Section 680. Structural systems

A. Wall systems - general. Walls encompassing areas occupied by inmates without constant supervision shall provide a secure barrier to prevent unauthorized access. Their construction shall provide a deterrent against the penetration through the building's exterior or interior walls.

1. Exterior walls: masonry and concrete:

a. General. Exterior walls shall be of masonry, concrete, or other approved fireproof building material equal in strength and durability to the above.

b. Masonry. Walls or partitions that serve as perimeter security (may be exterior or interior wall), shall be a minimum of eight inches nominal thickness with horizontal metal wall reinforcing, spaced not more than 16 inches on center starting eight inches above the floor and with minimum vertical wall reinforcing of No. 4 reinforcing steel bars not more than eight inches on center the entire height of the wall. Hollow masonry block cell cores shall be filled solid with concrete or coarse grout in accordance with A.S.T.M. C476.

(1) All masonry mortar shall be type "M" 2,500 p.s.i. mortar.

(2) When security walls do not rest on a concrete footing located below the level of the finished concrete floor slabs, the first row of masonry block wall construction shall be doweled into the concrete floor slabs using minimum of No. 4 reinforcing bars spaced a maximum of 16 inches on center. Dowels shall extend a minimum of three inches into concrete slab and shall be 12 inches in length. Cores of block shall be filled solidly with mortar, grout or concrete. Where top course of masonry block is not doweled into upper roof or ceiling, the partition shall be secured with steel angles located on both sides.

c. Concrete. Concrete may be cast in place or precast reinforced high strength concrete, plank or panel, minimum of 4,000 p.s.i. compressive strength (28-day break). Minimum total combined thickness of concrete shall be four inches.

2. Interior walls: masonry, concrete, steel:

a. General.

(1) Interior walls shall be of masonry, concrete, steel plate or other approved fireproof building material equal in strength and durability as described below.

(2) Interior security walls separating secure building areas shall be extended up to the underside of roof or floor construction. Where top course of block is not doweled into upper roof/ceiling, secure wall with steel angles located on both sides of the top of the wall.

(3) All masonry mortar shall be type "M" 2,500 p.s.i. mortar.

(4) All interior exposed walls and partitions in security areas shall have a smooth hard finish, properly sealed and painted with a high grade washable type paint or other approved durable finish with a flame spread rating of 25 or less (A.S.T.M. E-84).

b. Masonry.

(1) Interior walls shall comply with requirements of subdivision A 1 b when wall serves as a perimeter security wall.

(2) Interior security walls, inmate housing areas, and control stations shall comply with the requirements of subdivision A 1 except: minimum wall thickness shall be not less than six inches and reinforcing bars shall be spaced not more than 16 inches on center; however, reinforcing bars may be eliminated altogether if block cores are filled solid with 5,000 p.s.i. concrete or grout.

(3) Masonry which is doweled or tied into floor and roof or ceiling surfaces shall comply with the requirements of subdivision A 1 b except that dowels shall be spaced not more than 16 inches on center.

c. Concrete shall comply with requirements of subdivision A 1 c.

d. Steel plate walls shall not be less than 3/16-inch thick and shall be securely attached to structural slabs in floor, roof or ceiling or to structural walls or columns by means of approved bolted, riveted or welded connections. All bolted connections shall have upset or welded threads to prevent removal of fasteners.

e. Bar grille partitions shall be 2¼-inches by 3/8-inch steel bar frame with vertical 7/8-inch round double ribbed bars spaced approximately four inches on center and 2¼-inches by 3/8-inch horizontal steel bars approximately 16 inches on center. Steel shall be be open hearth or tool resistant grade according to the use intended.

f. Woven rod partitions shall be fabricated from 3/8-inch diameter mild steel rods spaced not more than two inches on center in two directions, interwoven and crimp-locked. Rods shall be anchored securely into a heavy gauge (10 gauge minimum) tubular steel frame.

B. Floor systems.

1. All floors shall be concrete including supported slabs and slabs on grade. Floors shall be four inches minimum thickness.

2. All floor surfaces shall be of a durable, maintenance free, non absorptive material. Concrete floor surfaces shall be finished with an approved sealer and hardener.

C. Roof and ceiling systems.

1. General. The roof and ceiling assemblies of a secure facility shall provide a barrier to prevent access to the area above the ceilings and shall provide a roof construction which shall provide a deterrent against the penetration of the construction from both the interior and exterior of the building. The space above the ceiling shall be subdivided by continuation of the interior security walls to the underside of the floor or roof above to prevent movement from one secure area of the facility to another within this space.

2. The roof construction shall be a minimum of four inch thickness of any approved type of standard weight concrete construction having a minimum concrete strength of 3,000 p.s.i. Reinforcing shall consist of not less than 6-inch by 6-inch by 10 gauge embedded welded wire fabric temperature reinforcing or precast plank or panels providing a minimum total concrete thickness of four inches. System assembly, for security purposes, is to be approved by the reviewing authority.

3. Roof and ceiling or floor and ceiling systems over cells, dayrooms, control rooms, sally ports and armories shall be a minimum of four inches of concrete as described in subdivision A 1 c of this section.

4. Ceilings which are accessible to inmates in dayroom areas shall be permitted to be of the suspended type (suspended below the bottom of structural members), with ceiling surface of not less than three coat portland cement plaster installed on approved type metal lath or approved comparable material.

All access openings to the space above the ceiling surface shall be protected by hinged metal access panels equipped with keyed locks.

5. Ceilings of gypsum wallboard or a suspended grid system with removable type panels (acoustical or metal pan type) may be used in dayrooms and other areas where floor to ceiling height is not less than 15 feet and not accessible to inmates. These ceilings may also be used in corridors, dining rooms, laundries and kitchens with standard ceiling heights where, because of supervision and custody level, vandalism and hiding of contraband are not a concern. Ceiling hold down clips shall be used on all removable panels in all inmate accessible areas. These ceilings shall not be permitted in cells, within six feet horizontally of guard rails enclosing mezzanine floor levels in dayrooms, or other areas where inmates shall have access to the area unsupervised.

6. The following are alternate acceptable roof construction assemblies that may be used in local correctional facility areas with the exception of cells, control points or stations, armories, sally ports, medical housing, and dormitories and dayrooms with less than a 15-foot ceiling height above finished floor:

a. Three inch standard weight concrete on 16 gauge steel form (or decking) on concrete or steel supporting members; and

b. Three inch standard weight concrete with 6-inch by 6-inch by 10 gauge wire fabric on a 22-gauge steel form (or decking) on concrete or steel supporting members.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR230-30-005.1 § 5.37, eff. July 1, 1994.

Statutory Authority

§§ 53.1-5 and 53.1-80 through 53.1-82 of the Code of Virginia.