Access control panel circuit

[Tainted]

Does the access control panel need to be on a generator via a life safety panel? If it fails safe does it really matter? Before I had my PE I used to work with engineers that used to do this but now I'm questioning it

 

[JoeStillman]

You could make a case either way. "Fail Safe" isn't so safe when bad guys can access your building just by killing power.

 

[Tainted]

You could make a case either way. "Fail Safe" isn't so safe when bad guys can access your building just by killing power.

Building code here says you must ensure all doors open when there is no power. So I think building code just wants to make sure people get out and the fire department can get in.

 

[JoeStillman]

Does "When there is no power" mean "when you're on generator?"

 

[Tainted]

Does "When there is no power" mean "when you're on generator?"

It reads "Loss of power to the lock or locking system shall automatically unlock the doors."

found in NYC building code1010.1.9.8 Sensor Release of Electrically Locked Egress Doors

doesn't say anything about what source of power

 

[JoeStillman]

I think it's saying more about the lock than the power supply. To me, it just means you can't have fail-secure locks. You can still have a fail-safe lock and be on backup power.

 

[Tainted]

I think it's saying more about the lock than the power supply. To me, it just means you can't have fail-secure locks. You can still have a fail-safe lock and be on backup power.

Yea but what my question is really about is which of the 700, 701, 702 loads does the access control panel fall under?

 

[JoeStillman]

Yea but what my question is really about is which of the 700, 701, 702 loads does the access control panel fall under?

I would put it on the life safety panel. It's necessary for the safety and security of the occupants. Hook it up to an output from the fire alarm system that unlocks all the doors.

 

[Tainted]

I would put it on the life safety panel. It's necessary for the safety and security of the occupants. Hook it up to an output from the fire alarm system that unlocks all the doors.

fair enough, could that be subjective though?

 

[zbang]

Don't forget that most access control systems have at least a few hours of battery power* or at least any responsibly-installed ones do.

*and often that's not a single battery but they're spread over all the different electronics boxes. They also probably haven't been replaced often enough .

 

[JoeStillman]

fair enough, could that be subjective though?

Sometimes our job as a PE is to be subjective. You could always call the AHJ for an objective interpretation.