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Anti Theft Interior Partitions

GMB | Posted in Construction Techniques on March 2, 2006 08:57am

Hi there! This is my first time posting here, but it looks like a great site and I hope to be around for a while.

We are proposing some specs for a light commercial job. One of the things that our client in looking for is the construction of a “secure” interior room for the storage of files and sensitive information. By “secure” I mean that the room will have heavy duty entry doors, as well as some kind of interior reinforcing to the walls which would deter an intruder gaining entry by cutting through the walls.

Anybody have any experience in this area? I remember hearing a friend mention a few years ago about someone working this kind of a project for a store in a strip mall where the secure walls had a layer of chain-link fence screwed onto the frame. The wall was then sheetrocked as usual over the fence. While this sounds pretty secure to me, it also sounds like a nightmare to sheetrock over the fence, cut in outlets, etc.

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Replies

  1. DanH | Mar 02, 2006 09:22pm | #1

    Depends on how secure you want. In rough order from most secure to least:

    -- Poured reenforced concrete

    -- Reeforced (rebar through the cores) concrete block

    -- Heavy guage steel studs on 8" centers, aircraft cable run through holes in the studs every 8", covered with cement board or FG-reenforced drywall, then regular 5/8 DW on top.

    -- The same, without the aircraft cable.

    Of course, any of the above options can be beefed up with sheet steel added.

    Don't forget about the ceiling. A suspended ceiling is often the weak link. Either run walls to the rough ceiling (and make sure it's secure) or run something across your installed ceiling.

    If ignorance is bliss why aren't more people

    happy?

  2. User avater
    xxPaulCPxx | Mar 02, 2006 09:32pm | #2

    It depends on how big a deterent you need.  Is it to block a 1 minute break-n-snach or an organized overnight robbery.  For holding rooms in police stations, they use chicken wire under the drywall (read about someone digging his way out with a penny becuase the room he was in didn't have the chicken wire).

    Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA

    Also a CRX fanatic!

  3. DonCanDo | Mar 02, 2006 10:10pm | #3

    I would think that you would not only want the walls to be hard to break through, but to also appear secure.  Appearing secure would be one more level of deterrent.

    Along those lines, how about if the walls were finished with 3/4" melamine-covered particle board?  Of course, a recip saw could still get through pretty easily, but I don't know what level of deterrent you're looking for.

    -Don

  4. BillBrennen | Mar 02, 2006 11:01pm | #4

    GMB,

    It all comes down to:

    First, how much is budgeted for this upgrade?

    Second, What do they want it to look like? Stealth or fortress-look?

    Once you know these things, it will eliminate 90% of the options, and you can propose some ideas for them to consider, drawing on the great responses you have gotten here.

    BTW, hanging DW over chain link sounds horrible. How about DW glued to 1/4" steel plate?

    One more thought: Simply laminating 2 or 3 layers of 5/8" DW would deter thieves without tools for awhile. Chicken wire in between layers would be really annoying to get through, but not too hard on the installers.

    Bill

  5. vonnat | Mar 02, 2006 11:11pm | #5

    We use 16ga sheet metal on stud then drywall over it, or you can use expanded metal.  This is what is speced out for our jobs doing VA hospitals at the drug walk in closets.   And some times bullet proof panels.  Thats uncommon.

    1. Stilletto | Mar 02, 2006 11:32pm | #6

      I've seen lead-backed drywall used in x-ray rooms that stuff is heavy and very strong this might be what you are looking for.  The whole sheet has a lead sheet glued to the back of it.

  6. RobWes | Mar 03, 2006 01:33am | #7

    We have an air tunnel feeding fresh air into a central climate controlled garden. Its a big opening to the out doors. Any possible riff raft is kept out by stainless steel security screening AKA wire cloth. Unless someone is attempting entry with a plasma cutter, you ain't getting thru it. It's the same stuff used in prisons so I was told during construction.

    Place some sheets of that under your drywall. It's very flat. Perforated sheet stock would be my second choice.

  7. FNbenthayer | Mar 03, 2006 02:23am | #8

    CMU

     

     

     

     

    The awful thing is that beauty is mysterious as well as terrible. God and the devil are fighting there, and the battlefield is the heart of man.
    - Fyodor Dostoyevski

  8. ponytl | Mar 03, 2006 02:57am | #9

    I've built a few pawnshop secure rooms... not vaults  but  something that would be a little trouble to get into...   frame it   metal or wood  12" on center, 3/4 plvwood or osb  both sides...  25 to 20 ga flat sheet metal  glued & screwed to the plywood... and  5/8" drywall glued & screwed to that  regular drywall screws if 25ga  might need self drilling if 20ga steel...   even a big hammer would take a while to bust into it...  might also consider 2 metal doors in one frame  one swing out one swing in

    p

  9. User avater
    MarkH | Mar 03, 2006 02:59am | #10

    4x4 studs, 3 1/2" on center.  With boiler plate.

  10. Lansdown | Mar 03, 2006 07:12am | #11

    Expanded metal mesh and a layer of 3/4" plywood under the sheetrock is ####basic level of security for file rooms that I have seen spec'd for certain federal government projects. Otherwise as been posted by others CMU.

  11. efix2 | Mar 03, 2006 07:25am | #12

    Hi,

    Here's another option.  I installed some Quietrock for a client for soundproofing.  Stuff is 2 layers of 1/4" sheetrock with sheet metal sandwiched in between.  Not bullet proof but better than regular 'rock.  Over 100.00 a sheet and 83 lbs per 4'x8'.

    See:  http://www.quietsolution.com/

  12. ruffmike | Mar 03, 2006 09:53am | #13

    We use security mesh and sometimes plywood, as described by TGNY. Mesh is usually 12 gauge in 4x8 sheets.

    Have also seen concrete block rooms to protect documents from fire.

                                Mike

        Trust in God, but row away from the rocks.

  13. User avater
    SamT | Mar 03, 2006 12:56pm | #14

    Security mesh. 4x8 sheets of hardened steel. Tack weld it to steel studs. DW over it.

    Big sign on the door that says "Secure files. Authorised personel only."

    Dummy keypad and an LED readout displaying "Silent Alarm Set."

    SamT

     

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