16 May Security of the Premises Part 2 | Owner Update
Barriers to Entry
In addition to recently enacted State of California law regarding deadbolts on entry doors, there are also City Building Code security standards. Most City and County building codes set minimum standards for entry doors. These standards require specific characteristics like a solid core so it cannot be easily kicked in. Other door regulations may require a minimum one or two-hour fire rating (this is the time it would take a fire to burn through the door). These standards are legislative protection guaranteeing safe practices that should be in place regardless of the law. Certain municipalities require a ‘peephole’ device in the door to allow someone inside the home to verify who is outside the door without opening the door.
Windows are another prime security risk to the resident tenant. Windows can be easily maneuvered to gain access to the unsuspecting home. Most cities have building codes that mandate minimum locking devices on windows. These minimums are typically very minimum. They require some sort of unspecified locking device on each window. Most factory-supplied windows with any latch comply with these minimum standards. The problem for the resident is that these minimums are often not enough in a high-crime neighborhood. Many aluminum frame windows can be removed by simply lifting them out of the track, even with the latch attached. Other older double-hung windows with a spring-loaded finger latch can be jimmied with a simple butter knife inserted between the frames.
The problem with windows is not only the security of the lock from outside tampering. Window latches can also be circumvented by breaking the glass, reaching into the interior, and opening the latch. The addition of keyed locking devices can address this problem. Most hardware stores have several varieties of key latches that make it impossible to open the window without the requisite key. However, these locks tend to be expensive and add enormous complexity to tenant change. Original keys must be retained for each window; tenant keys must be provided for each window, and missing keys must be replaced when the need arises. And some keyed window locks are virtually permanent when installed, making removal unsightly and unpleasant if keys are lost. Keyed window locks are expedient but not efficient.
The best security solution for first-floor windows and doors in high-crime neighborhoods is iron bars. When properly installed, iron bars provide the security tenants desire and the safety required by fire safety laws. Bars should always be professionally installed to ensure compliance with legal standards for access in the case of fire. These laws mandate an inside bar release mechanism that allows the bars to open in the case of a fire or other emergency. These release devices eliminate the stories we have all seen in the newspapers about families killed in a burning building, trapped like animals in a cage by window bars that could not be opened.
Crestwave Property Management, your Long Beach and Huntington Beach Property Management, company has you covered. Get in touch and we can help you ensure you’re compliant and your tenants are protected today!