AHJ / Authority Having Jurisdiction Tutorial

By Brian Rhodes, Published on Aug 06, 2020

One of the most powerful yet often underappreciated characters in all physical security is the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).

IPVM Image

Often, these authorities get involved only when problems arise, and they frequently leave a flood of delays, redesigns, and cost increases in their wake.

Inside we examine:

  • Who AHJs Are
  • What Job Titles They Typically Hold
  • What Qualifications They Have
  • Why Video Surveillance Does Not Typically Concern AHJs
  • But Why Access Control Systems Typically Do
  • Why Initiating Contact With AHJs Is Prudent

This tutorial will help security installers improve their AHJ interactions in security projects.

AHJs *******

'********* ****** ************' ** an ******** *********** **** in **** *************, ********* governments, ********, ************, *** a ******* ** ******. The **** ********** ******** people ** ************* *********** for ******** *** **** is *********.

*** ***** ** '**********' varies ********* ** *** the ********* ***********. *** access *******, *** *** is **** ***** ********** in ********** *** ****** will *** ******** **** safety ****** ** *********.

*******, **** ***** ********* other ********* ******** ********** do *** ********* ******** - *** ******** ********** of *** *********, ************ of ********* (**: ******** trees), *** ** *** security ****** ******* ********** with ******* ******** ******.

******* ********** '*************' ****, the ****** *** ****** of **** *** *******. However, ******* *********, **** represent *** ********* ** overarching ***********, *****, ** local *********. **** *** direction ** *** ********** or *******, *** ******** impacting ******** *** ******* drive ***** *** ******, as ******* ******* **** in****** ******* *** **********.

Who *** ****?

*** **** ***** ****** depending ** *** **** of **** *** *** performing, *** *** **** intrusion ***** *** ****** control ****, **** *** found ** *** ***** authorities:

**** ********:**** ****** *** '**** Inspector', **** ****** ** tasked **** ********* **** codes. *** ***** ** enforcement ******** ***** ******* of ************ ****, *** may **** ******* ******* plan ********* ********.

******** **********:**** ********* ******* **** all **** ** ********* within *** *********** ** written ******** *****. *** only *** **** ****** with ************ ******** *****, but **** **** *** local ********** *** *******.

***** **** ******, *** potentially ***********, ************* **** have **** *** ***** in:

  • ****** ***********
  • *********/**********
  • ****** **********
  • ******* *********
  • ******** ************ **********
  • ********* *********

** *******, *** **** method ** *********** *** AHJs *** * ******* is ** ***** ** asking *** *****'* ************** and *** ***** **** Chief *** ******* ***** in *** **** ** your ****. *** **** of ****** *** ******* will ***** **** ** expectations ** *** ****** or ******* *** ***** of *********** *** *** an ****. ** **** areas, ***** ***** ** a ****** *** ** get ******** ****, ***** there *** ** * disjointed ****** ** **** in ***** *****.

**********, ******* *** ***** individuals ***, *** *** prerogative **** *** ******** your **** ****, ******* an ********** **** ** getting **** *** **** right, ** ****, *** within ******.

Why **** ******

***** ** *****, **** play * **** **** in *** ******* ** security ********. *** *********** are ***** ********* ** stop **** ***** ** their *********, *** **** wield **** ********* *****. Where **** **** ********* come ****, *** *** do **** **** **?

  • **** *** ********:***** **** *** *** be ********* ******* ** alarm ****** ** **** access ******* ******, **** have ********* ********* ** specific ***** ** *********** that ********* ******** ****. They ****** **** ******* a **** *******, *** instead, **** ******** **** passages ** **** **** objecting ** * **** element.
  • **** *** ***********: **** *** ***** elevated ** ***** ********* after ***** ** ******-*****, in-the-trenches **********. **** **** do ***** * ****** opinion, ** ** ********** tempered ** '****** **** it ******'. **** **** take *** ******* ******* from ***** ******* ******** and ***** **** *******.
  • *** *** ****, **** of *** ******: *****, ** ** not * ****** ** agreeing ** *********** **** their *****, ******* ***** determination ** *****. **** are ***** ** ***** decisions ** *****, ****, and ******* ***********. **** a ****** ** **** or *********, ** *** 'wins' ** ***** ***********, and **** **** * disaster ****** **** **** AHJs **** ** **********.

AHJs ** ***** ************

***** ********* ** ******** operations, **** ***** ************ systems **** ******* *** oversight ** ****. ******* video **** *** ********* or ****** **** ****** for **********, *** *** is *** ******* ** the **** *********** ** fire ****** *** ****** control *******.

*******, ** **** *** involved ** *****, ** is ** ******* *** UL *********** ** ******* and ******* ******* ** that ******** ************** *** not ***********. *** ********** UL ******* ****, *** common **** *** ***** are:

  • ********** *****: ** *** **** common *** *******, *** applies ** *** ******* safety (**: ***-**************)
  • ********** ****: ******* **** ****** mounting *** ******* *********

AHJs ** ****** *******

*******, *** ***********, ********, and ******* *** ****** systems ** * *** concern. ***** **** ****** can ***** ******, ****, and **** ***** ** building ********* ** ********* improperly, **** ********* ******** their ********* *** ********** of *** ******* * core **************.

** ********* ** *********** ********* ***** *** Access ******* ********,*** ***** ****** ****** Control, ************* ****, *** *** Access ************, *** **** ** the *** ** ********** code ********** ** ***** requires ******** *** ********* access ******* *************.

Practical ********

*** ********** ** *********** has ****** ** * variety ** **** ******** to ********** ****, *********:

  • **** *****:**** ****** ***** ****/****** determinations ** *** ***** fire *******, *** ** some ***** ***** **** be *** ***-******* ***** fireman ** *** '**** Chief'. *** ***** ** '****-**** **. ****-******' ** ******** ** many ** ***** ************.
  • ********** ******* ** ******:*** **** ********, *** flight **** ** *** hub ** ********, *** any ********* **** ******* flight ********** ** ***********. For *******, **** ***** often **** * **** restriction ** * ***** of ********* ********* ****** than *', ******* ** could ********* **** ******** movement ** *** ****** line.
  • ******** ** ***********:***** ********* *********** **** relevant ***** ** * facility. ******* '***-***' **** the **** ** *********** often **** ****** ** ease, ******* *** '***** AHJ' ********.
  • ******* *********:*** * ********* ******* facility, *** ******** ********* the ******* ** *********** (regardless ** *******) ******** explicit ******** **** *** commander, *** ******** * defined **** **** ** equipment ******, ******* ********** checks, *** ****** ********* before ********** ****.
  • ********* ***** *********: **** *** **** Chief, *** **** ********* often ******** ************** ** signing *** ** ********* systems ** **** ** their ***. ******* *** local *********, *** ******* code ************** ** *** course ** ****** ************* can ***** ***** *** understanding ****** *** ****** of **** *************.

Take *** ***** ****

*** **** ******** ** working **** **** ** to ** *** ***** to ***** *** *** approval.

**** *** ********** ********** by *** ****** ** work **** ****** ** monitoring, *** **** *** not ****** ******* ** understanding **** **** *** indirectly ******** ** **** project.

** *** ******** ** 'asking *** **********, ****** than ***********', ******** ********* and ********** *** *** the *********** ** ** AHJ ****** ********** ****, rather **** ******** *** matter *** ***** '******' later.

*** **** **** *** basis ** *** ************ be '*********' ****** **** 'reactive', *** *** *** can **** ***** *********** or ******** **** ******* the ********* ** ****** efforts.

[****: **** **** *** substantially ******* ** **** after *** ******** *********** in ****.]

Comments (10)

Avatar

Jerry Wilkins

08/06/20 03:06pm

** **** ***** ** the *** ** ******* future ** **** *** the *** ** **** taking ************** *** ****-****.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #1

08/06/20 05:17pm

**, ****’* *** *** joke ** *** ***. I **** ***** ******* I ******* *** **** with **** ** * recommend ****** **.

***** *** ************.

“****’* *** ********** ******* an *** *** ***? One ** **** ***** they *** ***, *** other *** **** **** it.”

Avatar

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #1 | 08/06/20 08:04pm

**** **** *** ** expletives ****** '***' ** I'd ******...

Avatar

Norm Lanum

IPVMU Certified | 08/11/20 05:46pm

* ****** *** ** my *****...."...*** ** *** satisfaction ** *** ********* having ************."

*********, **** **** **** is ******** ** *** letter, ** *** *** still ** *******.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #1

In reply to Norm Lanum | 08/11/20 06:27pm

***** **** **** ** “anyone *** ** *** AHJ” ** * ********** project. ** *** *** user ******* ** ** (Factory ******).

* *** * *** years *** *** ** automotive *****. *** ** draw *** ***** ******* in ** *** ** FM *********, *** ******** by ** ***.

*** ** *** *** FM ****** ********, ****** the ************ ** *** FD ***.

*** ******* ** ******* the ********* ******* ** a ***** **** ********* monitoring ******? * ***.

Avatar

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #1 | 08/11/20 06:39pm

*** ******* ** ******* the ********* ******* ** a ***** **** ********* monitoring ******? * ***.

** ** **********, **** is ********** **** ** the ******** *** ***** a ***** ******* *** specific *******/******.

********* ********* ****** **** to ********* ****** *******/******, so **** **** ***** have **** ***** ** add ** ******/******** *******.

Avatar

Ng Choy Mei

IPVMU Certified | 10/07/20 05:39pm

********** ****** **** ******** with *** *** **********

Avatar

Mark Jones

10/07/20 06:37pm

*** **** ******** ** working **** **** ** to ** *** ***** to ***** *** *** approval.

* **** **** ** employees *** ****** ******** professionals **** ***** * zillion ***** ** ** years. ** *** **** listens. *** **** ******, they *** ****** ** the ***. ** *** include **** *******, *** will **** *** ***** issues ** ****. * have ***** *** ** AHJ **** ** **. We **** **** ** make ** ******, ****** the ****.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #1

In reply to Mark Jones | 10/07/20 07:05pm

* **** *** ** AHJ **** ** **!

*** *** *******, **** with **** *****. * trained *** **** ***** desk ******* *** * few ***** ** ********* review ******* *** ******** was ********* * * year ***** ** *********.

* *** ****** **** an *** ****** ********** engineer **** *** ****** he ****** *** *** a ****** *** ** longer ** ****. ** told ** ** ** away ** *** ** designed. ** * ***.

* *** *** ***, did *** ********* ******** and ********* ** *** reviewer. ** ****** ******* when * **** *** to ***** “******” ** large ** ** ***** and **** * **** him *** **** ******** to **** ** *** it ***. ** *** a **** *****

* **** **** ***** back ** *** ********, with * *** ******** for *** ****** *** a **** *** ********** plans **** ***** *** pass ********* ** *** specification.

Avatar

Mark Jones

10/07/20 07:20pm

** * **** *** inspectors ** **** ** "you ***'* ** ****", but **** ** *** "NO". ** *** *** to **** *****, ****** you ****** **** ***** for ********, *** **** save ******** * *** of ********* *** ****. After ** **** ****** it ******* *** * submit, * **** ***** heard *** **** **. I **** **** ***** had ** ********* ** tell ** **, ****** it *** *** ** look ** **.

* **** *** * few **** **** ** ornery ** ** *** sure.

Read this IPVM report for free.

This article is part of IPVM's 6,587 reports, 888 tests and is only available to members. To get a one-time preview of our work, enter your work email to access the full article.

Already a member? Login here | Join now

Related Reports

Access Control Levels and Schedules Tutorial on Sep 29, 2020
Configuring access levels and setting up schedules is central to maintaining...
Exit Devices For Access Control Tutorial on Aug 25, 2020
Exit Devices, also called 'Panic Bars' or 'Crash Bars' are required by safety...
Drain Wire For Access Control Reader Tutorial on Sep 23, 2020
An easy-to-miss cabling specification plays a key role in access control, yet...
Access Visitor Management Systems Guide on Jul 22, 2020
"Who are you, and why are you here?" Facilities that implement Visitor...
Free Online NFPA, IBC, and ADA Codes and Standards 2020 on Sep 03, 2020
Finding applicable codes for security work can be a costly task, with printed...
Forced Door Alarms For Access Control Tutorial on Aug 17, 2020
One of the most important access control alarms is also often ignored....
Mexico Video Surveillance Market Overview 2020 on Oct 20, 2020
Despite being neighbors, there are key differences between the U.S. and...
Door Fundamentals For Access Control Guide on Aug 24, 2020
Doors vary greatly in how difficult and costly it is to add electronic access...
Keypads For Access Control Tutorial on Jul 28, 2020
Keypad readers present huge risks to even the best access systems. If...
Dedicated Vs Converged IP Video Networks Statistics 2020 on Sep 10, 2020
Running one's video system on a converged network with other devices can save...
Monitoring Alarm Systems From Home - Innovation or Danger? on Oct 13, 2020
Remote monitoring by alarm companies since COVID-19 is bringing cost savings...
Verkada Disruptive Embedded Live Help on Sep 24, 2020
Call up your integrator? Have someone come by the next day? Verkada is...
Costar Technologies / Arecont H1 2020 Financials Examined on Sep 16, 2020
Costar's financial results have been hit by the coronavirus with the company...
Verkada Falsely Claims "First Native Cloud-based Access Control and Video Security Solution" on Jun 18, 2020
Verkada's false claims continue, this time to be the first native cloud-based...
Gait Recognition Examined on Sep 14, 2020
Facial recognition faces increasing ethical and political criticisms while...

Recent Reports

Deceptive Meridian Temperature Tablets Endanger Public Safety on Oct 21, 2020
IPVM's testing of and investigation into Meridian Kiosk's temperature...
Honeywell 30 Series and Vivotek NVR Test on Oct 21, 2020
The NDAA ban has driven many users to look for low-cost NVRs not made by...
Ubiquiti Access Control Tested on Oct 21, 2020
Ubiquiti has become one of the most widely used wireless and switch providers...
Mexico Video Surveillance Market Overview 2020 on Oct 20, 2020
Despite being neighbors, there are key differences between the U.S. and...
Dahua Revenue Grows But Profits Down, Cause Unclear on Oct 20, 2020
While Dahua's overall revenue was up more than 12% in Q3 2020, a significant...
Illegal Hikvision Fever Screening Touted In Australia, Government Investigating, Temperature References Deleted on Oct 20, 2020
The Australian government told IPVM that they are investigating a Hikvision...
Panasonic Presents i-PRO Cameras and Video Analytics on Oct 19, 2020
Panasonic i-PRO presented its X-Series cameras and AI video analytics at the...
Augmented Reality (AR) Cameras From Hikvision and Dahua Examined on Oct 19, 2020
Hikvision, Dahua, and other China companies are marketing augmented reality...
18 TB Video Surveillance Drives (WD and Seagate) on Oct 19, 2020
Both Seagate and Western Digital recently announced 18TB hard drives...
Watrix Gait Recognition Profile on Oct 16, 2020
Watrix is the world's only gait recognition surveillance provider IPVM has...
Intel Presents Edge-to-Cloud Ecosystem for Video Analytics on Oct 16, 2020
Intel presented its processors and software toolkit for computer vision at...
Best Manufacturer Technical Support 2020 on Oct 16, 2020
5 manufacturers stood out as providing the best technical support to ~200...
Microsoft Azure Presents Live Video Analytics on Oct 15, 2020
Microsoft Azure presented its Live Video Analytics offering at the September...
Worst Manufacturer Technical Support 2020 on Oct 15, 2020
4 manufacturers stood out as providing the worst technical support to ~200...