OHIO DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE ISSUES GUIDANCE ON BARRICADE DEVICES TO EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES THROUGHT STATE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Michael Duchesne at (614) 644-9564
September 2, 2015 [email protected]
The Ohio Department of Commerce today (9-2-15) issued a guidance document concerning the development of rules for the use of barricade devices in an active shooter situation at Ohio schools and higher education facilities. Schools are being cautioned against purchasing and deploying devices before the rules take effect as some devices currently on the market may not be allowable once new rules are adopted.
Ohio House Bill 64, the vehicle for the state operating budget for Fiscal Years 2016 and 2017, included a requirement for the Ohio Board of Building Standards (BBS) to adopt rules for the use of barricade devices that would prevent both ingress and egress through classroom doors in an active shooter situation. The bill states that these rules must be in place by March, 2016.
“We want to clear up any uncertainty or concerns Ohio’s educators have regarding these barricade devices,” Ohio Department of Commerce Director Jaqueline T. Williams said. “Developing the necessary rules with the help of parents, school officials, law enforcement, fire professionals and the building industry, we feel confident that the rules we will develop will provide for an environment where our children can feel safe.”
BBS is in the initial stages of the rule development process and will be meeting with stakeholders throughout the process. These rules will establish the guidelines for what devices that are currently being marketed, or developed in the future, will be authorized.
Anyone with questions about these or other building code requirements for schools can contact:
Ohio Board of Building Standards
6606 Tussing Road
P.O. Box 4009
Reynoldsburg, OH 43068
(614) 644 2613
[email protected]
Download the news release document here: ODC Lockdown News Release 9-2-15