Security 400

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Security 400

June 12, 2024
mike@standardsmichigan.com
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“We worry about what a child will become tomorrow,

yet we forget that he is someone today.”

– Stacia Tauscher

 

Today we run a status check on the stream of technical and management standards evolving to assure the highest possible level of security in education communities.  The literature expands significantly from an assortment of national standards-setting bodies, trade associations, ad hoc consortia and open source standards developers.  CLICK HERE for a sample of our work in this domain.

School security is big business in the United States.   According to a report by Markets and Markets, the global school and campus security market size was valued at USD 14.0 billion in 2019 and is projected to reach USD 21.7 billion by 2025, at a combined annual growth rate of 7.2% during the forecast period.  Another report by Research And Markets estimates that the US school security market will grow at a compound annual growth rate of around 8% between 2020 and 2025, driven by factors such as increasing incidents of school violence, rising demand for access control and surveillance systems, and increasing government funding for school safety initiatives.

Because the pace of the combined annual growth rate of the school and campus security market is greater than the growth rate of the education “industry” itself, we’ve necessarily had to break down our approach to this topic into modules:

Security 100.   A survey of all the technical and management codes and standards for all educational settings — day care, K-12, higher education and university affiliated healthcare occupancies.

Security 200.   Queries into the most recent public consultations on the components and interoperability* of supporting technologies

Video surveillance: indoor and outdoor cameras, cameras with night vision and motion detection capabilities and cameras that can be integrated with other security systems for enhanced monitoring and control.

Access control: doors, remote locking, privacy and considerations for persons with disabilities.

Panic alarms: These devices allow staff and students to quickly and discreetly alert authorities in case of an emergency.

Metal detectors: These devices scan for weapons and other prohibited items as people enter the school.

Mass notification systems: These systems allow school administrators to quickly send emergency alerts and notifications to students, staff, and parents.

Intrusion detection systems: These systems use sensors to detect unauthorized entry and trigger an alarm.

GPS tracking systems: These systems allow school officials to monitor the location of school buses and track the movements of students during field trips and other off-campus activities.

Security 300.  Regulatory and management codes and standards; a great deal of which are self-referencing.

Security 400.  Advanced Topics.  NFPA 731 Standard for the Installation of Premises Security Systems

As always, we reckon first cost and long-term maintenance cost, including software maintenance for the information and communication technologies (i.e. anything with wires) installed in the United States.  Cybersecurity is outside our wheelhouse and beyond our expertise.  In order to do any of the foregoing reasonably well, we have to leave cybersecurity standards to others.

Inside The Safest School In America

Bob Hope Primary School Kadena Air Base

 


Education Community Safety catalog is one of the fast-growing catalogs of best practice literature.  In developing district security plans, K-12 school leaders stress that school safety is a cross-functional responsibility and every individual’s participation drives the success of overall safety protocols.  We link a small sample below and update ahead of every Security colloquium.

Artificial Intelligence Tries (and Fails) to Detect Weapons in School

Could AI be the future of preventing school shootings?

Executive Order 13929 of June 16, 2020 Safe Policing for Safe Communities

Clery Act

National Center for Education Statistics: School Safety and Security Measures

International Code Council

2021 International Building Code

Section 1010.1.9.4 Locks and latches

Section 1010.2.13 Delayed egress.

Section 1010.2.14 Controlled egress doors in Groups I-1 and I-2.

Free Access: NFPA 72 National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code

Free Access: NFPA 731 Standard for the Installation of Premises Security Systems

IEEE: Design and Implementation of Campus Security System Based on Internet of Things

APCO/NENA 2.105 Emergency Incident Data Document 

C-TECC Tactical Emergency Casualty Care Guidelines

Department of Transportation Emergency Response Guidebook 2016

NENA-STA-004.1-2014 Next Generation United States Civic Location Data Exchange Format

Example Emergency Management and Disaster Preparedness Plan (Tougaloo College,  Jackson, Mississippi)

Partner Alliance for Safer Schools

Federal Bureau of Investigation Academia Program

Most Dangerous Universities in America

Federal Bureau of Investigation: Uniform Crime Reporting Program

ICYMI: Guide to Campus Security


* Interoperability refers to the ability of different technologies or systems to communicate and work together seamlessly. In the context of school security technologies, interoperability can help improve the effectiveness of security systems and make it easier for school personnel to manage and respond to potential security threats.  Here’s what we look for:

  1. Standardization: By standardizing communication protocols and data formats, school security technologies can be made more compatible with each other, making it easier for different systems to communicate and share information.
  2. Integration: School security technologies can be integrated with each other to provide a more comprehensive security solution. For example, access control systems can be integrated with video surveillance systems to automatically trigger alerts when an unauthorized person enters a restricted area.
  3. Open Architecture: Open architecture solutions enable different security systems to be connected and communicate with each other regardless of their manufacturer or supplier. This approach makes it easier to integrate different technologies and avoid vendor lock-in.
  4. Cloud-based Solutions: Cloud-based security solutions can enable interoperability by providing a centralized platform for managing and monitoring different security systems. This approach can also simplify the deployment of security technologies across multiple locations.
  5. Collaboration: School security technology providers can work together to develop interoperability standards and best practices that can be adopted across the industry. Collaboration can help drive innovation and improve the effectiveness of security systems.

 

 

 

Exploring technological preventive methods for school shootings

June 12, 2024
mike@standardsmichigan.com

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North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

Exploring technological preventive methods for school shootings

Kelechi M. Ikegwu – Evelyn Sowells – Howard Hardiman

Department of Computer Systems Technology, North Carolina A&T State University

 

ABSTRACT.  The horrific and tragic deaths that have resulted from infamous school shootings have deprived Americans of the sense of security in what has traditionally been a nurturing and safe environment. This paper will discuss different preventive methods for school shootings. The most current preventive methods are examined for fitness based on a variety of school shootings that have occurred in the past. Then a framework for a new school shooting protection device is proposed and evaluated. Concepts from computer vision, anomaly detection, and electromagnetic propulsion are discussed with respect to the proposed framework. Ideally, the goal of the framework presented in this paper is to prevent deaths and injuries from occurring during a school shooting. With the framework, an efficient and comparatively affordable preventive method could be released in the near future.

CLICK HERE to order complete paper

 

K-12 School Security

International Fire Code

June 12, 2024
mike@standardsmichigan.com

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2024 GROUP A PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE I-CODES

Noteworthy Proposals:

IFC 1010.27 Locking arrangements, PDF page 252

IFC 1020.2 Corridor Fire Resistance Ratings. PDF page 356

IFC 915 More Carbon Monoxide Detection Systems, PDF page 1156

IBC 917 Mass notification for Group E occupancies, PDF page 1176

IFC 5701 More Process Hazard Analysis, PDF page 1571

Comment on Committee Actions taken in the April meetings will be received until July 8th.

“A Square with Imaginary Buildings” | Hendrik van Steenwijck (1614)

 

2024/2025/2026 ICC CODE DEVELOPMENT SCHEDULE

LIVE: I-Code Group B Public Comment Hearings

Higher Education Laboratories

“Waking Effectiveness of Alarms for Adults Who Are Hard of Hearing” 2007  Victoria University, Australia

Health Facilities: Navigating IBC and NFPA differences


Posted February 14, 2023

Free access to the latest edition of the IFC is linked below:

2021 International Fire Code

Following the ICC Group A revision cycle public consultation on the 2024 International Fire Code will begin.  The ICC will announce the development schedule sometime in 2022.

We limit our resources simply tracking the proposals that run through Group E (Educational) and Group I (Institutional) occupancies in the Group A suite with closer attention to the state they are adopted whole cloth or with local exceptions.  In many cases, IFC adoption by state and local authorities is delayed by one or more previous code revisions.  This delay in adoption may be necessary in order for jurisdictions to evaluate the impact of changes upon the region under their authority.

Public safety budgets historically support the local and state fire marshal and his or her staff.   The revenue stream of many trade associations originates from membership, conference attendance, training and certification enterprises that service the public sector stakeholder.   Manufacturer sponsorship of trade association conferences is noteworthy.

Unless there is an idea, or proposed regulation that has run off the rails (either in terms of rigor or cost increase) — we place fire safety in the middle of our ranking of priorities.  With gathering pace, we find many fires safety goals being met with electrotechnologies where we place our highest priority.

Click on image for more information. The map is updated by expert agencies frequently so we recommend a web search for an update.

Significant code changes rarely happen within a 3-year cycle so it is wise to follow ideas as they travel through the agendas of technical committees through several cycles as administered by the Fire Code Action Committee.

The ICC posts the transcripts of public proposals, technical committee responses to public proposals, public response to the technical committee response and the final balloting in a fair and reasonable fashion as can be seen in the transcripts linked below:

2021 International Fire Code Proposed Changes

2021 International Fire Code Public Comment Agenda 

A search on the terms “classroom” or “school” in any of the documents above offers granular insight into the trend of current thinking.   We find fire extinguishers placement a perennial concern across several standards suites.   You will note the careful consideration of proposals for use of the mass notification systems, now integrated into fire alarm systems and their deployment in active shooter situations.

The transcripts reveal detailed understanding and subtlety.

“The Country School” | Winslow Homer

There are many issues affecting the safety and sustainability of the education facility industry.  We add value to the industry because of our cross-cutting perspective on the hundreds of “silos”created by the competition (and sometimes cooperation) among accredited, consortia and open-source standards developers.  We have the door open every day at 11 AM Eastern time to enlighten understanding of them all.  We also host a breakout teleconference every month to drill into the specifics of standards action on fire safety for the real assets of school districts, colleges and universities.  See our CALENDAR for the next online meeting.

Finally, we persist in encouraging education industry facility managers (especially those with operations and maintenance data) to participate in the ICC code development process.  You may do so by CLICKING HERE.

The ICC Group B Code Meetings will be hosted soon and open to the public:   

International Code Council 2022 Group B Public Comment Agenda (September 14-21 Kentucky International Convention Center)

The Group B tranche is largely focused on energy, structural, residential and existing building concepts but all of the titles cross-reference the IFC in some way so it is wise to follow how the concepts re-arrange and cross-reference themselves with each cycle.

 

Issue: [16-169]

Category: Architectural, Facility Asset Management, Space Planning

Colleagues: Mike Anthony,  Casey Grant, Joshua Evolve, Marcelo Hirschler


More

2021/2022 ICC CODE DEVELOPMENT SCHEDULE

FINAL ACTION RESULTS ON THE 2018 PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE INTERNATIONAL CODES – GROUP A

2018 GROUP A PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE I-CODES COLUMBUS COMMITTEE ACTION HEARINGS

2018 GROUP A PUBLIC COMMENT AGENDA | INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE

2018 GROUP A PUBLIC COMMENT AGENDA | INTERNATIONAL FIRE CODE

2018 REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ACTION HEARINGS ON THE 2018 EDITIONS OF THE GROUP A INTERNATIONAL CODES

 

 

Guide to Premises Security

June 12, 2024
mike@standardsmichigan.com

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First Draft of the 2026 Revision will be released October 25, 2024

First Draft Meeting Agenda (Meetings were remote)

NFPA 731: Standard for the Installation of Premises Security Systems

Library of Alexandria

NFPA 730 Guide to Premise Security guide describes construction, protection, occupancy features, and practices intended to reduce security vulnerabilities to life and property.  Related document — NFPA 731 Standard for the Installation of Electronic Premises Security Systems covers the application, location, installation, performance, testing, and maintenance of electronic premises security systems and their components.

The original University of Michigan standards advocacy enterprise (see ABOUT) began following the evolution of NFPA 730 and NFPA 731 since the 2008 Edition.   That enterprise began a collaboration  with trade associations and subject matter experts from other universities (notably Georgetown University and Evergreen State University) to advocate user-interest concepts in the 2011 edition.    A summary of advocacy action is summarized in the links below:

in the appeared in a trade association journal Facilities Manager:

APPA Code Talkers Anthony Davis Facility Manager May June 2011

An online presentation by Michael C. Peele (Georgetown University) — one of the voting members of NFPA 730 and NFPA 731 technical committees– was recorded and is linked below.

FREE ACCESS: 2023 Guide for Premises Security

FREE ACCESS: 2018 NFPA 730 Guide to Premise Security

Public comment on the First Draft of the 2026 Edition will be received until January 3, 2025.  You may key in your own ideas by clicking in to our user-interest Public Consultation Meeting Point or by communicating directly with the NFPA.

This title remains on the standing agenda of our Security colloquia.  See our CALENDAR for the next online meeting; open to everyone.

K-12 School Security

June 12, 2024
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CLICK ON IMAGE (Note that the link may move around quite a bit)

 

Clery Act

Quantum Computing

June 11, 2024
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Universitat de Barcelona

Today we break form from our normal custom of assessing conceptual movement in stabilized safety and sustainability standards for education settlements and, instead, venture into a domain that will inform nearly everything we do; and with gathering pace.

We begin with the action among the experts in the organizations listed below:

  1. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST):
    • NIST’s Post-Quantum Cryptography Standardization: NIST is working on standardizing cryptographic algorithms that are secure against quantum attacks. The goal is to ensure that data remains secure even with the advent of quantum computers. This involves selecting algorithms through an open competition, which began in 2016, and is still ongoing.
    • Quantum Information Program: NIST conducts research and develops standards related to quantum information science, including quantum computing, quantum communication, and quantum metrology.
  2. Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C):
    • Formed as part of the National Quantum Initiative Act, QED-C aims to enable and grow the quantum industry in the U.S. It involves various stakeholders, including industry, academic institutions, and government agencies, working together to identify and address standards and other needs to foster a robust quantum ecosystem.
  3. National Quantum Initiative (NQI):
    • Established by the National Quantum Initiative Act in 2018, NQI coordinates efforts across multiple agencies, including NIST, the Department of Energy (DOE), and the National Science Foundation (NSF), to advance quantum information science. This includes the development of standards, infrastructure, and research to support quantum technologies.
  4. International Standards:
    • While primarily international, organizations like the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) have working groups focusing on quantum technologies. U.S. participation in these groups helps ensure that global standards align with U.S. interests and priorities.
  5. Federal Agencies and Research Programs:
    • The DOE, NSF, and other federal agencies fund research and development in quantum computing, which often includes aspects related to standards and best practices. For example, the DOE’s Quantum Information Science (QIS) Research Centers and NSF’s Quantum Leap Challenge Institutes.
  6. Industry-Led Initiatives:
    • Several industry consortia and companies are actively involved in developing quantum computing standards. Organizations like the IEEE have working groups focused on quantum computing and quantum communications standards.

Overall, the U.S. approach to quantum computing standards is multifaceted, involving federal agencies, industry consortia, academic research, and participation in international standard-setting bodies.

Andrej Karpathy (Stanford, OpenAI): Introduction to Large Language Models

Quantum Computing for High-School Students: An Experience Report

June 11, 2024
mike@standardsmichigan.com

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Quantum Computing for High-School Students An Experience Report

Prashanti Priya Angara, et. al

Department of Computer Science, University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada

Abstract: Quantum computing is an emerging field that can revolutionize our ability to solve problems and enable breakthroughs in many areas including optimization, machine learning, chemistry, and drug design. With the increasing computational power of quantum computers and the proliferation of quantum development kits, the demand for a skilled workforce in quantum computing increases significantly. The theory of quantum computing lies at the crossroads of quantum physics, mathematics, and computer science. The field of quantum computing has matured and can now be explored by all students. While today, quantum computers and simulators are readily accessible and programmable over the internet, quantum computing education is just ramping up.

This paper describes our experiences in organizing and delivering quantum computing workshops for high-school students with little or no experience in the abovementioned fields. We introduce students to the world of quantum computing in innovative ways, such as newly designed “unplugged” activities for teaching basic quantum computing concepts. Overall, we take a programmatic approach and introduce students to the IBM Q Experience using Qiskit and Jupyter notebooks. Our experiences and findings suggest that basic quantum computing concepts are palatable for high-school students, and-due to significant differences between classical and quantum computing-early exposure to quantum computing is a valuable addition to the set of problem-solving and computing skills that high-schoolers obtain before entering university.

Dirac Bra-Ket notation, also known simply as bra-ket notation, is a standard mathematical notation used extensively in quantum mechanics and quantum computing. It was introduced by Paul Dirac and provides a convenient and powerful framework for describing quantum states and their evolution. Here are several ways in which Dirac Bra-Ket notation is important in quantum computing:

  1. Representation of Quantum States:
    • Kets (|ψ⟩): Quantum states are typically represented as kets, denoted by |ψ⟩. This notation simplifies the representation of complex vectors in a Hilbert space.
    • Bras (⟨ψ|): The corresponding dual vectors, or bras, are denoted by ⟨ψ|. These are the complex conjugate transpose of the kets.
  2. Inner Product:
    • The inner product of two states |ψ⟩ and |φ⟩ is written as ⟨ψ|φ⟩. This notation succinctly captures the concept of the probability amplitude, which is fundamental to quantum mechanics and quantum computing.
  3. Outer Product:
    • The outer product, written as |ψ⟩⟨φ|, represents a linear operator that can be used to construct projection operators and density matrices, which are crucial in quantum algorithms and quantum information theory.
  4. Operators and Measurements:
    • Quantum operators, such as Hamiltonians and measurement operators, can be conveniently expressed using bra-ket notation. For example, an operator A^\hat{A} acting on a state |ψ⟩ can be written as A^∣ψ⟩\hat{A}|ψ⟩.
    • Measurement probabilities are often expressed in terms of bras and kets, e.g., the probability of measuring a state |ψ⟩ in the basis state |φ⟩ is |⟨φ|ψ⟩|².
  5. Tensor Products:
    • In quantum computing, systems are often composed of multiple qubits, which are represented by tensor products of individual qubit states. Bra-ket notation elegantly handles these tensor products, e.g., |ψ⟩⊗|φ⟩.
  6. Quantum Gates and Circuits:
    • Quantum gates, which perform operations on qubits, can be represented using unitary operators in bra-ket notation. For example, the action of a gate U on a qubit state |ψ⟩ is written as U|ψ⟩.
  7. Simplifying Complex Expressions:
    • Bra-ket notation simplifies the manipulation of complex expressions involving quantum states and operators, making it easier to derive results and understand the behavior of quantum systems.
  8. Formalism for Quantum Algorithms:
    • Many quantum algorithms, such as the Quantum Fourier Transform (QFT) and Grover’s search algorithm, are conveniently expressed and analyzed using bra-ket notation, providing clarity and insight into their functioning.

In summary, Dirac Bra-Ket notation is essential in quantum computing for its ability to provide a clear and concise way to describe and manipulate quantum states, operators, and the evolution of quantum systems. It is a powerful tool that underpins much of the theory and practice in the field.

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