{"id":6182,"date":"2014-12-08T11:08:15","date_gmt":"2014-12-08T16:08:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.constructionspecifier.com\/?p=6182"},"modified":"2017-01-31T12:14:27","modified_gmt":"2017-01-31T17:14:27","slug":"improving-school-security-with-wireless-locks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.constructionspecifier.com\/improving-school-security-with-wireless-locks\/","title":{"rendered":"Improving school security with wireless locks"},"content":{"rendered":"
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This is the North County Road Middle School\u2019s exterior perimeter and entrance way. <\/span>Photos courtesy Allegion<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

by April Dalton
\n<\/strong>A Long Island, New York, school district developed and implemented a comprehensive plan to upgrade security in their schools. Working with local architect Michael J. Guido, the key initiatives included redesigning the entrances to provide a single point of entry for visitors and updating the hardware to provide better access control.<\/p>\n

For Miller Place Union Free School District (UFSD), a major concern was the presence of exterior doors on most elementary and middle school classrooms. While primary access to the classrooms was through corridor doors, exterior doors were used for playground access and posed a potential security problem. Not only did unauthorized access need to be controlled, but the possibility of students wandering outside from the classroom undetected also had to be eliminated.<\/p>\n

\u201cA six-year-old could sneak out the back door into the woods, and the teacher might never know it,\u201d Guido explained. \u201cWe put door position switches on those doors, combined with card readers, so the main office is notified any time an unauthorized door opening occurs.\u201d<\/p>\n

Proximity card readers at each exterior classroom door let a teacher open the door to take the class to the playground without triggering an alarm. To allow emergency egress, the doors are never locked from the inside, but opening a door without a card notifies the office immediately. More than 100 doors at the elementary and middle schools have been equipped this way.<\/p>\n

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All visitors are required to sign in as a part of this school\u2019s visitor management procedure. <\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Each interior classroom door from a hallway has been retrofitted with a wireless electronic lock with integrated reader. This electronic lock allows the principal to lock down all classrooms simultaneously in an emergency. This is faster and easier than relying on teachers to find their keys and lock each door independently. Since exterior classroom doors are always locked from the outside, the building can be secured completely in a matter of seconds. Electronic locks are also used on school entrance doors.<\/p>\n

The locks and card readers provide online, real-time access control. The locks combine all the components required at the door into one integrated design that incorporates:<\/p>\n