(A) Scope. All dwelling units within the City shall meet the minimum requirements as set forth herein except structures which, although providing sleeping accommodations, are primarily used for:
(1) Medical care or other treatment of individuals suffering from physical or mental illness, disease or infirmity;
(2) The care of infants, convalescents, or the elderly;
(3) Penal or corrective purposes; and
(4) Hotel or motel purposes and which provide temporary sleeping accommodations for hire used by transients with or without meals.
(B) Alternative Materials And Methods Of Construction. The provisions of this section are not intended to prevent the use of any material or method of structural design or analysis not specifically prescribed herein, provided any such alternate is substantiated by suitable evidence.
(C) Approval Of Alternate Material Or Method. The Building and Inspection Department may approve any such alternate material or method provided the proposed design is satisfactory and the material or method of work offered is, for the purposes intended, at least equivalent of that prescribed in this section.
(D) Definitions. For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply:
CYLINDER. The part of a lock set that has an entrance for the key which thereby activates the locking mechanism.
CYLINDER GUARD. A hardened ring surrounding the exposed portion of the lock cylinder or other device which is so fastened as to protect the cylinder from wrenching, prying, cutting or pulling at attack tools.
DEAD BOLT LOCK. A locking device with a bolt that has no automatic spring action and which is operated manually by a key cylinder on its exterior side and by a knob, thumb turn, or lever on its interior side, and a bolt that is positively held fast when in the projected position (also known as deadlock).
DORMITORY. A building, not open to transients, where lodging is provided for ten (10) or more non-family persons, and no kitchen facilities other than one central kitchen facility, are provided any dwelling unit occupied by persons other than management personnel.
FLUSH OR SURFACE BOLT. A deadlock normally used on inactive door(s) that is attached to the top and bottom and/or side of the door and engages in the frame and/or base of the door.
HOOK OR EXPANDING BOLT. A dead bolt lock in which the bolt or bolts interlock with the strike plate into which the bolt or bolts are projected.
LOCKING DEVICE. A mechanical implement or combination of mechanical implements attached to the door, window or other access points of a building or structure which is designed to prevent unauthorized persons from entering the building or structure through the door, window, or other access point on which the locking device is activated.
SINGLE CYLINDER LOCKING DEVICE. A bolt that is activated on its exterior side by a key and on its interior side by a knob, thumb turn, lever or similar mechanism.
THROW. The outward movement of a bolt or spring bolt which is measured by the distance which such a bolt travels, i.e., when the bolt or spring bolt is moved from the open position to the locked position (extended), it is said to have been thrown.
(E) Security Standards. Except as otherwise herein provided, exterior doors serving as the required means of egress to the exterior of a multiple dwelling, dormitory and rooming house shall comply with the provisions of the edition of the International Building Code which has been adopted by the City of Mt. Vernon. All other doors to individual dwelling units shall comply with the following provisions:
(1) Doors to individual dwelling units shall meet the following security standards:
(a) Single doors shall be secured with a single cylinder locking device. In addition, if requested in writing by a tenant, each single door shall also be secured with a deadbolt lock having a minimum throw of one inch or a hook or an expanding bolt with a throw of 3/4 inch provided that the type of lock shall be at the election of the landlord with the cost of the lock and installation thereof to be paid by the tenant and provided that upon installation of such additional locking device the locking device shall become the property of the landlord and shall thereafter remain installed and be maintained by the landlord so that it is functional. All locking devices required herein shall have bolts that contain hardened material to repel attempts at cutting through the bolt.
(b) On pairs of doors, the active leaf shall be secured with the type lock required for single doors in subsection (E)(1)(a) of this section. The inactive leaf shall be equipped with flush or surface bolts protected by hardened material with a minimum throw of three-fourths inch (3/4”) at the head and foot of the door. Multiple point locks, cylinder activated from the active leaf and complying with subsection (E)(1)(a) of this section and the requirements herein, may be used in lieu of flush bolts.
(c) Exterior doors to individual dwelling units shall have rabbeted jambs which are reinforced at the point where the required lock engages the jamb.
(d) Firmly secured metal strike plates are required on the jambs of all doors and are to be located at the point when the required lock engages the jamb.
(e) Locking devices and parts of locking devices shall not be used if they bear any numbers or letter which would reveal a combination from which the key or similar control device could be fashioned or selected which could deactivate the locking device.
(2) All patio type of sliding doors opening onto patios or balconies which are accessible from the outside shall comply with the following requirements:
(a) Patio type or sliding doors shall not be used or installed as exterior doors for the main entrance of any individual dwelling unit.
(b) All single sliding patio doors shall have the movable section of the door sliding on the inside of the fixed portion of the door, except as provided in subsection (B) of this section.
(c) Dead bolt locks shall be provided on all single sliding patio doors. If the lock is operable from the outside, it shall be activated by a key utilizing a cylinder of pin tumbler construction. Mounting screws for the lock case shall be inaccessible from the outside. Lock bolts shall be of hardened steel or have hardened steel inserts and shall be capable of withstanding a force of three hundred (300) pounds applied in any direction. The lock bolt shall engage the strike sufficiently to prevent its being disengaged by any possible movement of the door within the space or clearances provided for installation and operation. The strike area shall be reinforced to maintain effectiveness of bolt strength. In lieu of providing a dead bolt lock that meets the requirements of this subsection, a single sliding patio door may utilize a removable physical barrier (such as a rod or pipe of substantial construction) of suitable and functional length that is manually placed within the tract of the sliding patio door to securely block the patio door closed.
(d) Double sliding patio doors must be locked at the meeting rail and meet the locking requirements as specified in subsection (E)(1)(b) of this section.
(e) Alternate methods for securing doors with movable sections of the door sliding on the outside of the fixed portion of the door must be approved by the building official.
(3) Any exterior door and any garage door or other inside door leading to the common areas of any multiple dwelling, dormitory or rooming house or to a garage attached to any dwelling unit, which has outside hinge pins shall be secured by a minimum of two (2) safety hinge studs or hinges having non-removable hinge pins, one hinge above and one below the center of any locking device.
(4) (a) Parking facilities either under or within the confines of the perimeter walls of any dwelling unit, multiple-family dwelling, dormitory, or rooming house which are equipped with any garage door shall be so equipped that such doors are capable of being locked. Specific locking devices to be employed shall be of one or more of the following types:
1. throw bolt or flush bolt,
2. dead bolt,
3. cylinder type lock,
4. padlock and hasp,
5. or an electronic power operated mechanism with automatic locking capabilities.
(b) When a padlock type locking device is used, the slide bolt or hasp and shackle to which the padlock is attached shall be constructed of hardened steel and shall be installed so that it cannot be removed when the door is closed and the padlock is activated.
(5) All exterior windows other than fixed windows or those designed not to be opened, less than twelve feet (12’) off ground level or any other accessible exterior level shall comply with the following requirements:
(a) Windows shall be so constructed that when the window is locked it cannot be lifted from the frame.
(b) All windows shall be equipped with a locking device which shall be capable of withstanding a force of one hundred fifty (150) pounds applied in any direction, and all locks should fully engage.
(Prior Code, Art. 10A, § 10-13)