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Virginia Administrative Code
Title 6. Criminal Justice And Corrections
Agency 15. State Board of Local and Regional Jails
Chapter 81. Standards for Planning, Design, Construction, and Reimbursement of Local Correctional Facilities
12/26/2024

6VAC15-81-940. Doors and frames - security and nonsecurity.

A. Security doors used where perimeter security and interior security walls are required shall be one of the following:

1. Hollow metal security doors shall meet the requirements of ASTM F1450 as follows:

a. Maximum security and perimeter security doors shall be ASTM Grade 1.

b. Doors in interior security walls and associated with medium security housing shall be ASTM Grade 2 or better.

c. Minimum security doors shall be ASTM Grade 3 or better, except doors shall be ASTM Grade 2 or better if in interior security walls.

2. Bar grille doors shall include double ribbed steel bars measuring 7/8-inch diameter at five inches on center with flat steel crossbars measuring 3/8-inch by 2-1/4 inches at 18 inches on center with punched holes for ribbed bars at five inches on center. Door frames shall be installed in accordance with Hollow Metal Manufacturers Association (HMMA) 863 and ASTM F1450.

3. Woven rod door.

a. Woven rod door frames shall be constructed of tubular shaped 12-gage steel channel or 3/16-inch right-angle bent steel plate, punched to receive woven rods.

b. The cap channel shall be 12-gage steel plate.

c. The woven rod door mesh shall be 3/8-inch in diameter steel rod woven at two inches on center each way and double crimped.

d. Welds shall be placed a minimum on every other rod where it cannot be accessed by the inmate.

e. The frame shall be mounted into a 10-gage formed steel channel, expansion anchored to the wall, and field welded to the mount channel.

f. Door frames shall be installed in accordance with HMMA 863 and ASTM F1450.

4. Access opening protection.

a. Access panels, doors, frames, locks, and hardware shall at a minimum be equivalent to the security level of the wall, roof, or floor where they are installed.

b. Steel plate doors may be used as an alternate. If used, access doors or panels shall meet the following requirements:

(1) Shall be a minimum of 3/16-inch thick plate steel.

(2) Shall have minimum of 3/16-inch bent steel plate or equivalent rolled steel shape door frame. Each jamb for security access openings shall be anchored with wall anchors not to exceed 18 inches on center with a minimum of two wall anchors per jamb.

(3) Frame and bracing shall be sufficient to prevent the door or panels from flexing or warping from abuse.

B. Nonsecurity doors shall be steel commercial grade minimum 1-3/4 inches thick hollow metal doors with 16-gage face sheets with rigid inner core. Frames shall be commercial grade 14-gage hollow metal or equal.

C. Solid core wood doors are an acceptable alternative as a nonsecurity door in walls designated as nonsecure.

D. Additional features.

1. Where doors and hardware are required by the building code to be fire-rated construction, such construction shall not reduce or compromise the security requirements or present a hindrance to emergency evacuation.

2. Security frames shall be completely filled with 3,000 psi fine grout meeting the requirements of ASTM C476.

3. Doors for any room utilized by inmates shall open out away from the inmate occupied side.

4. Doors in inmate occupied areas shall not have loop pulls on the inside of the door. Finger pulls are recommended in those locations.

5. Passproof thresholds shall be installed at doors to prevent passing of contraband between housing units.

6. Sliding doors, door mechanisms, and food passes shall be oriented and installed to minimize inmate interference with door operation.

Statutory Authority

§§ 53.1-5, 53.1-80, and 53.1-82 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 34, Issue 12, eff. March 8, 2018.

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