Most organizations provide public restrooms (also called public washrooms or public toilets) for use by their customers. Having a public restroom provides a convenience for customers and is often required by law for certain types of businesses (food service establishments, for example.)

Public restrooms can create security problems if they are not effectively managed. In many locations, restrooms are tagged with graffiti or vandalized on an almost daily basis. In urban areas, homeless people often use public restrooms as bathhouses, and you can sometimes walk into a restroom to see a fully naked person taking a sponge bath using the sink. Public restrooms are often also used as a place to sell or consume illegal drugs.

More serious crimes, such as robberies or sexual assaults, can also be committed in public restrooms. Sometimes, an attacker will drag his victim into public restroom before carrying out his attack.

Within this Security Tip, we will provide some ideas on how public restrooms can be made safer and more secure.

Restroom Location

Traditionally, not much thought has been given to security when deciding where to locate public restrooms. They are often placed in out of the way locations so that they do not consume valuable floor space that can be used for other purposes. Often times, it is necessary to travel down a long corridor and pass through several doors before finally reaching the restroom.

For good security, restrooms should be placed in highly-visible locations so that their entrances can be directly observed by employees and other customers. When designing a new facility, security as well as customer convenience should be considered when planning the locations of public restrooms.

For existing facilities, it may not be practical to relocate existing restrooms. However, there are several things that can be done to allow better direct visual observation of restroom areas:

• When practical, add windows in the walls of the corridors that lead to restroom areas to permit observation from adjoining rooms.
• Add windows in all doors that provide access to the restroom corridor.
• Add full-height mirrors along walls to permit better observation of the restroom corridor and to minimize blind spots.
• Paint restroom corridor walls a light color and provide an adequate level of lighting so that the corridor is bright and cheerful rather than dark and dingy.

Restroom Doors

There are two philosophies on providing doors to restrooms. One philosophy says that restrooms should have lockable exterior doors so that access to these rooms can be controlled. The theory is that bad guys will be less likely to use the restrooms to commit improper acts if they have to go through the process of obtaining a key or code in order to gain access.

The other philosophy says that exterior restroom doors should be left completely unlocked. This provides maximum convenience for customers, and also deprives bad guys of the privacy that they may need to carry out their criminal act. For example, a graffiti artist may be less likely to tag a wall in a restroom if he thinks someone may walk in on him and catch him committing the act.

An expanded version of the “leave it unlocked” philosophy is the “doorless” restroom concept which calls for the elimination of the exterior restroom doors entirely. Using this concept, a vestibule entry is used at the entrance to the restroom. This allows people to walk freely in and out of the restroom without passing through a door.

Example of Vestibule at Restroom Entry

The vestibule walls provide visual screening to prevent people from looking in to the restroom from the outside. Because there is no door, sounds can freely travel outside of the restroom. Supporters of this concept feel that this is a security benefit as the screams of someone being attacked can be better heard when there is no door to block the sound. Supporters also claim that eliminating restroom doors can improve hygiene by eliminating the spread of germs and disease on the door handles.

The decision of whether or not to use a lockable restroom door needs to be made on a case-by-case basis depending on the level of security risk at your specific facility. A proper balance between security and customer convenience needs to be achieved or the situation will prove to be unworkable over the long-term.

Options for Controlling Access

If a decision is made to use lockable doors, there are several options available for controlling access:

Keyed Locks

The most common solution is to use a key-operated lock on restroom doors and to temporarily loan keys to customers who need access. The advantages of this option is that it is quick and inexpensive to implement, and readily accepted by customers. The disadvantage of this option is that employees need to take time to hand the key out and retrieve it from customers. This is manageable when the restrooms are only used a few times a day, but can be a real hassle if dozens of people per hour are asking for a key. In many cases, employees get tired of handing out the key, and hang it on the wall or leave it lying on the counter so customers can help themselves. This largely defeats the purpose of locking the restroom in the first place.

Restroom keys frequently get lost or stolen, and this requires replacement of keys and periodic rekeying of the locks. There are also hygiene issues associated with passing around a key and key fob that is regularly handled by people going to the toilet. This is of particular concern when the people handling the key are also handling food, such as in a food service establishment.

Keypad Locks

Another popular option is to use keypad locks on restroom doors, and to give the keypad code out to customers who request to use the restrooms. Giving a code to a customer is more convenient than handing out a key, as the employee doesn’t have to interrupt what he or she is doing to go get the key. Some businesses print the restroom code on the bottom of the customer’s receipt so that it is automatically given to paying customers.

The downside of keypad locks is that codes can be passed from person to person and often the whole community will soon know the code. To alleviate this weakness requires regular changing of the code. However, it is much quicker and less expensive to change a code on a keypad lock than it is to rekey a keyed lock and issue new keys.

Some users, particularly the elderly, may have difficulty in operating a keypad lock, so employees should be willing to personally unlock the door for customers they think may have a problem.

Token Operated Locks

Token-operated locks are a throwback from the old “pay toilet” days, but still can be an effective way to manage public restroom doors. A special token-operated lock is installed on each restroom door. This lock requires the use of a metallic token, approximately the size of a quarter. Tokens are handed out to customers who request to use the restroom. The locks are periodically emptied, allowing the tokens to be reused. The benefits of this system are that there are no keys or codes to be issued, and that unlike a code, a token can only be used once by a customer.

Example of Token-Operated Lock

Remotely-Operated Locks

This requires installing electric lock hardware on each restroom door, and providing remote door release buttons at each customer service location. When a customer needs to use the restroom, an employee would simply press a button which would cause the restroom door to unlock for a specific time period (60 to 120 seconds). The benefit of this system is that there are no keys, codes, or tokens to worry about. The remotely-operated lock system is also very convenient for customers.

Using Video Surveillance Cameras

Video surveillance cameras can be used to view and record activity in restroom corridors and other areas leading up to or adjacent to the restrooms. Recorded video can be useful in investigating security incidents, and cameras that are viewed live can be used to detect suspicious activity occurring around the restrooms. Cameras can also be used in conjunction with an intercom system and remotely-operated locks to allow the unlocking of doors only when the customer is actually standing outside of the restroom.

We do not recommend the installation of cameras in the restrooms themselves. While some facilities have done this, and claim that cameras are positioned in such a way that they cannot observe “private areas” of people in the restrooms, we feel that this concept is very troubling and loaded with potential problems. In addition to raising privacy issues, it is likely to create public relations nightmares and could possibly place the organization using the cameras in a position of legal liability.

Alternative Restroom Designs

One trend in public restroom design is to provide unisex toilets rather than sex-specific toilets, and to provide hand washing facilities located in a common area outside of the toilets. This is done to increase toilet availability and to achieve better “potty parity” between the sexes. The hand washing facilities (sinks, mirrors, and trash containers) are typically placed in an open, unlocked area just outside of the toilets. Both sexes use the same hand washing area.

This design concept provides security benefits because: 1) the lockable toilet rooms are smaller and much less attractive as a place to commit crimes; and 2) the exposed nature of the hand washing area makes it far less likely that improper activity will occur in this area.

Purpose

Automatic gates are used to control access into a secured area. Most commonly, automatic gates are used at the entrance to the facility, and are used to control vehicular access on and off of the site. For example, a manufacturing plant may use an automatic gate at its main entrance. All vehicles entering and exiting the plant must do so through the automatic gate. Automatic gates are also used at interior areas within a facility. For example, automatic gates are commonly used within the inside of a parking garage to separate employee parking areas from public areas of the garage.

Components of an Automatic Gate

Automatic gates consist of two basic components:

Gate: The gate is the physical object that is moved to block the gate opening. Most gates used in commercial applications are made of either ornamental iron or chain-link material and are usually designed to match the fencing adjacent to where the gate is installed.

Gate Operator: The gate operator is the machinery that moves the gate in and out of the gate opening. Gate operators are electrically-powered and may be chain-driven, gear-driven, or hydraulic depending on the type of operator.

Types of Automatic Gates

There are five types of commonly used automatic gates. These include the slide gate, cantilever gate, swing gate, vertical lift gate, vertical pivot lift gate, and barrier arm gate. The following is a brief description of each type of gate:

Slide Gate

The slide gate is probably the most commonly used type of automatic gate in light-duty commercial applications.

The slide gate is mounted parallel to the inside of the fence and slides horizontally back and forth across the gate opening. The slide gate uses rollers on the bottom of the gate to support it. These rollers typically ride along a metal track that has been installed along the ground across the gate opening. Slide gates are sometime also called “rolling gates” or “V-track gates”.

Because this type of gate uses rollers that must run along the ground, there can be problems with the rollers getting blocked by snow, ice, or debris. The rollers can also be a source of friction, making the gate operator have to work harder to open and close the gate. Due to these issues, some gate operator manufacturers discourage the use of slide gates.

Cantilever Gate

The cantilever gate is similar to the slide gate, but does not use rollers that slide along the ground to support it. Instead, the cantilever gate is supported from rails that run along the inside of the fence structure. This gate gets its name from the fact that the gate “cantilevers” (hangs over) the gate opening. Cantilever gates need to be much wider than slide gates in order to provide a section along the fence structure where the gate is supported. This section is called a “counterbalance” and is usually at least 1/2 the width of the gate opening itself

Cantilever gates are suspended across the gate opening from the counterbalance, with no rollers running along the ground to provide friction or to become obstructed. Because of this, cantilever gates are considered to be much more reliable than slide gates, and are commonly used for heavy-duty and industrial gate applications.

One downside to using cantilever gates is the additional width required to accommodate the counterbalance. This can be a problem at sites that have limited space available beside the gate.

Swing Gate

Swing gates are hinged on one side and swing open and closed like a door. Swing gates typically travel a 90 degree arc between their open and closed positions. Swing gates can consist of a single leaf or double leafs and can be in-swinging or out-swinging.

Swing gates are most commonly used in residential applications because of their low cost and ease of installation. Because swing gates travel over a large arc, space must be available to allow vehicles approaching the gate to remain clear while the gate opens or closes. The swinging arc of the gate also requires additional safety considerations to prevent people or vehicles from being hit or trapped by the moving gate.

Vertical Lift Gate

Vertical lift gates move up and down vertically over the gate opening. The gate must be lifted high enough to allow vehicles to pass underneath of it. This type of gate requires that tall vertical support towers be installed on each side of the gate opening.

Vertical lift gates are ideal when there is limited space available next to the gate opening. Vertical lift gates are also very fast and very reliable. The appearance of the vertical support towers gives these gates a very “industrial” appearance, which may make them unsuitable for use in locations where appearance is important.

Vertical Pivot Lift Gate

Vertical pivot lift gates rotate in and out of the gate opening. Vertical pivot lift gates are supported entirely from the gate operator itself and do not require any additional support structures.

Vertical pivot lift gates provide some of the benefits of vertical lift gates, but appear less obtrusive as they do not require vertical support towers. However, the footprint of a vertical pivot lift gate operator is larger and requires additional space beside the gate. Vertical pivot lift operators typically use springs to serve as a counterweight, and in our opinion, this makes them less reliable than a standard vertical lift gate.

 Barrier Arm Gate

Barrier arm gates consist of a vertical barrier arm that is rotated in and out of the gate opening. Barrier arm gates are used to control vehicles, not pedestrians.  As it is very easy for a person to walk beside or climb over or under the gate arm, barrier arm gates provide almost no security.

Barrier arm gates are used primarily to control access in and out of parking facilities, or to control vehicular traffic at manned security entrances.

Automatic Gate Accessories

There are many accessories that may be used in conjunction with automatic gates. Some of these include:

• Access control systems: Automatic gates can be operated by a variety of access control devices, including card readers, vehicle tag readers, digital keypads, and portable wireless transmitters. In most commercial installations, automatic gates are controlled by the same access control system that is used to control the entrance doors to the buildings, allowing the same access card to be used in both places.
• Intercom systems: Intercom stations are often provided at automatic gates to give visitors and delivery drivers a means to contact someone inside the facility when the gate is closed. Most of these systems will allow the gate to be remotely opened by someone inside the facility once the visitor’s identity has been verified.
• Video surveillance systems: Video cameras can be used to view and record activity at the gate. The video surveillance system can be used in conjunction with the intercom system. This allows the identity of visitors to be visually confirmed before opening the gate.
• Free exit devices: In many cases, it is desirable to have the gate open automatically when a vehicle exits the property. Devices that can be used to provide free exit include loop detectors, photoelectric beams, and pressure switches.
• Post office and utility company access: The post office and many utility companies may require a means to enter through the gate. This usually requires the use of one or more key-operated switches that are keyed to the post office’s or utility company’s standard key.
• Emergency access: Most fire departments and many law enforcement agencies require a means to gain access to your property through your gate at all times. Devices used to provide access can include key boxes (Knox Boxes), strobe or siren activated sensors, and radio receivers that can be activated by the emergency vehicle’s two-way radio.

Gate Safety Devices

Automatic gates can weigh as much as 20,000 pounds or more and can travel at speeds as high as 36 inches per second or faster. As a result, gates have the potential to cause serious property damage, injury or death. Therefore, it is extremely important that safety considerations be included when planning any type of automatic gate installation.

The primary guideline for automatic gate safety is Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Standard 325. This standard defines classes of automatic gate operators and the various techniques that should be used to prevent entrapment and reduce the potential for injury. Gate safety measures can include warning signage, audible warning devices, photoelectric sensors, contact (pressure) sensors, screening, safety cages, and other devices.

Because some of the requirements of UL 325 are difficult and costly to implement, many gate installers have chosen to downplay or ignore these requirements. It is often easy to get away with this because there is little enforcement of these standards in many parts of the country. However, the property owner who installs an automatic gate that is in violation of recognized standards does so at his own peril and may be held liable if someone is injured by the gate. 

Considerations When Choosing an Automatic Gate

The following are some basic things that must be considered when choosing an automatic gate:

• Opening size: The overall size of the opening will be a major determining factor in deciding what type of automatic gate to use. In general, the wider the gate opening, the more expensive it will be to install a gate. While gate widths of over 80′ are possible, gate widths over 40′ tend to be more expensive and more problematic. 
• Availability of Space: the amount of space available on all sides surrounding the gate can limit the type of automatic gate that can be used. If the facility is located on a large rural site  that has plenty of space, probably just about any type of automatic gate can be used. Facilities located in crowded urban or downtown areas where space is at a premium may be limited to only one or two options for automatic gates.
• Weight of gate: The overall weight of the gate determines the type and grade of gate operator required. In general, the wider and taller the gate, the more it will weigh. Gates of the same size will weigh differently depending on whether they are constructed of steel, aluminum or wood. Allowance must also be made for any increase in weight  that may be caused by accumulations of rain, snow, or ice on the gate surfaces.
• Opening and Closing Speed: Different applications require different opening and closing speeds. While slow opening speeds can be acceptable in residential and some commercial applications, they are totally unacceptable in high-volume industrial applications such as at a distribution center or airport. Opening speeds that are too slow can cause traffic backups and user frustration. Closing speeds that are too slow can encourage “tailgating” and other security violations.
• Duty Cycle: The number of times the gate will be opened and closed each day must be considered when selecting an automatic gate operator. Certain types of gate operators designed for residential use may only be intended to be cycled a dozen times per day or less. These types of gate operators will fail quickly in an industrial environment where the gate is cycled hundreds of times per hour on a 24 per hour per day, 365 day a year basis.
• Grade: Most gate operators are designed to operate gates that are on a level, flat grade. Gates that must open or close going up or down an incline can cause excessive wear on the gate operator and lead to premature  failure.
• Gate Construction: Simply adding a gate operator to a gate that was originally designed for manual operation can be a real mistake. Gates need to be specifically designed for automatic operation. Special types of rollers, bearings and other hardware are often needed to make a gate work reliably with an automatic gate operator. These items add relatively little cost to the overall installation, but make a big difference in gate performance and reliability.
• Weather Conditions: Special precautions must be taken when installing gates in regions where there are extreme hot or cold temperatures, high winds, or heavy snow or ice.
• Location: The type of neighborhood where the automatic gate is being installed must be considered when specifying a gate. In general, gates being installed near residential areas(where children are likely to be present) require more stringent safety measures than gates being installed in purely industrial environments.  
• Electrical Power: While some light-duty gate operators will work with standard 110/120 VAC electrical power, most medium and heavy-duty gate operators will require 220/240 VAC or three-phase electrical power. It can sometimes be difficult and costly to get this type of power to the place where the gate will be installed.

Conclusion

Deciding which type of automatic gate to use is a big decision. Automatic gates are expensive to install and require regular ongoing maintenance. Sometimes, purchasing a more expensive gate initially can actually save you money over the long-run due to reduced maintenance costs. Many architects and builders will specify the cheapest gate possible when the facility is being built. The property owner then has to live with the consequences, which can include frequent downtime and costly repairs.

If you are not sure what type of gate or gate operator to use, it is recommended that you retain the services of a professional engineer or independent security consultant to help you assess your needs and to select the correct product.

Warehouses and distribution centers are frequent targets of burglary, theft and pilferage. These facilities contain lots of new merchandise in its original packaging, something that is highly-desirable to both professional and amateur thieves.

The large quantity of merchandise in most warehouses also brings out an emotional feeling within many people that suggests: “Wow, there are so many of these items, they won’t miss just one…”. This feeling can sometimes tempt people who otherwise wouldn’t think of themselves as criminals.

Warehouses are subject to both internal and external theft. Internal thefts are committed by company employees, contractors, and other “insiders” who have a legitimate reason to be in the warehouse at certain times. External thefts are committed by “outsiders”- people outside of the company who have no legitimate need to be in the warehouse and are coming to the facility specifically to steal.

Truck drivers and other types of delivery service drivers can pose a specific security risk. Some drivers have gotten into the habit of stealing from their customers when making a pick-up or delivery, and consider this to be a justifiable “fringe benefit” given the inadequate wages that they feel they are making. Drivers are often allowed to wander freely while their trailer is being loaded or unloaded and can use this opportunity to gather up items that they wish to steal. It is often easy to place additional items into the trailer after it has been loaded, or to place stolen items into the cab of the truck unnoticed.

Along the same lines, many warehouse employees feel that they are underpaid and underappreciated, and look at stealing from the warehouse as a way to supplement their income and to get back at their employer at the same time. There are variety of ways in which warehouse employees can steal: some simply load merchandise into their car during the day; others place merchandise in trash bins and come back later to retrieve it; and still others may pack merchandise into a box and ship it to themselves using a bogus address that they have established just for this purpose.

Sometimes, dishonest warehouse employees work in conjunction with dishonest truck drivers to steal from the company. This can be a particularly dangerous combination: the warehouse employee has knowledge of what’s coming and going, can plant stolen merchandise in outgoing shipments, and can modify paperwork to cover his tracks – while the truck driver has the means to remove the merchandise from the warehouse. Collusion between warehouse employees and truck drivers is a big problem in some industries and is responsible for multiple millions of dollars of losses each year.

Here are a few suggestions for providing good security at warehouses and distribution centers:

• Try to separate areas used for Shipping away from areas used for Receiving. When possible, provide physical barriers between these two areas.
• Where possible, provide a separately fenced yard area that encloses the warehouse shipping and receiving doors. Establish a policy that prohibits personal vehicles from being driven into the shipping and receiving yard area. Keep the gate to the exterior yard area locked at times when the warehouse is closed.
• Do not allow employee or visitor parking near warehouse shipping and receiving doors.
• Do not allow truck drivers to wander through your warehouse. If possible, provide dedicated “driver lounge” for use by drivers. Driver lounge should contain restrooms and other amenities that can be used by drivers while they are waiting for their trailers to be loaded or unloaded. Access to driver lounge should not require travel through interior warehouse areas.
• Exterior trash and recycle containers should not be directly accessible from the inside of the warehouse. If possible, locate exterior trash and recycle containers away from building. Keep trash and recycle containers locked. Establish procedures for trash removal that requires at least two employees to be present when trash is being removed from the building.
• When possible, the warehouse manager’s office should be located so that direct visual observation of the shipping and receiving bay doors from the office is possible.
• Avoid stacking merchandise directly in front of shipping and receiving doors – try to maintain a “clear-zone of at least ten feet.
• Don’t leave valuables sitting unattended on exterior loading docks or platforms.
• Provide separate areas for the storage of valuable or highly desirable items, such as computer and electronic equipment, cigarettes, liquor, baby formula, expensive clothing, etc. If possible. create separately lockable “high-value” cages or rooms for the storage of these items.
• Use an electronic access control system to control access into high-value rooms or cages. Access control system should be capable of providing audit trail of who entered and when.
• Provide video surveillance system to record activity in high value cages and rooms. Cameras should be placed to view entrance points as well as interior areas.
• Consider instituting policy where at least two employees must be present in order to enter a high-value cage or room (“two-man rule”).
• In locations where overhead doors must be left open for ventilation purposes, provide folding metal security gates to protect the door opening when the door is left open. Consider the use of an electronic door monitoring system that sounds an alert when both the overhead door and the folding gate have been left open for longer than a specified time period.
• Strictly limit the number of exterior doors that can be used for employee entrance and exit. Avoid having entrance doors where they cannot be observed by staff. Provide audible exit alarms on all doors designated as emergency exit only doors. Consider the use of delayed-egress devices on emergency exit doors that are being frequently misused.
• Establish procedures to control outgoing shipments to prevent employees from making unauthorized shipments to themselves.
• Avoid situations where trailers filled with merchandise are stored in your warehouse yard at times when the warehouse is closed. If trailers containing merchandise must be stored outside, consider installing an intrusion alarm system to protect the exterior yard area and/or the trailers themselves.
• Large warehouses and distribution centers should have manned security checkpoints at the entrances to the site. All outbound trucks should be required to stop at the checkpoint for inspection prior to leaving the site. At smaller warehouses where a manned checkpoint cannot be justified, consider having a supervisor or security officer make unannounced checks of outbound vehicles on a random basis.

Many governmental agencies require that commercial businesses install key boxes on the exterior of their buildings to allow fire department access. These boxes are typically installed at primary building entrances and contain things such as master keys, access cards, and building floor plans. One major manufacturer of fire department key boxes is the Knox Company, so these key boxes are often called “Knox Boxes”, even though several other manufacturers produce similar types of products.

Fire department key boxes are usually purchased and installed by the building owner, but come without the exterior lock. After the box has been installed, the owner arranges an appointment with the fire department, who comes out to the site and installs the exterior lock. At this time, the owner places building master keys, access cards, and floor plans into the box. Once the box has been locked by the fire department, the owner no longer has access, and it can only be accessed by the fire department.

All key boxes in a particular fire district zone are keyed alike. All fire department vehicles who respond to this zone carry a key that unlocks all of the key boxes in their zone. In a smaller city or town, there may be only one zone, so one key can unlock everything; in larger cities, there may be many different zones and many different keys.

The fire department key box is typically used when the building is closed and no one is around to let the fire department into the premises. The first responding emergency vehicle uses the fire department key to unlock the key box, and then removes the master keys and access cards from inside the box. These keys and cards are used by fire department personnel to gain entry to the premises, and to get inside of any locked rooms on the inside of the building.

Fire department key boxes are a weak spot in the building’s overall security program because anyone who has access to the key box has access to every area of the building. An intruder who compromises the key box literally has the “keys to the castle” and can go almost anywhere that he wants.

There are two primary ways in which the fire department key box can be compromised. The first way is for the fire department’s key to fall into the wrong hands. This could occur if the fire department key was lost or stolen from a fire department vehicle. This would give the person who took the key access to all buildings within the local fire zone (possibly hundreds of different businesses). Preventing this type of event from occurring is completely outside of the control of the property owner. One would hope that the fire department takes adequate precautions to keep fire department keys safe, and would quickly rekey the key box locks throughout the fire zone if a key to this zone was lost or stolen.

The second way for the fire department key box to be compromised is for it to be physically attacked. Most key boxes are well-constructed and designed to resist attack, but are not impenetrable. An intruder who has the proper tools and ample time can eventually compromise the key box. Some intruders actually remove the key box from the wall, and then take it to another location where they have more time to break-in to the box without being seen. They then return to the building to burglarize it once they have the master keys that were in the key box.

The most dangerous type of situation is where the intruder breaks-in to the key box surreptitiously without leaving any physical signs that the box has been tampered with. This can allow the intruder to steal keys and access cards and use them to make repeated entries into the premises over an extended period of time without being noticed. A creative intruder could even steal the original key box and replace it with a substitute key box to avoid the theft being noticed.

Here are some tips for providing improved security of your fire department key box:

• When possible, arrange to have the fire department key box installed in a well-lit location that is visible from the street. Avoid having the fire department key box installed in hidden or out-of-the way places.
• Recess-mounted key boxes are considerably more attack-resistant than surface mounted key boxes and should be used whenever possible. If you don’t currently have a good place to install a recess-mounted box, consider constructing a concrete or masonry pillar next to the entrance just to hold the key box. An existing wall can also be faced with masonry veneer to provide a place where a recess-mounted box can be installed.
• If the key box must be surface mounted, make sure that it is rigidly attached to a structural support member and not fastened to just the wallboard or siding.
• Provide an alarm tamper switch within the fire department key box. Connect this switch to your intrusion alarm system or security management system. This system should be programmed to notify an off-site alarm monitoring station or on-site security officers anytime that the box has been opened.
• If your facility has a video surveillance system, provide a camera that views the area where the fire department key box is located.
• If you use a security guard or patrol service, have the security officer regularly check the fire department key box as a part of his nightly rounds.

Purpose

Security window film is used to enhance the security of regular window glass. When properly applied, security window can provide the following benefits:

• Security window film can increase the strength of the window, which can delay or prevent entry by a burglar.
• Security window film can reduce injuries caused by flying glass when the window is shattered. This could occur because of an accident, an act of vandalism, a bomb blast, or a natural disaster.
• Certain types of security window film can provide benefits not directly related to security. These can include tinting of the window, reduction of the heat passing through the glass, and the reduction of damages caused by the sun’s ultraviolet rays.

Types of Security Window Film

Security window film consists of one or more layers of polyester film, laminated together with special adhesives. Security window film typically ranges in thickness from 4 mils (100 micron) to 14 mils (350 micron) or more. Thicker films are usually constructed by laminating multiple layers of thinner film together. Different types of films and adhesives are used depending on the characteristics desired in the finished product. Security window film is packaged in rolls of varying widths, the most common being 36″, 48″, 60″, and 72″. The length of film on a roll usually varies between 50 and 100 feet. 

In general, the thicker the film is, the stronger it is. As the thickness of the film increases, the degree of break strength, tear strength, and puncture strength also increases. Thicker film usually costs more due to the greater amount of materials needed and the additional manufacturing time required.

For most security applications, 8 mil to 14 mil thickness film is commonly used. Thinner films are often used in lower threat environments or when the primary reason for installing the film is for tinting or solar protection. Thicker films are often used in higher threat environments where additional security protection is needed.  

Installation of Security Window Film

Security window film is most commonly installed on a retrofit basis on the inside of existing windows. The installation is done at the job site, and involves the cutting and applying of the film to the surface of the glass of each window. The film is attached using a special adhesive and must be carefully installed to eliminate creases and air bubbles. Correctly installing security window film requires a high degree of skill and is generally done by professional installers.

The most widely used method of installing window film on existing windows is known as the “daylight” method, where the film is applied leaving a slight gap between the edge of the film and the edge of the window frame. The daylight installation method provides a reasonable degree of protection against forced entry and flying glass and is considered adequate for most facilities. However, many security experts feel that the daylight method does not provide an adequate amount of protection against the forces generated by a bomb blast or an attack by a particularly aggressive intruder. 

When an increased degree of protection is required, a different type of installation method, known as the “anchored” method, should be used instead of the daylight method. There are two types of anchored installation methods, the “mechanical” method, and the “wet” method.

The mechanical method involves the physical attachment of the window film to the window frame. Using this method, the window film is applied to the glass, but instead of being cut near the edge of the glass, it is overlapped over the window frame, and mechanically attached to the frame itself. The film can be attached to the frame using metal batten strips, or by using one of several devices designed specifically for the purpose. Depending on the degree of strength desired, the film can be attached on one, two, or all four sides of the window pane.

The wet method involves the attachment of the window film to the window frame with an adhesive sealant. Using this method, the window film is applied to the glass using the daylight method, but a little less gap is left between the film and the edge of the frame. A bead of special adhesive sealant is then applied around all four edges of the film, creating a tight bond between the film and the window frame. The use of adhesive sealant can have a negative impact on the appearance of the window, particularly if poorly installed. To solve this problem, there are products manufactured that can be installed along the edge of the glass to conceal the sealant and create a finished appearance.

Tempered glass windows shatter into tiny cubes when broken, making the use of the daylight installation method ineffective on these windows. Either a mechanical or wet anchored installation method should be used on tempered glass windows.

 Anti-Graffiti Window Film

There is a special type of window film designed specifically to prevent damage caused by graffiti. This film is installed on the exterior of the glass (unlike security film, which is installed on the inside) and is designed to absorb damage caused by painting, etching, and other types of “tagging”. This film is sometimes called “sacrificial film”, because it is intended to be removed and replaced after a tagging attack. The cost of replacing film is much less than the cost of replacing the glass, making it economical for use in locations where graffiti on windows is an ongoing problem. 

It is important to note that anti-graffiti film does not provide any significant protection against intrusion or bomb blast, so there may be cases where both types of film may be needed on the same window (anti-graffiti film on the outside, security film on the inside.)

Suggestions for Using Security Window Film

1. The decision to use or not use security window film should only be made after a comprehensive security assessment has been conducted. The security assessment should provide guidance as to where security window film should be used, and establish the type of security film and attachment methods to be used based upon the level of risk at the specific facility.
2. The use of security window film to mitigate the effects of bomb blast is a complicated matter. If your primary reason for installing window film is to reduce injuries caused by bomb blast, a detailed blast analysis should first be conducted by a qualified bomb blast consultant. This consultant can help to specify the type of window film that should be used and the recommended attachment method. This consultant may also specify supplementary “catchment” systems that catch the glass when it is blown out of the frame, greatly increasing the degree of blast protection.
3. Choose a reputable local installation contractor to install your security window film. Obtain and check references, and ask to visit other facilities in the local area where the same type of product as you are considering has already been installed. If possible, visit installations that are at least several years old so you can see how the film looks after it has aged.
4. Any type of anchored security window film installation is only as strong as the window frame itself. In some cases, reinforcement or replacement of the window frames may be required in order to provide the desired level of protection.
5. In some cases, windows may already have tinted or solar window films installed upon them. These films typically do not provide any significant protection against intrusion or bomb blast and may need to be removed from the windows prior to the installation of security window film.
6. Security window film is not bullet-resistant. If your facility requires protection against bullets, consider the use of bullet-resistant glass and other materials. (See Security Tip #3-10: Introduction to Bullet-Resistant Materials)
7. Many intrusion alarm (burglar alarm) systems make use of glass breakage sensors to detect when a window has been broken. These can include sensors that mount on the glass itself, as well as acoustical sensors that are mounted to the walls or ceilings and listen for the sounds of breaking glass. The use of security window film may reduce the effectiveness of these sensors – be sure to notify your alarm company prior to installing window film and test all sensors for proper operation after the film has been installed.

Confidential information is often stored in desks or file cabinets. This confidential information can include personnel records, marketing plans, research and development plans, secret formulas and other types of sensitive information. In some cases, people also store cash, negotiable securities and other high value assets in desks or file cabinets.

Many people think that their assets are safe if they are stored in a locking desk drawer or locking cabinet. This is far from the truth.

Most of the locks typically used on desks and file cabinets are simple locks that can be compromised in a number of ways.

First, most locks used on desks and file cabinets use a standard “factory” lock provided by the furniture manufacturer. In many cases, the manufacturer provides only a small number of different key combinations. Some manufacturers provide as few as twenty different keys. This means that it is highly probable that the key to your desk also fits hundreds of other desks produced by the same manufacturer. This also means that it is highly probable that hundreds of other people have a key that fits your desk!

This can be a particular problem in large companies that have standardized on a particular brand of furniture. In these companies, it is very likely that many desks and file cabinets will be keyed alike. This usually means that one employee’s desk key will probably work on dozens of other desks and file cabinets throughout the organization.

The second weakness of standard factory locks on desks and file cabinets is that they usually have a key number printed on them. This is usually a three or four digit code that is stamped on the face of the lock. This number tells which key fits the lock, and allows a duplicate key to be ordered from the furniture manufacturer or from any locksmith.

A person who wanted to gain access to your desk or file cabinet could simply look at your lock and get the key number. He could then look around the company to see if he could find a key with a matching number. If unsuccessful, he could simply go to the corner locksmith and order a key. This person would now have access to your desk or file cabinet anytime he wanted, and you would be none the wiser.

Finally, most standard factory locks used on desks and file cabinets are easily “picked” open. Anyone with a set of lock picks or even a paperclip can usually open these locks in very little time. Unlike door locks, which usually require some level of skill to “pick”, desk and file cabinet locks can usually be opened by almost anyone.

The conclusion: standard desk and file cabinet locks provide almost no security. They should not be used to store high value assets or confidential information.

Suggestions

• File cabinets that are used to store low-to-medium value assets should be equipped with locking “slidebars”. These slidebars mount on the exterior of the file cabinet and are locked using a padlock. When locked, the slidebars prevent the file drawers from being opened. High-security padlocks (such as the Medeco) should be used with the slidebars instead of regular padlocks. Slidebars and high-security padlocks are available from most of the larger locksmithing companies.
• High value assets should be stored in a burglary-rated file cabinet or burglary-rated safe. “Burglary-rated” means that the file cabinet or safe has been designed to resist break-ins and has been tested by an independent testing laboratory (most often UL). Burglary-rated file cabinets and safes should be purchased from a reputable safe and vault company.
• Fire-rated file cabinets and safes are designed to resist fire, not to resist break-in! Many fire-rated file cabinets and safes use the same type of “factory lock” described above and provide very little security. Look at the UL label on your file cabinet or safe to determine how it is rated. If unsure, consult a safe and vault specialist.
• Remove the key number from your desk and file cabinet locks. This number can usually be removed easily using sandpaper or a small metal file. (Be sure to write down the number on the inside of the drawer for future reference.)

Purpose

Bullet-resistant materials are commonly used where the threat of attack by an armed criminal is likely. While the level of security risk at most facilities doesn’t warrant the use of  such materials, some facilities, due to the nature of their operation or their location, do find the use of bullet-resistant materials to be a necessary security precaution.

Bullet-resistant materials can both protect employees as well as discourage robbery attempts and other types of crimes involving the use of a firearm. Bullet-resistant materials are commonly used at banks, pharmacies, check cashing centers, and other businesses that handle cash or narcotics in high-risk neighborhoods. Bullet-resistant materials are also used at public facilities such as police stations, jails and courthouses.

In recent years, certain types of facilities that didn’t previously use bullet-resistant materials are now using them. For example, hospitals in high-crime areas now use bullet-resistant materials on the exterior of their Emergency Departments to protect against gang-related drive-by shootings. Also, some data centers now install bullet-resistant materials in their lobbies to prevent forced takeover of the facility by armed attackers. 

Type of Bullet-Resistant Materials

There are four main categories of bullet-resistant materials: bullet-resistant glazing, bullet-resistant panels, bullet-resistant doors, and bullet-resistant accessories.

Bullet-Resistant Glazing

Bullet-resistant glazing is probably the best known type of bullet-resistant material. Bullet-resistant glazing is used when ballistic protection is needed, but direct visual contact is also required between the protected area and the non-protected area. Bullet-resistant glazing is commonly used at bank teller cages and other types of service counters, providing protection between the public area and the area that contains the cash or other valuables. Bullet-resistant glazing is also used on the interior of lobbies, providing separation between the public and non-public side of the lobby. In addition, bullet-resistant glazing is sometimes used on the exterior of the building to protect against stray gunfire or attacks from a sniper.

There are four commonly used types of bullet-resistant glazing, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. The following is an overview of each type of material:

Laminated Glass

• Consists of multiple layers of glass laminated with protective interlayer, usually polyvinyl butyral (PVB).
• Least expensive type of bullet-resistant glazing.
• Suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.
• Scratch-resistant.
• Because it is glass, it can be broken, and does not provide protection against a sustained physical attack.
• Heaviest type of bullet-resistant glazing; weight may require special structural considerations.

Acrylic

• Suitable only for indoor use.
• One-half the weight of glass.
• Scratches relatively easily unless provided with special coating.
• Available only in lower ballistic ratings.
• Offers some degree of protection against physical attack.

Polycarbonate

• Suitable only for indoor use.
• Weighs less than glass.
• Best ability to fully capture incoming bullet, prevents ricochets and spalling.
• Offers protection against physical attack.
• Has slight grayish tint; not as clear as glass or acrylic.
• Scratches relatively easily.
• Costs more than laminated glass.

Glass-Clad Polycarbonate

• Consists of polycarbonate with a layer of glass added to it.
• Suitable for indoor and outdoor use.
• Glass side resists scratching and provides weather-resistance.
• Weighs less than glass.
• Offers protection against physical attack.
• Has slight grayish tint; not as clear as glass or acrylic.
• Costs more than laminated glass.

Bullet-Resistant Panels

Bullet-resistant panels are most commonly used to protect the walls surrounding the openings where bullet-resistant glazing is used. For example, if bullet-resistant glazing was used at a customer service window in a pharmacy, bullet-resistant panels would be used in the wall on both sides of the window as well as below and above the window itself.

The use of bullet-resistant panels allows walls to be constructed using standard stud-wall construction techniques rather than requiring that a concrete or masonry wall be provided. Bullet-resistant panels are typically fastened to the studs and then covered with regular drywall. When painted, the bullet-resistant wall looks like any other.

There are two popular types of bullet-resistant wall panels: steel, and fiberglass composite. Steel wall panels are the least expensive but weigh more. Steel wall panels are difficult to work with on the job site and usually must be ordered from the factory in the desired size. Fiberglass composite wall panels cost more than steel wall panels but weigh about half as much. Fiberglass composite panels are much easier to work with and can be cut and drilled on the job site.

Bullet-Resistant Doors

Bullet-resistant doors are used when a door is required in a wall that forms part of a bullet-resistant barrier. Bullet-resistant doors are specifically designed to provide ballistic protection and usually come as a complete unit consisting of both door and door frame. Bullet-resistant doors come in both wood and metal versions and are available with or without windows.

Bullet-Resistant Accessories

Bullet-resistant accessories are used when it is necessary to pass objects through a bullet-resistant barrier. Bullet-resistant accessories are also used to allow direct audio communications between both sides of the barrier. Bullet-resistant accessories include speak-through devices, money trays, gun ports, and package receivers that allow packages of various sizes to be passed through the barrier.

Ballistic Ratings

Bullet-resistant materials are sometimes incorrectly called “bullet-proof” materials. Most of these materials are in fact not bullet-proof, but only provide protection against a certain range of types of firearms for a certain period of time.

Firearms are available in a wide variety of calibers, each which have a different ability to penetrate a bullet-resistant material. Even within cartridges of the same caliber, there are different bullet weights and types and different powder loadings. Rifle cartridges generally have much more power than handgun cartridges, and shotguns may pose a different type of threat than either handguns or rifles. Repeated gunfire against the same surface also has a different effect than a single bullet does.

To help sort through all of these variables, Underwriters Laboratories (UL) has developed a written standard, UL 752, that establishes ratings for bullet-resistant materials. UL 752 specifies eight levels of bullet-resistant ability, ranging from Level 1 to Level 8. The most common ratings used by commercial businesses are:

• Level 1 – Provides protection against 9mm and less powerful handgun cartridges.
• Level 2 – Provides protection against .357 magnum and less powerful handgun cartridges.
• Level 3 – Provide protection against .44 magnum and less powerful handgun cartridges.

Level 4, 5, 7, and 8 are generally needed to provide protection against common rifle cartridge calibers.  UL 752 also has supplementary ratings for threats from a shotgun.

In general, the higher the rating level, the better the protection, but the greater the cost. Higher rated materials are also generally thicker and weigh more, and there may be a limited availability of materials and accessories at the higher rating levels. 

Suggestions for Using Bullet-Resistant Materials

1. The decision to use or not use bullet-resistant materials should only be made after a comprehensive security assessment has been conducted. The security assessment should provide guidance as to where bullet-resistant materials should be used, and establish the minimum UL rating level required based upon the level of risk at the specific facility.
2. A systems approach must be taken when designing a bullet-resistant barrier; the wall, glazing, and any accessories must all be rated to provide the minimum desired UL rating level. It doesn’t make sense to provide a Level 3 rated window when the wall surrounding the window is unprotected. Also consider the possibility of ricochet and the potential for a bullet to penetrate the adjacent walls, ceilings, and floors.
3. Always use materials that are UL listed and labeled. Some manufacturers can be deceptive and use terms such as “tested to UL standards”, “meets requirements of UL Level 3″, etc. even though their products haven’t actually been tested by UL.
4. The thickness and weight of bullet-resistant materials can have an impact on building construction and may affect everything from the size of the structural beams to the type of window coverings used. Be sure to involve your architect or other design professional in the planning of your bullet-resistant system.
5. Employee security awareness training must be provided in conjunction with the installation of a bullet-resistant barrier. Employees need to know how to react when a weapon is presented, even if they are behind a protective barrier. Employees may also be at increased risk when entering or leaving the protected area, and need to be given guidelines on how this can be accomplished safely.