Classroom security: What you should (not) do

Additional classroom safety measures

While classroom security locks provide the first layer of defense, they should not be the only tactic utilized to ensure classroom safety. Additionally, schools should:

Keep doors closed, except during changing periods,
Keep doors locked while rooms are in use to enable faster lockdown in emergency situations,
Consider bullet-resistant film/shades and
Develop a safety plan, including staff protocol and places to hide.

Here’s What NOT to Do

In all too many instances, many schools are using measures that, if anything, put staff and students in greater danger. Among them are:

Door hardware that forces an individual to step out of the room to lock the door, exposing that person to the intruder or conflict in the hallway.
Hardware with “unrestricted ability” to lock or unlock the door. This lets anyone – including students – take control of an opening.
Magnets or tape on the door to prevent latching. Not only is this a violation of fire code but, in lockdowns, you want the door to latch!
School doors that don’t automatically close, potentially preventing them from being in a ready position during an emergency lockdown.
Hardware that is not permanently attached to the door, requiring staff to locate and attach the device in the midst of a lockdown emergency.
Hardware that slows access or egress during an emergency situation.
Deadstop devices or sleeves which clasp around the v-shaped hinge attached to the closer mechanism on doors. This is another violation of fire code.
Floor bolts or other devices that obstruct the door and don’t let it close.
Anything that blocks entrance to emergency responders.
Any option that might be accessed or used by an unauthorized person acting with ill-intent. This could be a student, visitor or another staff member.

The Right Lockdown Solution

Contrary to those “quick fix” solutions, when selecting security hardware and establishing protocol within a school, there are several aspects that should be considered: