressure apparent when trying to disengage the lock bolt from the frame.

The forced entry attack tests demonstrate a "real world" battery of tests where a person(s) actually attacks the face of the assembly and the hinge and locking elements using a host of tools and equipment provided for by the rating classification required.

CONSTRUCTION

The construction of commercial security hollow metal varies much depending upon the rating classification required. Also many manufacturers that have tested to these standards guard the construction of their products with patents or proprietary information. The ensuing specification denotes recommended material thickness, how the doors and frames shall be welded, how stiffeners shall be attached to the face sheets, how and where hardware reinforcements shall be used, and how the product shall be finished and packaged for shipment. Such prescriptive requirements are not intended to restrict innovative design. This is essentially a performance based specification, and alternative construction shall be permitted so long as the manufacturer demonstrates successful completion of the prescribed test requirements.