This regulation establishes procedures concerning building security measures in the USDA Headquarters complex (Administration, South, Cotton Annex, Auditors, and Auditors West Buildings) including an alarm system for outside doors and special cypher (combination) locks for parking court doors.

a Central Alarm Board. All of the named USDA buildings are equipped with alarmed doors that are wired into a central alarm board located in the South Building. The central alarm board will detect improper usage of any door within the complex whereupon a Federal Protective Service officer will be dispatched.

b Sensors. Vestibule locations have motion detectors which are designed to activate the alarm before an individual reaches the exterior door.

c Sound. Each alarm emits a loud siren that can only be turned off by the responding Federal Protective Service officer or Security Guard.

The term security hours applies to those periods when a particular building is closed to the general public and the agency housed within the building has assumed a nonbusiness posture. For buildings in the USDA headquarters complex the security hours are as follows:

Monday through Friday - from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Weekends and Holidays - all day (24 hours).

Employees, and others entering the USDA complex, will only use authorized doors, i.e., those that have uniformed security guards on duty, those equipped with cypher locks, or those designated for the exclusive use of the handicapped. Doors for the handicapped are operated by magnetic card keys.

Also, when leaving the Administration, Cotton Annex and Auditors Buildings only the doors that have security guards on duty are authorized for exit.

Doors authorized for exit from the South Building vary according to the time of day. The rules for exit as they pertain to each building in the complex are explained in the sections that follow.

a Entry into and exit from the Administration Building will only be made at guarded locations. Independence Avenue and Jefferson Drive have guarded doors and are the only authorized entry and exit locations for the Administration Building.

b After 12 midnight, the connecting tunnel between the Administration and South Building can be used to enter or leave the Administration Building. Wing 4, Independence Avenue of the South Building remains open 24 hours a day throughout the year.

Employees and others employed in the Auditors complex will only use those doors posted with guards to enter and exit their particular Auditors Building. The following entrances have guards on duty and are open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays:

Main Auditors Building - 14th street and parking lot entrances.

Auditors West Building - East side center entrance.

All other doors within the Auditors Buildings are designated emergency doors and are on an active alarm status at all times. Emergency doors at ground level will not be used to enter or exit the Auditors Buildings as a personal convenience by employees or others. Unauthorized use of emergency doors is considered a serious violation of building security procedures. (See section 15.)

a Card keys are used to operate certain doors after business hours. During business hours, card keys are also used to operate doors designated for use by handicapped persons in the Administration Building.

b A card key reader is located in the South Building at the 4th wing, Independence Avenue entrance. The card reader is computerized and documents the card used, date, time of entry and departure of the user as well as the identity of the user.

c Card keys are issued by authorized agency personnel to individual employees on an as needed basis. Agencies can obtain the key cards from the security office and the agency official authorized to issue key cards will maintain a log showing to whom the cards were issued.

d Card keys will not be issued to or used by other than USDA employees and approved GSA personnel. Guards observing persons other than employees using a card key to enter the building will retrieve the card and return it to the security office.

e Card key locations are as follows:

Agencies that have a need to use an alarmed door during security hours or to use a door that is kept on an alarm mode will notify the security office (447-6270) prior to the anticipated use. Notification must be during business hours so that arrangements can be made with the Federal Protective Service to have an officer available to cut off the alarm system during the required use of the door. There are no exceptions to this procedure.

During security hours, from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., Monday through Friday, all day weekends and holidays, the alarm systems will be fully operational in all USDA buildings within the complex. Access will be limited as indicated below and anyone attempting to otherwise enter or exit the complex during security hours from an unauthorized location will be subject to criminal charges.

a Administration Building. The main entrance on the Independence Avenue side is open until 7 p.m. on weekdays at which time it goes onto the alarm system. The Jefferson Drive entrance is open until 12 midnight seven days a week and is in an alarm mode from midnight to 6 a.m.

b South Building. The Wing 4 entrance on Independence Avenue is open on a 24 hour basis with a security guard on duty. All other doors will be on an alarm mode during security hours.

During security hours, USDA employees, GSA employees, and other individuals who have authorized government business to conduct in the complex must sign in on forms maintained by the guard on duty. However, if they have an authorized key card, they may use the master card reader to record their entry.