8 Ways to Improve School Entrance Security

Perimeter Security

The goal of the secured entrance is to detect, deflect and deter the potential attack long enough so that law enforcement can be summoned and the campus can be locked down.

Here are eight components of a secure front entrance:

Perimeter fences to deter trespassing, limit access to non-primary entrances and funnel pedestrian traffic to areas where persons can be observed and screened. While fences by themselves do not prevent unauthorized access, they do make persons approaching the facility from unobserved or remote areas more obvious.” Fences also make it more difficult to access the site. Fences and perimeter boundary definition serve as the first layer of security for persons to gain access to the main entrance.

Single point of entry to channel your security resources in a cost effective manner. While large school or university buildings may have multiple points of entry, the more entry points there are, the more expensive and duplicative the security efforts. The main point of entry should look and act like the primary entry point and not a fire egress door. It should be regulated with access control, surveillance and strong design features that resist breakage or compromise.

Staff monitoring of arrival and dismissal times. Arrival and dismissal times in K-12 schools require a lower security posture due to the volume of student and staff movement,” Spicer says. “Properly trained and equipped staff must be assigned to monitor activities during these staff periods. This involves training on intruder response, reverse evacuation and how to assist in the arrival of public safety vehicles, school buses, private vehicles and/or the media. Staff should be equipped with radio communications and have the ability to call 911.

Strong visitor management. Without properly screening visitors, schools are at risk of allowing people into their buildings who pose a threat to staff and students. After the Sandy Hook school attack, the security industry has noted a dramatic increase in the utilization of paper-based as well as computerized visitor management systems.

A reinforced vestibule, sallyport or double entry door system. Besides acting as a weather vestibule, a double door system can greatly enhance security layering and screening. While a school vestibule is not up to the same level of security as an embassy or jail, the purpose is the same. The hardware should be designed to resist tampering and window glazing should resist glass breakage. The ability to electronically lock down greatly enhances the ability for quick response during an active shooter situation.

Window glazing that supports natural surveillance and acts as a strong physical barrier.

All exterior doors should be monitored electronically to determine if they are fully closed and locked. Door position switches (DPS) should be built into the doorframes and connect with contact switches in the doors. This can be accomplished at the top of the door, the door hinge, the door closer or within the door lock itself. A door that looks closed but isn’t might be used to gain unauthorized entrance to the building and introduce weapons or a shooter, or at the very least allows all of the security efforts at the primary entrance to be undermined.

Duress/panic buttons in the main office or administration area. Another type of emergency communication technology that has been seeing much wider usage in recent years involves duress alarms. These systems allow school staff to rapidly and sometimes discreetly summon emergency assistance by pressing a button.

Source: Campus Safety Magazine

Perimeter Security.

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