School Security
Last month I mentioned a PBS special on school security called The Path to Violence. This show is currently available on PBS.org for online viewing (embedded below). Paul Timm is a board certified Physical Security Professional (PSP), the president of RETA Security, Inc., and one of the nation’s leading experts in school and campus safety, […]
Georgia school shooting: A hero emerges – Christian Science Monitor Though the school has a system where visitors must be buzzed in by staff, the gunman may have slipped inside behind someone authorized to be there, Alexander said. The suspect, who had no clear ties to the school, never got past the front office, where […]
It’s one of my favorite times of the year…”Back to School!”, and school security is all over the news. How do we keep our kids safe at school? Are police officers the answer? A Charleston police officer adjusts to the elementary school security beat – Charleston City Paper Wilson is going to become a familiar […]
After yesterday’s tragedy at the Sparks Middle School in Nevada, some reports have stated that implementing physical security for schools is not enough. From a column in today’s edition of USA Today… “The specific location of the shooting spree — on the playground within the school’s campus — points out the limitations of many of […]
This week, two teachers have been killed on school grounds, allegedly by students. Michael Landsberry, a teacher from Sparks Middle School in Sparks, Nevada, and Colleen Ritzer, a teacher at Danvers High School in Danvers, Massachusetts, are remembered as wonderful teachers, beloved by their students and colleagues. Yesterday an 11-year-old boy brought several knives, a […]
Eric Paul of Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies sent me these photos of another school lockdown product that a local school was using. The lock is kept locked, and the add-on product keeps the latchbolt retracted until there’s an emergency and the teacher needs to lock the door. This product can not be used on fire doors, […]
The Connecticut State’s Attorney has released a report on the December 2012 shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut (full report available here). Although it details the actions of the shooter, Adam Lanza, there are still many unanswered questions. One of the details that surprised me most was the duration of the event. Staff first heard […]
Saturday, December 14th, marked the one-year anniversary of the senseless violence that took the lives of 20 children and 6 staff members at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. I don’t think there’s any doubt that the tragedy has resulted in increased focus on the security of our schools. I have written many hardware specifications […]
If you search Google News for the words “school” and “security”, the search engine will return millions of results. There are stories about many cities, states, and school districts working on plans and funding to increase the safety and security of their schools. There are reports about incidents at schools, and products that may help […]
Many classrooms have a door connecting to the adjacent classroom. Correct me if I’m wrong, but since most classrooms do not require a second means of egress, I think those doors are typically there for convenience. I tried to find something in past codes that would have required the second door, but so far I […]
When this great Fixed-it Friday photo showed up in my inbox (sent by John Emry), it made me think about the “why” behind the creative modification. This improvised hold-open device has been retrofitted on all of the stair doors in this particular school. Presumably, the teacher leads her line of students down the corridor, pushes […]
Should schools be held liable for “unacceptable” levels of security? How much security is enough? What steps can schools take to not only provide physical protection for the building and its occupants, but to protect against lawsuits?
What do you think? Did the school overreact, considering that the parent was known to staff? Or should adherence to security plans be a zero-tolerance policy?…
First, a few things…For everyone who still has their fingers and toes crossed from yesterday’s fire door test, the wood doors passed! In addition to addressing the perimeter clearance problems, a door shoe was tested…
Bob Larson of Builders Hardware brought up a good question the other day…what’s the best way to handle the outside trim on the exterior pairs on a school? We all have our preferences, but given the changing security…
At least 20 students at Franklin Regional Senior High School in Murrysville were injured, and the alleged attacker is in custody, said Dan Stevens, a spokesman for Westmoreland County Emergency Management…
Some schools include seclusion rooms, where a child may be placed if he/she needs time to calm down without endangering themselves or others…
Even if we only consider the space with the smallest occupant load – the classroom, the codes do not give us many options for preventing a student from eloping. If the classroom has an exterior door that is required for egress, it can not be locked in the direction of egress….
After Tuesday’s school shooting in Oregon, there were several news reports about a school security product developed by a group of teachers. It’s called “The Sleeve,” a steel sleeve that fits over the door closer arm to prevent an intruder from opening the classroom door from the corridor…
This is a guest post from John Truempy, CRL, CMIL, president of ALOA – Institutional Locksmith. This article appeared in ALOA’s publication – Keynotes, last October. My question for you is…how can we use our industry expertise to help with these efforts?
The following article announces yet another “classroom security device.” Despite the inventors’ best intentions, I do not support methods of securing classrooms that a) inhibit free egress, b) prevent fire doors from latching, or c) can be used by unauthorized individuals…
Last weekend I was at a party and found myself across the table from an unsuspecting teacher-friend who had no idea that she was about to be grilled about the security procedures at her school…
Every school shooting is disturbing, but seeing a number like 74 shootings is enough to drive schools to use any methods possible to protect students and staff from the imminent threat of an intruder. As we’ve discussed before, many of the security devices being employed by schools are not code-compliant, and/or not a good long-term solution.
In addition to providing support and training on door-related code requirements, my job also includes participating in code development – helping to propose changes to the codes that affect our business, and reviewing proposals from others. There is currently research underway that may propose to add school security requirements to a national code…
It seems like just about every week I see a new classroom security device that promises to thwart intruders and help keeps kids safe in school. As I’ve said multiple times, many of these devices are not code-compliant, and trade security for life safety. In evaluating these products, my criteria are…
These are egress doors in an occupied school gym. Luckily they are going to be replaced shortly, but meanwhile, I’m Wordless.
When we talk about school security / school safety we bring different perspectives to the table. Many of us are parents or grandparents of children in school. Some are educators or administrators, or those responsible for designing, securing, or maintaining school buildings. Others are first responders or code officials. In a recent edition of the Washington […]
I’m working on an article for a print publication, that covers the some of the common code issues affecting schools and mistakes that may be made – particularly in the rush to secure a school against an intruder. The topics I’ve included are: access via main entrance doors emergency egress doors securing classroom doors bathroom […]
After Sandy Hook, school districts around the country began focusing intently on security systems like fences, guards, and shatterproof glass at entries. The new Sandy Hook will have impact-resistant windows and an intercom screening systems for visitors…
School Guard Glass is a new product that can retrofit existing 1/4″ glass at a cost of about $1,000-$1,200 per full glass door lite, and it kept the testing agent at bay for 6 minutes during independent testing. What do you think?
One of the speakers at last week’s NFPA School Safety Summit was Katherine Schweit, a Supervisory Special Agent for the FBI. Agent Schweit spoke about the FBI’s Active Shooter Initiative, and the published study that was recently released. Many of us are focused on how to provide better security and safety for schools and other types […]
It has been two years since the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Security has become a priority for many school districts, and I do believe that schools are more secure now. Added security won’t be able to prevent every school-related incident, especially when so many of the “intruders” have actually been members of the school community – often students…
A few weeks ago I wrote about a community group in Ohio that raised $30,000 to purchase a barricade device for each classroom door in their school district. Over the weekend I saw a headline about this school district from the Newark Advocate: SWL Schools Unable to Use Donated Door Barricades…
As I’ve said before, I would like to collect the official statements on school security from various jurisdictions, to get a more complete picture of what is being approved from one state to the next. Back in September I posted a memo from the New York State Education Department, and today I received a copy […]
Paul Timm: “…The riskiest options employed today rely on relatively inexpensive aftermarket products that cover strike plates, prop open locked doors, or prevent ingress from the hallway…”
Among the allegations is that Sandy Hook Elementary School had security policies and procedures in place that teachers weren’t able to follow on the day of the killings. Classroom doors could only be locked from the outside with keys…
Parents of middle schoolers at the W.F. Burns Middle School in Valley, Alabama, received the letter below asking them to send a canned food item to school for use as part of their school security plan. I’m going to keep Wordless on this one, so I can hear the opinions of all y’all…
I’ve started 2015 with quite a few posts about school security. This is probably because I’ve been working so closely with the BHMA Codes and Government Affairs Committee and other organizations to review state requirements and propose code changes that will increase security in schools while maintaining safety. I tend to write about whatever I’m […]
Windows and glass doors are among the most vulnerable access points in a school. Criminals can break glass to climb through or reach in and unlock the entry. The security industry has responded with two solutions to slow down a criminal looking to break into a school building…
Paul Timm: “For those pursuing alternative solutions, it is important to consider that some schools have installed after-market devices only to find out that code violations require their removal. Buyer beware!”
This PSA was recently released by the LA County Sheriff’s Department. It is a very graphic representation of how to survive an active shooter situation. It is obviously not acceptable for use with kids, but it does show a classroom security lock used by a teacher, as well as a locked exit blocking the escape of a victim…
I’ve written several posts about glass used in schools, and many posts about traditional wired glass (refer to the Glass tab above). A reader recently shared the video below and although it was recorded several years ago it includes very valid information for schools to consider when addressing security. I can’t embed the video, so […]
When discussing code-compliant security with staff from schools and other types of facilities, I’ve heard one comment several times…“If ALICE training [the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, our local police department] advocates the barricading of doors with furniture, why can’t we use the door barricade devices that are now on the market?” ALICE is […]
On February 12th, the Sandy Hook Advisory Commission released the draft of their final report, presented to Connecticut State Governor Dannel P. Malloy. The report includes many recommendations to improve school security, including several related to locks / physical security…
The group ultimately raised over $30,000 and purchased the devices, but were then told that the devices did not comply with egress code requirements and a variance would be needed before the devices could be used. The variance hearing for the barricade devices to be used on the district’s high school was held yesterday, and the variance request was denied…
Will lawmakers uphold the codes that have been protecting us for decades, or will they change state laws to satisfy the parents and teachers who are pushing for a change that would sacrifice free egress in favor of inexpensive locking methods?
If you don’t think the Ohio barricade situation applies to you because you don’t live in Ohio, or because you don’t do school-related work, think again. Please read the article below. It is crucial for us to spread the word about a balanced approach to school security.
The National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM) has posted a document on their website which offers that support, by providing guidance on the use of classroom door security and locking hardware. The 6-page document includes a suggested classroom door checklist, with code references for each item on the list…
A bill to change the state fire code and allow barricade devices in Arkansas schools is moving through the legislative process, despite “strong objections” from State Police Capt. Lindsey Williams, who serves as state fire marshal. Several politicians including an Arkansas state senator are investors in a company that makes barricade devices – ULockitSecurity…
I’ve edited this article and the downloadable PDF – feel free to share it!…There is a question currently under debate in several jurisdictions across the country – should barricade devices be used to secure classroom doors during an active-shooter incident?
The Leelanau County Sheriff’s Department received $128,750 from a Michigan State Police school safety grant, and Sheriff Mike Borkovich said every penny will go toward installing a tool designed to make doors impenetrable. “I think it’s very much just like a caveman picking up a gigantic rock and putting it on the front of its cave,” Borkovich said. “You are not going to be able to go through that door. It buys us time.”
This video offers some good options for school security, along with predicted outcomes of the Sandy Hook lawsuit regarding security glazing and lockable classroom doors. We need to make schools SAFE AND SECURE – these goals are not mutually exclusive. You need to login or register to bookmark/favorite this content.
Lt. Joseph A. Hendry Jr. , CLEE – “As I’m reading the open source material on the German plane crash, I keep returning to one thought: Someone developed a fail safe way to keep people out of the cockpit, without adequately thinking about what would happen if the threat was already in the cockpit.”
Take a close look around the next time you’re in a school building. Notice the fire alarms, extinguishers, rescue windows and frequent drills? They can all be traced back to that fateful day, experts say. “All of that put together has made our school buildings so safe when it comes to fires,” said David G. Hess, Cleveland Hill’s director of facilities. “That fire has really made a difference.”
I’m at the BHMA Codes and Government Affairs meeting in sunny Fort Lauderdale, and the “public service announcement” below was just shown during our discussion about codes that pertain to the use of barricade devices in schools. It illustrates the marketing methods used by some of the manufacturers of these locking devices. I will remain […]
Why? Because it’s easier and less expensive to secure the door when you don’t consider codes or safety.
Here is my second draft script for an upcoming whiteboard animation video. I really appreciate everyone who made suggestions for yesterday’s script – I have made some changes. Please comment if there is anything I need to add or change for this video about a very important topic. Options for Securing Classroom Doors [Draft Script] […]
This is a shorter version of my article Barricade Device? Think Twice! that can be used in newsletters if the original article is too long. Please leave a comment below if you submit either article for publication, including the name of the publication and the approximate date.
The Door Security & Safety Foundation recently published their position on school safety and classroom barricade devices. I have added this link to the Schools tab above. The mission of the Door Security and Safety Foundation (DSSF) is “to promote safe and secure openings that enhance life safety.” DSSF is dedicated to serving the public […]
These Fixed-it Friday photos depict one school’s method for providing classroom security. The outside lever is kept locked at all times, so closing the door is all that’s required to secure the classroom during an emergency. But having a classroom door locked all the time can be inconvenient – someone has to open the door each time a student or staff member wants to enter…
I can understand politicians would have a hard time voting against anything that’s supposed to help protect children in an active shooter situation. On the other hand, I’m not happy with the rationale that suggests that because school fires are on the decline but active shooters are on the rise, this type of locking system can be used…
This article, which appears in the May 2015 issue of Doors & Hardware, is a good explanation of lock functions that might be helpful when a school is considering how to address classroom security. I will add this to the list of resources on my Schools tab (above)…
This document does not technically apply to facilities located outside of Minnesota, but this reasonable insight from authorities with decades of fire safety experience can not be ignored. To me, this rationale was particularly powerful given the fact that Minnesota is the location of the 2005 school shooting at Red Lake High School, where a 16-year-0ld killed 7 people and wounded 5 others. Although the classroom doors were locked…
Today’s Fixed-it Friday photo came from Paul Cernak of Allegion. It’s another creatively-ingenious lockdown method that is not code-compliant. The white block is attached to the frame with a magnet. The outside lever of the active leaf is kept in the locked position, and the block prevents the door from closing completely…
I could use your help with my testimony for the upcoming hearing. If you were sitting in the hot seat in front of the Board, what would you say??
As I have been preparing for tomorrow’s public hearing in Ohio along with members of the door and hardware industry, code officials, and others interested in the classroom barricade issue, I came to a realization: some of the people involved in this debate are not familiar with how barricade devices work…
As many of you know, a public hearing with the Ohio Board of Building Standards was held last Friday. This hearing was part of an ongoing discussion about whether Ohio should allow barricade devices to be used to secure classroom doors. There was a previous hearing where invited speakers presented their views; on Friday the […]
MANY people have asked me about the potential for liability if a school chooses to secure their classroom doors using a barricade device that inhibits or deters egress. Could a school be held liable? I didn’t know the answer, so we enlisted the help of an attorney to help us understand the considerations…
As many of you know, on Fridays I usually post a photo of a creative way someone has solved a door problem, which is often non-code-compliant and unsafe. If you’ve arrived here today looking forward to this week’s Fixed-it Friday photo, I apologize because I have to write about another type of “creative problem-solver” today.
If you live and/or work in Ohio, it is not too late to talk to the state legislators in your district(s). If you call their offices, you may be able to talk to them directly or get an email address. The Door Security and Safety Foundation has compiled some information that might be helpful to send along with your concerns…
You may remember a guest blog post from Lieutenant Joseph Hendry, who is with the Kent State University Police Department and the ALICE Training Institute. Lt. Hendry has an article in this month’s Campus Safety Journal, on the challenges created by using barricade devices for classroom lockdown. Here’s my favorite part…
How do we help to ensure that these creative problem-solvers have the necessary information when considering a do-it-yourself approach?
This report gives a very good overview of what we’re up against in the mission to secure schools while maintaining life safety. If funding is not available, schools will come up with their own solutions. If those solutions are not code-compliant, legislators will override the codes. This will continue to happen until another tragedy occurs. I wonder how many tragedies it will take.
I read an interesting article in the Washington Post yesterday, about the statistics on school shootings. The Fact Checker column asks, “Has there been one school shooting per week since Sandy Hook?” and examines a statement made by Senator Chris Murphy during a speech on the Senate floor last week: “Since Sandy Hook there has […]
(Note: If you’re in the St. Louis area, there is a school security seminar coming up on July 22th, and there’s still space if you want to attend.) Today’s post: I haven’t posted much about traditional wired glass lately, but the hazard continues to be present in existing schools and other facilities…
Here’s the latest in our series of whiteboard animation videos explaining door-related topics. This one covers various options for securing classroom doors, in alignment with the guidelines from the National Association of State Fire Marshals. Enjoy and share!
As many of you know, I have been closely watching the barricade device issue in Ohio. If you haven’t been following along, here’s the summary of what happened: An Ohio community group raised $30,000 to buy barricade devices for the schools in their district. The building department said the devices were not code-compliant and could […]
Today I presented as part of a panel discussion at the annual conference of the National Association of State Fire Marshals, along with my fellow panelists: Larry Flowers – Ohio State Fire Marshal, Ed Paulk – Alabama State Fire Marshal, Kelly Nicolello of UL, and John Woestman of the Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association. The panel was moderated by Jim Tidwell of Tidwell Code Consulting, and Jim Narva of NASFM kicked it off.
Articles touting the value of classroom barricade devices without any mention of the related safety issues are legitimizing the use of these devices that are not compliant with the model codes. An article in this month’s Security Management magazine, a publication of ASIS International, covers the perceived security benefits of the devices used in the Mentor, Ohio school district…
If you have not watched this 2014 Dateline series on school shootings, it gives the perspective of survivors and describes their struggles in the months and years after the tragedies occurred. Very moving.
This Fixed-it Friday photo illustrates the common problem of an access control system that has been modified for convenience. No matter how much time and money are invested in planning and installing a system, human intervention is always a factor…
Last month, along with a panel of experts, I presented the myths and facts about classroom barricade devices on behalf of the Door Security and Safety Foundation for the annual conference of the National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM). I recorded my portion of the presentation so I could post the myths and facts […]
What do you think of this new Fixed-it Friday product idea? It looks like it would be a little pricey and I’m not sure how a whole class would fit inside, but I give him credit for the engineering. I could use one of these to hide from my kids. 🙂
Ohio BBS Guidance Document: “Schools are being cautioned against purchasing and deploying devices before the rules take effect as some devices currently on the market may not be allowable once new rules are adopted.”
What do you think? Is this the safest school in America?
Ideally a classroom door can be locked from within the classroom without opening the door and potential exposing the teacher to an intruder in the hallway. Many schools have existing classroom function locksets, which have to be locked by inserting a key in the outside cylinder. When a district doesn’t have the funding to replace the locks…
You may have read the AP article that appeared in the news media across the country over the weekend, addressing some of the concerns associated with classroom barricade devices. In case you missed it…
According to Nathan Burkhardt of Opening Technologies, this church addressed their classroom security by adding shades for the vision lites, and changing the locks to office function with a turn-button. Because the kids and teachers were getting injured by the sharp turn-button design…
In the October issue of Doors & Hardware, I have an article on what took place in Ohio with regard to the state legislation on classroom barricade devices, and another article covering the myths and facts presented at the National Association of State Fire Marshals’ annual conference (here’s a video version of this information)…
In the October issue of Doors & Hardware, Lt. Hendry shares the law enforcement perspective on the use of classroom barricade devices, in an article called America’s Maginot Line – Why our focus on secondary locking devices makes us more vulnerable to threats…
If you’re thinking that this post doesn’t apply to you because you’re not in Ohio, think again. Several states are becoming more proactive about this issue to try to avoid similar legislation…
I’m working on some more information to post here, but for now I wanted to share this article from Al Jazeera America. It is the very FIRST mainstream media article I’ve seen that addresses some of the problems associated with the use of classroom barricade devices…
I know…lots of videos this week. It’s just a coincidence – not a new trend. I’ll just leave this right here…
A few weeks ago I mentioned that there would be a meeting with the Ohio Board of Building Standards to discuss the proposed code language allowing classroom barricade devices. Quite a few of you left comments, and like me, most felt that the proposed language does not go far enough to keep teachers and students safe…
One of the arguments made by supporters of classroom barricade devices is that many other states have already changed their codes to allow the devices to be used. While a few states do allow the devices, the vast majority of state codes have not changed…
The Partner Alliance for Safer Schools (PASS) has released a white paper detailing their position on classroom barricade devices. This position statement provides valuable information for any jurisdiction or school district considering the use of these devices to secure classroom doors…
What do you think about the idea of using a children’s book, like this one from the ALICE Training Institute, to teach kids about preparing for a school shooting?
There is too much valuable information in this white paper for me to cut and paste small sections here – I’d recommend reading the complete document, but one paragraph did catch my eye…
Every December I weed through my inbox so I can start fresh in the new year. I get A LOT of email…my inbox is currently down to only 525 emails waiting for some sort of action on my part. I just found an email that included a link to an article from NFPA Journal…
Last Friday, the Ohio Board of Building Standards posted a 434-page business impact analysis containing all of the comments submitted with regard to the proposed code change on classroom barricade devices. My comments to the board included a comparison of the recommendations made in the July 2015 OBBS Final Report vs. the proposed code language…
A video about classroom barricade devices – a particular company’s devices, actually – has been posted on a Facebook page and has gone viral. Right now, about 14 hours after it was posted, it has over 3 million views. There are over 1,000 comments – many of them in support of this idea…
In yesterday’s post I wrote about a video on classroom barricade devices that had gone viral. In the first 36 hours or so, the video had 18 million views. 18 MILLION! Almost 600,000 people have shared the video on Facebook, and about 6,500 people have commented. This is an amazing (and somewhat disturbing) example of the power of social media…
As a member of the door and hardware industry, my focus with regard to classroom lockdown is how to provide security without jeopardizing safety. Lt. Joseph Hendry of the Kent State University Police Department looks at the issue from a slightly different (and valuable) perspective…
Last week, the debut event of the Congressional School Safety Caucus on Capitol Hill was hosted by the Security Industry Association (SIA). This event brought together the co-chairs of the caucus with school security experts to talk strategy, and included a panel discussion moderated by Tim Eckersley…
These school security requirements could eventually be incorporated into your state’s school security legislation. What additions or changes would you like to see?
THE VOTES ARE IN, and the code change proposed by BHMA to address classroom locking in the 2018 IBC has been approved as modified by public comment!
Safety officials are concerned a new state law that allows barricade devices on classroom doors could make a crisis situation worse. The idea sounds great…
If a school decides to buy all new doorknobs for their school, and only buy a lever handle for the one classroom with a teacher who has a disability, in my opinion that would not meet the intent of the ADA. What makes it ok to do the same thing with classroom barricade devices?
In this age of classroom shootings, many are looking for barricade locks – a cheap and easy stopgap to bolster door security…
The National Center for Education Statistics has just published an updated report for Indicators of School Crime and Safety through 2015. The good news is…
Here’s the latest on classroom barricade devices…let me know what’s happening in your state.
Schools have been able to use magnets over locking mechanisms, allowing doors to be easily opened throughout the day and still lock quickly by simply removing the magnet. But by Jan. 1, 2018, that quick fix will no longer be enough…
During yesterday’s shooting at UCLA, Brian Fochler tagged me in a photo tweeted from the engineering building where the shooting was taking place, which was my first indication that something lock-related was happening. Since then I’ve received many other emails…
We have been asked to share our expertise and constructive feedback on this product idea for locking classroom doors…
For the last year or more, our industry has been dealing with legislation overriding the code development process in several states, with regard to classroom security…
A Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer is hoping a device he invented will be in your child’s school soon. It’s designed to keep active shooters out of classrooms…
I read an article this morning about a 3-year-old boy who eloped from his preschool in Bangor, Maine. The teacher saw him go through the exterior door…
CPTED (pronounced sep-ted) stands for Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design, and is defined as a multi-disciplinary approach to deterring criminal behavior through environmental design…
A code change proposal has been submitted to the North Carolina Building Code Council, to address “emergency lockdown safety mechanisms” (AKA barricade devices) in schools, government buildings and office buildings…
I received this photo from Guardian Fire Testing. The bolts have been installed on existing fire-rated doors in a school, and Guardian was asked to relabel these fire door assemblies…
In the wake of any tragedy, society struggles collectively to process the loss. For some it is the loss of friends and loved ones, but for most it is our feelings of safety and trust in the overall goodness of our fellow man that are diminished or seemingly lost entirely. In their place, we are filled with an overwhelming desire to do something…
I occasionally publish a post from a guest blogger, and I just learned that sometimes the author can receive CEUs for these posts through various industry organizations. Today’s post is from Don Cherry of Allegion.
The classroom security change that will be included in the 2018 IFC is consistent with the IBC, and early adoption of this language would go a long way toward maintaining life safety and creating a uniform set of requirements across the United States.
What should a school consider before purchasing classroom barricade devices, also known as temporary door locking devices?
Last week, the family of Colleen Ritzer filed a lawsuit against the town of Danvers, the school department, the architectural firm that designed the new wing of the school where the teacher was killed, and the cleaning company…
Despite the dramatic advances in construction, technological tools and safety protocols that have been made in the past two decades, this progress is not always evident in many of our nation’s K-12 buildings…
As soon as I heard the news, I remembered a video that was produced by Ohio State University, instructing people how to respond…
This Wordless Wednesday photo came from Dustin Elam of the Santa Ana Unified School District. Dustin’s not responsible for the instructional signage. 😀
The Door Security and Safety Foundation has announced a video and public relations campaign which stresses the importance of securing classroom doors without compromising life safety…
This article was written by John Woestman of the Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association (BHMA) and recently appeared in Locksmith Ledger…
As I’ve said before, with regard to classroom security code changes, NFPA 101 is on a slightly different schedule than the the ICC codes. Although changes to the 2018 editions of the IBC and IFC have already been approved…
This morning I found an article in my news alerts: Roxbury Eyes Spending $580K on “Man Traps” for Schools. My first thought…”Oh. No.”
In case you haven’t been following the classroom barricade device issue closely, here’s an update. Within the last few years, products have begun to appear on the market which were advertised as a secure way to lock a classroom door…
It’s hard to believe that today is the 5th anniversary of the shooting at Chardon High School, where 3 students were killed and 3 others were wounded…
From the moment a gunman began shooting 10 girls in an Amish schoolhouse last year, 2½ agonizing minutes ticked by before state police were able to force their way into the barricaded building…
I need your help. The topic of today’s post could affect life safety for decades, and I hope you will read it and leave some feedback…
When a proposal was made to add a reference in Chapter 7 to the exceptions for 2 operations, the Technical Committee on Means of Egress almost unanimously opposed this change…
Let’s not look back on this moment in history and think, “If only we had done something…”
With these conditions in so many schools, I don’t understand why any district would take on the potential liability associated with failure to meet their duties of care…
The graphic that will appear with this article in Doors & Hardware illustrates a potential application for existing classroom doors if the 2-operation language is approved…
Following up on my earlier post about school security and safety, here’s a report from Fox 4 News about a school fire that occurred just yesterday…
After a lockdown system was installed at this elementary school, a piece of pipe insulation was glued to the entrance door leading to the day care center. Why?
On a fairly regular basis, someone sends me a video clip or a link to a news story, asking, “Have you seen this classroom lockdown device?”
NASFM is certainly aware of the need to protect our schools and businesses from senseless acts of violence, however we feel strongly we must carefully consider the solutions being proposed…
I read the two news stories below on the same day, which struck me as ironic. When it comes to security and safety, you can take the easy, fast, and cheap approach, or take the time to carefully consider the issues and alternatives and invest in a suitable solution…
As many of you know, yesterday was the NFPA Technical Meeting where NFPA members voted to decide whether NFPA 101 should allow two releasing operations for classroom doors, or continue to require one releasing operation to unlatch the door for egress…
Now that the NFPA 101 vote has passed, the 2018 model codes will be pretty consistent with regard to classroom security. I pulled together information from the IBC, IFC, and NFPA 101 for this article…
Promising to cut “red tape,” business-friendly politicians evidently judged that cost concerns outweighed the risks of allowing flammable materials to be used in facades…sound familiar?
I have run out of words. Is this the best we can do to secure our classrooms? 🙁
From Security InfoWatch, an article on a recent congressional briefing by advocates for safe and secure schools…
Joseph Hendry Jr., PSP, CLEE has written the guest blog post below, to share his experience in law enforcement regarding human behavior in an emergency. This relates directly to the question of whether NFPA 101 should continue to limit egress doors to one releasing operation or should allow two operations to release the latch.
As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, shortly after the NFPA Technical Meeting on June 7th, two appeals were filed. These appeals were submitted in favor of keeping the proposed changes to NFPA 101 that would allow 2 releasing operations instead of 1…
This post has a lot going on. First, since it’s Fixed-it Friday and I don’t want to disappoint anyone, here’s a photo from Bill Stock of Johnson Hardware…
On Thursday, September 14th, Allegion will be offering a free 1-hour webinar on access control hardware – at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Eastern.
Have you seen the new website from the Door Security & Safety Foundation – LockDontBlock.org?
Security bars or grilles are common on windows in many developing countries and in other areas where security is a major concern…
Today’s Wordless Wednesday photos were sent by Austin Bammann of Central Indiana Hardware. This is NOT the way I would provide security at the entrance to a school. 🙁
This week is National Safe Schools Week in the US, and many organizations have resources available to help improve the safety of our schools…
I was recently asked to write an article for Domestic Preparedness, on behalf of several industry organizations and individuals who share concerns about the methods used to secure classroom doors…
Our last whiteboard animation video for this year will address the 2018 model code requirements for classroom security…
Does your state Board of Education publish a set of guidelines like the ones used in Illinois? I’d love to see them!
When this story was posted on Facebook yesterday, several people attempted to address the code issues associated with the teenager’s invention. A commenter posted a link to one of my articles, and another commenter called my article “a fallacy”!
Lawmakers in Delaware are scheduled to vote this week on a bill that mandates certain security features in new schools and schools which undergo major renovations.
As another school shooting occurs, I struggle with what to write. Today is Wednesday, the day that I typically post a photo that leaves me wordless…
I just read an article in the Washington Post – Another school shooting: Are we numb to it? I don’t know about you, but I am not numb.
Whether you live and work in Utah or not, a bill that is progressing through the Utah State Legislature could help to set a precedent that may eventually affect your jurisdiction (so please listen up).
On Tuesday, I wrote about a bill that was passed by the Utah Senate, which would allow classroom barricade devices to be used in Utah schools. Here’s a follow-up.
Jon Millsap posted this Fixed-it Friday photo on his Facebook page (Locksmith’s Journal), and he gave me permission to share it here. What do you think? Yea or nay, and why or why not?
The Department of Defense has issued a set of guidelines for schools called the Physical Security and Antiterrorism Design Guide for DoDEA Educational Facilities.
Since it’s Wordless Wednesday, here is a photo that Jim Phillips of SBS Associates sent me from a school walk-through. Luckily the school’s security precautions kept these intruders out.
Yesterday, I read an article about a college in California that purchased and installed 1,000 barricade devices at a cost of more than $200,000, as recommended by the local police chief. The college later removed the devices, as they are not compliant with the building code and fire code in California, or with the ADA.
Our newest whiteboard animation video addresses the important topic of classroom security.
Let’s help school administrators learn how to secure doors more quickly while keeping evacuation options open, rather than on how to make security cheaper while ignoring the potential consequences.
I’m ready to create any documentation that you need to facilitate these conversations, but I need your help. What information should be included?
“He believes school officials could do more to prepare teachers for intruders, whether by investing in padlocks so they aren’t scrambling for ways to barricade doors…”
There has been a lot of discussion about whether classroom barricade devices are “legal,” whether they are a violation of the ADA, and whether their use increases liability for schools that use them.
This type of lock is not panic hardware. We need to be aware of these claims and prepared to address them when questions arise.
Here is one state fire marshal’s answer to the school security question. What do you think?
I’m hoping this piece sums up the concerns associated with classroom barricade devices and can be used as reference material when discussing options for school security.
This product isn’t door-related, but I’m curious what y’all think…
Since the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, I have thought a lot about lock functions for classroom doors; the news reports and the testimony from Parkland teacher Stacey Lippel added some new perspective.
While working on an upcoming article, I realized that I knew much more about more recent school shootings than I did about what happened at Columbine…
The first meeting of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Public Safety Commission was held this week, and information was shared which will help us to understand the role played by physical security and design features of the building.
What do you think about using a special-purpose door for security compartmentalization?
Someone suggested to me recently that I might be opposed to classroom barricade devices because I work for a lock manufacturer. I’d like to clear that up right now.
I’ve had several CSI chapters ask if they can include this article in their newsletters or technical libraries, so I had it reformatted into a printable PDF.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recently released a new standard – NFPA 3000 – which sets guidelines for Active Shooter/Hostile Event Response (ASHER).
One headline that caught my eye was from the Washington Post: “Texas official says that fewer doors could mean fewer school shootings. We had experts weigh in.”
Watching this news report brought a little tear to my eye. FINALLY, someone in the media is talking about both sides of the equation – safety AND security.
As a last resort, I support using whatever is on hand to secure/barricade the door. But if we have time to look at the school’s current situation and plan the response – is this REALLY the best we can do?
Let’s do a better job of planning. Teachers should not have to resort to this.
Why would state legislators consider removing a requirement that ensures free egress and the option of evacuating, and replacing it with language that allows just about anything?
I’m confused about this conflict between newly-adopted code requirements and what the media is reporting. Can anyone share some insight?
The glazing goes hand-in-hand with the door hardware – even the most secure hardware can be overcome by breaking the glass.
The School Superintendents Association (AASA) is sharing safety concerns about classroom barricade devices with their 13,000+ members. Visit iDigHardware to get a copy of the document that is being distributed.
“The concept of bullet-resistant shields is unsettling to school stakeholders, because esoteric products such as this make no real contribution to a safe learning environment.”
Given that NFPA 3000 is a standard for preparation and response to an active shooting, how does that affect the door and hardware industry?
In the last year or so, much more funding has become available for school security upgrades – millions of dollars. But how should the money be spent?
Over the past year I’ve been collecting school security information from various states, and adding links to the school security page of iDigHardware. Last week I received an advisory from Greg Thomson of Allegion, that made me so happy I got a little misty.
One of the difficulties faced by those of us advocating for code-compliant school security is the public perception that many states are allowing classroom barricade devices. This is not true…
Imagine that you work for a university, you read iDigHardware, and you find out that I’m wandering around your campus. I’m guessing there were some mixed emotions…
During a segment of NFPA Live, Robert Solomon, Division Director of NFPA, was asked about barricade devices on egress doors.
Clothesline to tie the hardware? Duct tape to prevent smoke from coming in around the door? Solutions to address these risks have been available for decades. Why are we substituting duct tape?
I agree that these doors are “an extremely discreet solution,” but the last time I checked on the feasibility of using bullet-resistant doors on classrooms, there were several common objections.
Although this is not one of the most beautiful solutions I’ve seen, I couldn’t think of a code issue as long as the hold-opens are above the minimum clear headroom of 80 inches. What do you think?
At this point I’ve probably read hundreds of articles on school safety and security, and written dozens of blog posts and articles on the topic myself. This one was a pleasant surprise.
Thank you to everyone who forwarded this letter from the Office of the State Fire Marshal. I appreciate your help keeping track of what is happening in each state.
It has been 74 days since I have written about classroom barricade devices. This refresher is posted by request, and in honor of Safe Schools Week.
Michele Gay is the mom of Josephine Gay, a first-grade student who was killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Michele brings a different perspective to what we do every day. Please watch.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on today’s Wordless Wednesday photo. This is in direct conflict with everything I learned about life safety in hardware school.
Requiring each school district to employ a certified school safety specialist seems like a great way to ensure that the right information gets to each community. Does your state have such a program?
Recent news reports have questioned the motivation behind the security industry’s involvement in improving school security. This editorial represents my perspective.
Remember when a fire alarm during the school day meant exiting immediately in an orderly fashion and enjoying a few minutes away from our desks? Times are changing.
What would you do if you were in this situation? It’s not always easy to do the right thing, but could you live with yourself if something happened?
Were schools in your city or town used as polling places in last week’s election? What precautions were taken to maintain security and safety while allowing access to all registered voters?
This TEDx speaker has an interesting perspective on school security. It’s not all about hardening, monitoring, defending. The decisions made now could have lasting effects on kids.
Are these safe areas identified in each of the classrooms in the schools that you work with or visit? What do you think of this security measure?
I’d love to hear your opinions on some of the recent media coverage that presents the school security industry negatively. Are they talking about US? If not, how do we make that clear?
I thought of so many titles for this post that would have been apropos but might have offended someone, so I’ll let you come up with your own.
Saturday, December 1st, 2018 was the 60th anniversary of the fire at Our Lady of the Angels School in Chicago, where 92 students and 3 nuns were killed.
The Partner Alliance for Safer Schools (PASS) has released the fourth edition of its Safety and Security Guidelines for K-12 Schools – visit PASSK12.org to download the guidelines!
Campus Safety will no longer accept ads or sponsorships from companies whose door barricades don’t comply with ADA and NFPA codes.
Some thoughts about the newly-released federal report, and some of the documents that are referenced in the report…have you read it yet?
As I’ve said before…as a last resort anything goes, but THIS SHOULD NOT BE PLAN A! Do you agree or disagree?
Andrew Harris of Willis Klein sent me today’s Wordless Wednesday photo, and it’s disheartening. This is the exterior door of a middle school classroom with one or more students who have special needs.
Training alert! On January 16th the DSSF will host a webinar on NFPA 3000 – Standard for Active Shooter / Hostile Event Response (ASHER), presented by John Montes of NFPA.
I really need your expertise on this one…talk to me about exit alarms to deter the use of classroom doors, or to at least notify the teacher that someone has opened the door.
One part of this webinar that got my attention was the EMS perspective on how a delay in accessing the classroom could affect the medical outcome. The archived webinar is linked in this post.
This video from Michele Gay of Safe and Sound Schools is a great tool for educating parents, teachers, and school administrators about school security and safety. Share it!
I have spent two days trying to figure out what to write in this post. I’m still thinking.
We must continue to learn from this research, to help avoid or reduce the effects of future active-shooter incidents. Please invest some time today, in memory of the MSDHS victims.
Guy Grace is the Director of Security & Emergency Planning for Littleton, Colorado – the school district where Columbine High School is located. Here is his stance on classroom barricade devices.
If you are looking for one document that explains the concerns associated with classroom security methods, the recently-updated PASS white paper is a great tool!
I love the idea of putting our heads together to search for solutions, but inventors need to consider authorized access, free egress, and accessibility, in addition to security.
A news report hit my inbox a few days ago, which discussed a security situation in a Massachusetts elementary school; some classroom barricade devices had been installed in 2014…
Why would a school district consider using unregulated security devices, given the associated risk and liability? The answer may surprise you.
If our industry is so complex that the students’ research didn’t turn up existing products or a hardware advisor, we need to get more user-friendly.
This is INSANITY! This is yet another example of seeking to remove the safety protocols of the adopted codes, in order to prioritize security at a perceived lower cost.
These 3 perspectives showed up in my Google Alerts today – a school district using barricade devices, a man working in a school who wanted to use barricading when he committed a shooting, and the legal perspective. Powerful.
This week marks 12 years since the tragic shooting at Virginia Tech. Considering the lessons learned during that incident, it’s surprising that the use of classroom barricade devices would be considered by state lawmakers.
Twenty years ago, I had no idea how the shooting at Columbine High School would affect our industry and my career. It was impossible to imagine that it was more than an isolated event. But here we are.
Is your facility or community prepared for an active shooter / hostile event? NFPA has a great training opportunity coming up in June – learn more about NFPA 3000.
It’s only a matter of time before we see the unintended consequences of non-code-compliant, untested, unregulated security devices.
When classroom doors are kept locked all the time, it can be inconvenient for teachers and for students trying to enter the classroom when the door is closed. This is one school district’s solution.
When a shooting occurred at the University of North Carolina Charlotte last week, an electronic locking system was already in place that allowed the campus to be locked down in seconds.
When I mentioned that people must be getting tired of hearing me talk about school safety, the response was, “If people can die without our voices, we kind of need to keep talking…”
The May issue of Door Security + Safety Magazine is available for members and non-members to read online! Will you become a Lock Don’t Block Ambassador?
In the almost-5,000 schools that experience structure fires each year, what percentage of the buildings are equipped with sprinkler systems?
I graduated from college more than 30 years ago, and based on my experience with my soon-to-be college freshman, times have changed!
In recent months, the PASS guidelines have been recognized by several state and federal organizations aiming to improve school safety and security. Read more about it in today’s post.
If a school is equipped with security cameras and access control on the main entrance, it’s just one more step to allow law enforcement to remotely unlock the doors for emergency response.
This is not a typical Wordless Wednesday post. In fact, there are a lot of words, but this is an important topic. If this can happen in Massachusetts, it can happen anywhere.
