There are three types of lockdown hardware:
Manual lockdown
- Keys manually lock down a room or space.
- Most economical of lockdown solutions.
Remote lockdown
- Localized solution for schools that want to upgrade without cost of networked system.
- Lockdown activated by a remote fob within proximity of the door.
Centralized lockdown
- Integrated with access control software.
- Doors throughout a building or campus are locked from a central location.
Many classroom security locks include visual indicators, which provide at-a-glance verification of the locked/unlocked status of the door from inside of the classroom. This is a beneficial feature in everyday use as well as in emergencies.
In the K-12 and higher education environments, indicators should be part of the overall security plan. With indicators on locks or exit devices, an opening can be quickly assessed – from a distance – to determine if it is locked. The convenience of visual indicators to assess a lock saves time and alleviates confusion in the event of an emergency.
More Security, Less Risk
Regardless of a school’s available budget, there are always safety measures that can be taken to minimize threats of violence. There are avenues to fund door hardware upgrades that will provide the right type of security for any school today.
In addition to state and federal grants, many schools take advantage of the federal government’s Cooperative Purchasing program to secure discounted pricing and pre-vetted vendors. These options help schools make decisions that will enhance security and mitigate risk.
* National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, and Bureau of Justice Statistics, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. Washington, DC; 2010.
April Dalton-Noblitt is Director of Vertical Marketing, Allegion.
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