- Author
- Yancey, C. W. C.
- Title
- Test Methods for Detention and Correctional Facility Locks.
- Coporate
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD
- Sponsor
- National Institute of Justice, Washington, DC
- Report
- NISTIR 4975, November 1992, 51 p.
- Distribution
- Available from National Technical Information Service
- Contract
- LEAA-J-IAA-021-3
- Keywords
- correctional institutions | test methods | building technology | bullet resistance test | detention facilities | fire resistance test | impact test | lockbolt retraction test | locks | prisons
- Identifiers
- prisons; jails
- Abstract
- Draft test methods are presented for evaluating locks installed in detention and correctional facilities. The methods have been developed by ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) Committee F 33 on Detention and Correctional Facilities and are drafted in ASTM standard test method format. The NIST contribution to this effort is to assist the F 33 Committee in drafting, balloting and obtaining consensus approval for these test methods. Existing standards for residential and commercial locks have been reviewed to determine their applicability to the evaluation of locks subject to the abuse common to detention and correctional facilities. Synopses of relevant standards are presented in this report. A case is made for performing laboratory tests on prototype locks to quantify current performance levels and to establish a classification system for detention facility locks. Gaps in the knowledge base are identified and recommendatons are advanced for performing a series of cyclical operations, impact and lockbolt retraction tests. The results from the recommended laboratory test program would be used to prepare a minimum performance standard for promulgation by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ). To ensure broad application of the NIJ standard, the test results would feed directly into standards-making activities of ASTM Committee F 33.