Ask the AHJ: Chicago

Avatar
Brian Rhodes
•Published Jan 23, 2014 05:00 AM

The AHJ has the final say in access control systems. That power, combined with the rules not always being clear, makes integrators and users necessarily concerned about their decisions.

In this note, the first of a series, we interview the AHJ in Chicago and ask them to give us inside details on how the approval process works.

The ***********

*** **** ** ******* *** * comprehensive ********* ******** **** **** ** many ******************, ***********, ** ********** ******** *****. ******* ******** ** **** ******** affects ********** ****** *******, **** **:

"** ********** ******* ****** ***** ** installed ** ******** ******* *** ***** approval ** *** ****** ************ ** charge ** *** ****** ** **** prevention. ** ******** ***** ** ***** until *** ***** *** **** ****** have **** ******** *** *** ********* of **** ****** ****** ** *************** of *** ****** ** **** **********." - ******* **** ******* ********* **** (**-***-***)

********* ** **** ****, *** ****** control ******* **** **** *** ******** of *** **** ********** ****** ***** installed ** ********. ** **** **** mean *** ******* ** ******** *** designs? ** ****** ** **** ***.

Chicago's ******* ****

** ******* *******, ************ ******** *** **** ******* a******** ** **************. ** ********, ********* *** ***** ** the ******* ****** ** *** ********** inspector ** **** ** *** ****** process [**** ** ****** *********]. ***********, rather **** ******** ****** ********* ** front, ********* **** ******************* ****** ********** ********** *** ******** **** *** *** ** completed.

** **** ***** ***********'* ********** *********'* ****** ** ******** *** ****, *** **** explained *** **** ****** ** ****** Access ******* ********** ********* *** *** Chief ********** ********* - * **************** ********** ********* ******** ** **** **********. As * ******, **** ********** **** relates ** ****-******* ******* *** ********** and ****** ******* ***** **** * grey **** ** '*** *******' ********** work ****** ** *** ********.

Key ********

****** *********** **** *** *********'* ******, it ****** ***** ****** ******** ******** depends ** *** ******** ** *** project, ******* ** *** ***** ****** are ********, *** *** ******* ** inspection ****. 

  • ****** *** ********:******* ******* **** *** **** ****** of ****** ** ***. *** ********* we ***** **** **** *** ******* any ****** ****, *** ** *** unsure ***** ** *** ********** **** access ***********. ** *** *** ****** this ** ****** ***** * *** Chief ********** ********* ** *****, ** the ***** ******* * ******** ** address.
  • **** ** ********:********* ** **** *********, **** *********** systems *** **** ****** **** *** highest ******** ** *** ****/******/******** *******. This ** *** ** **** ******* being******** ** ****** ***** ********, ***** *** ** **** **** infrequent.
  • ******* **** *******:** *****, ***** ******** *** ***** be ***** *********. *** ******* **** of *** ******* ******* ********** ******** visibility **** ***** ********** ***********, *** 'big' ******** *** **** ****** ** be ******.
  • **'** ************:****** **** **** ******** **** **** services, ********* *** **********. *** ******* was ******* ********** **** "**** *** being **** ** ********", *** ******** limitations **** ****** *** ********** * ******* ******.
  • *********** ******:*** ******* ****** '******* ****' *** review *** ********* ** ***-***** ***********. For *********** **** **** *****, ******** reputations, *** *** ******* ** *** ***** IBEW *****, **** ***** ******. *** ** state *********** **** ******** ******* ***** work ******* *** ********* *** *******.
  • ********** ***** ****: ***** *** ****, ****** ******** carry *** **** ******. ** ********** ******* ***** '***', **** *** **** ********* ** life/safety ***** ** * ********. ***** this ****** ** *********, **** ********* could *** ****** *** ******* ******** surrounding ****** ******* ****** ******.
Comments (3)
U
Undisclosed #1
•Jan 24, 2014

so, What are you trying to say? is it about access control? or whole building inspection?

Avatar
Daniel S-T
•Jan 24, 2014

Sounds very similar to the inspectors in my area. Access Control seems to be a low priority, but if you ask the right questions they will answer them, and it's split between building inspections and electrical inspections. Electrical inspects the cabling and all that, building ensures the safety.

JF
Jason Fitch
•Mar 22, 2014
IPVMU Certified

You will always have an inspection of the Security System especially if you are locking down lobbys with elevators where someone can get stuck in a high rise. The Fire inspector will always inspect and make that the doors will release on alarm and that there is another means of communication and door release incase of a fire. It is not usually on the plans but part of the specfications. In LA they have different versions for buildings Method A,B,C