10 Years Ago
School security was our cover focus in March 2014. NAPCO introduced its SAVI School Access Control Vulnerability Index, still a powerful tool for school systems evaluating their security needs. PDQ introduced the standalone battery-powered PDQ 135 LED Classroom Intruder Cylindrical Lock. Cindy Mitchell, then with Allegion, offered tips for helping school systems win grants to upgrade their security. Tim O’Leary reported on the installation of an access control system for a special needs school. A separate article outlined the video surveillance system for that same school. The article Video Surveillance: Standalone VCR to DVR to NVR looked at video surveillance options that locksmiths could sell and install. Jerry Levine checked out the DORMA LPP Single-Door Access Control Kit. The electric strike, card reader and controller on this product are powered by two 9-volt batteries, making this new product a good choice for a remote location without access to electricity. The Electric Strike Evolution article looked at the latest and greatest electric strikes available a decade ago. An automotive chart listed popular vehicle models from 2010-2014 and their sidewinder key system availability.
20 Years Ago
Rod Oden offered tips on servicing standalone electronic locks. Tim O’Leary explained the LS series standalone locks from IEI. Gale Johnson reported on Cobra series locks by Schlage. O’Leary wrote a thoughtful electronics quiz. Jerry Levine installed a SABL standalone lock from Securitron. Kaba provided a few examples of access control in school and university settings. Tom Gillespie visited a locksmith who had a special showroom for displaying safes. Jerry Levine also introduced the LaGard 3900 electronic safe lock. Tools and keys were featured in an automotive update article. Lockmasters had a new remote cloner, according to a Locksmithing Etc. notice. A listing of new 2004 car model code series and key blanks was printed. Steeve Kaufman explained how to be an effective salesman. Topics like this never get old. Locksmith Ledger reported on a successful Ingersoll Rand electronic lock presentation sponsored by Clark Security and staged at the Greater Chicago Locksmith Association headquarters. Jeff Trepanier tested the Code Seeker by Strattec.
Safeguarding a School’s Entry Points: Securing Secondary Perimeter Openings
Editor’s note: Although the product lineup may have changed in the past 10 years, the advice in this article is still valid and important.
Most schools, especially larger ones, have multiple doorways where visitors can enter and exit. Visitor access to all of these entrances needs to be controlled in order to maximize everyone’s safety and security.
Ideally, all visitors should enter through the main entrance and pass through a security vestibule or reception area before they can enter the school. The vestibule provides an additional layer of security in controlling who’s allowed to enter the building.
But what about all those other entrances to the school? The most well-intentioned and implemented main entrance security procedures are going to be for naught if someone can literally sneak in through the back door. Every school needs an effective strategy for securing these secondary exterior openings, as well as interior doors such as gyms, cafeterias and auditoriums where visitors often go in and out.
The most effective strategy for ensuring proper security across all entrances includes the implementation of an electronic access control (EAC) system, which enables precise control of all entry and exit points and visitor access. Because an EAC system can be used to monitor the activity at every secondary perimeter opening, it can even reduce the number of security personnel needed to guard the school’s doors. Though it may be difficult to justify the short-term expense of implementing an EAC system, it is indeed a smart long-term investment.
There are two types of secondary exterior openings: doors that are controlled as restricted points of entrance and exit-only doors. An example of the former would be a door where faculty members and kids access a playground. An exit-only door is one where there’s no need for anyone to ever use it as an entry door; it is there only to provide free egress in a fire or emergency.
Electronic access control offers the ideal solution for doors that are restricted points of entrance. In the case of the playground, where there’s a need to restrict which staff and kids go in and out and at what times, a lock with a card reader (to name one option) could allow access for authorized teachers and staff during the school day only, and the card reader could be shut off after school hours.
Another important advantage of EAC is monitoring capability. EAC locks provide an audit trail of exactly who opened a door and when, and can record if and when a door was propped open. This can trigger a local alarm and inform the central monitoring system if a door has been propped open for a specific period of time.
For whatever locking solution a school selects, it’s imperative that the system meets all applicable building and fire codes. Improving school security at the expense of compromising emergency egress isn’t an option.
Read the full article at www.locksmithledger.com/11304678
