HOUSTON ASIS CHAPTER MINUTES

September 25, 2002

The Chapter held a luncheon meeting at the Renaissance Hotel. Chairman Mike Mason CPP presided. Fifty-seven members and guests attended.

Opening and Pledge of Allegiance: Mike Mason

Business Activities:

Treasurer’s report: Bob Cascino reports that all outstanding bills are paid. We are expecting a payment of $3700 from the UofHD for our portion of the proceeds from the Seminar.

CPP Review: Karim Vellani CPP congratulated our five newest CPPs. He also extended his appreciated to the UofHD for generously providing the classroom space.

Training opportunities:

Richard Hill was asked to provide a course on homeland security for law enforcement. He is currently formatting three classes (6 hrs each); Chemical Plants (10/22), Oil Refineries (TBA) and Sport & Entertainment venues (11/19). The courses will be focused toward LE, but it also addresses how LE can work with private security to work as a team. Classes will be free to LE; with a nominal charge of $10 for private security (lunch is included). A brochure was distributed.

The Texas Gulf Coast Crime Prevention Association is hosting its 9^th annual regional training conference on October 17-18 at the Jimmy Burke Activity Center in Deer Park. The conference is open to LE, private security personnel and citizens with an interest in crime prevention. The conference registration fee includes all training, lunches and refreshments. One day: $30 ($35 after 10/5); both days $50 ($55 after Oct 5). It provides 16 hrs of training credit for TCLEOSE, TCOPS or ASIS. Topics include crime scene biohazard cleanup, outlaw motorcycle gangs, WMD, Domestic Terrorism and Crime prevention through environment design. For further information contact Officer Jon Matherne (Pearland PD) at jmatherne@ci.pearland.tx.us

Speaker: Kenneth Gentile spoke to us on case studies of achieving physical security objectives by designing and negotiating fire code variances. This presentation was sponsored by the ASIS International Security Architecture and Engineering council at the ASIS 48^th Annual Seminar & Exhibits in Philadelphia, PA on September 10, 2002. Mr. Gentile is a design engineer with Rolf Jensen & Associates. He serves on the ASIS Council and works on NFPA 72 initiatives.

Often, physical security can be compromised when superceded by fire or building codes due to conflicting objectives. Examples include access control versus easy egress; chemical fire suppression systems that cannot be accidentally discharged in sterile environments; fail safe (everything opens) versus fail secure (everything closes). The challenge is providing prevention that meets the intent of the code provisions by using alternative methods.

What steps are required to get a variance?

Rationale

Design criteria

Presentation

Acceptance and documentation by the AHJ

Mr. Gentile provided three examples of approved variances.

In a hospital, developing an infant abduction prevention system. The security goal was the protection of persons incapable of self-preservation and to slow an escape. The life safety challenge was providing easy access for emergencies and not limiting egress. Some of the methods applied included delayed exit times, improved response procedures by the hospital staff and verification of two hour fire safety in the stairwells.

In a prison (new construction), maintaining a two-hour rated fire wall that had full visual access.

In an airport, restricting access to special operations areas while still providing public egress.

Computer modeling allows testing for proposed fire scenarios and provides a performance report on the system including exit times.