Corporate Facility
Security Issues and Recommendations
by: Lorna Chandler, CPP
President, Security by Design, Inc.
Was 9-11 a “9-1-1” for
Building Owners and Property Managers?
Homeland Security!
This hue and cry is heard around the country.
But, what is the reality behind the
hype? What IS being done to protect
our homeland on an ongoing basis? Are
things really changing? Has Big
Brother arrived, as the ACLU claims, with people tracked from place to place as
they go about their normal business?
Certainly everyone was shocked and
uncertain as to what to expect following the horrendous events in New York on
9-11-01. But, the economy was
already sliding down and the events of that day took an additional toll on
financial reserves. Many companies
were forced to announce additional layoffs or into bankruptcy.
The reserves for the governmental emergency response agencies, charities,
and insurance companies were suddenly depleted.
In the ensuing days and weeks
following 9-11, building owners, property managers, and business owners
responded by increasing the guard staff on their property.
Anxiety was high and this seemed like the quickest and most effective way
to lower the stress and increase the confidence of those who worked or visited
their facilities. However, this is
an expensive measure and reality slowly set in – in many cases this level of
staffing could not be supported on an ongoing basis.
The problem now was the economy. Scarce
funds had been used for staffing lobbies and patrolling grounds.
More data was needed, so many
building owners, property managers, and business owners sought expert advice
regarding what options were available for increasing security at their facility
and the associated cost of making the improvements.
Once the data was available, and a direction selected, the next question
was one of funding.
Many facilities are currently being
upgraded from a security standpoint right now.
The emphasis is on three primary objectives:
l Reducing Liability
l Protecting Assets
l
Increasing Marketability of Space or Productivity
How are these objectives accomplished?
l Liabilities can be lowered by taking actions to reduce the likelihood of something occurring. Examples of this include controlling who can gain access into the building, screening for weapons on persons, parcels, and mail, and taking other actions that allow more conscious control of the facility. One often forgotten aspect is to limit access to the air intake for a building by placing it in an area where the public cannot access or placing a wire cage around it to keep items from being introduced into the air handlers. Monitoring devices can also be used to detect and shut down HVAC systems, but this is less common and more costly. Useful restrictions include limiting access to parking areas, especially for under-building parking garages, electronically screening of access past a receptionist, and preventing parking next to a building. Tools include lighting, electronic security systems, landscaping, and procedures. A friendly guard can stop many would-be thieves.
l Protecting assets might include use of cameras to monitor and record activity exiting the stairwells or other side doors, lobby areas, and hallways. The use of digital video is becoming more popular, where there is a network available. Authorized personnel can remotely monitor CCTV cameras over the internet, if digital recorders have been used. IT departments are starting to use this feature to read the codes on the equipment in the server rooms so that they know what is wrong before they arrive. Monitoring of other critical equipment that could have similar error code applications could be useful for facility engineers. Using door or space detectors in an alarm system can alert guards when an area is accessed without authorization. Access control and alarms systems are increasingly utilizing network connectivity, too. This saves redundant wiring, but can be a concern if the network is not stable. Some facilities are using on-site paging systems to directly call a guard via a cell phone for rapid response and to minimize the amount of manpower required for securing the site.
l
Marketability and productivity is achieved by creating a safer
atmosphere. While some of the
measures described above contribute to this condition, other approaches include
having adequate lighting inside and outside of buildings, using landscaping that
allows clear views of the walkways and surrounding areas, and keeping a well
maintained facility. Having parking
areas within the secured pathway is one method of increasing confidence.
However, providing an escort to open parking during the hours of darkness
or dusk will also achieve the same type of comfort.
A common challenge is the location of the fire exit stairways in relation
to the elevators in multi-story buildings.
The ideal is for a building to have a “T”, Loop, or “Z” corridor
to link the stairwells to the elevator lobby outside of a tenant’s leased
space. Otherwise, a emergency
release button is required in the elevator lobby to meet fire safety codes.
This button allows someone to push it in order to gain access to the
offices on the floor in order to reach the fire exit stairwells.
It is common knowledge for theft rings to have one person hit the
emergency release button and an associate enters the space to steal items and
escape using the stairway. While
the first person is interfacing with anyone responding to the alarm, the other
is escaping with the loot!
Resources for gathering the data,
assisting with the selection of the direction, and implementation of the plan
include independent security consultants and design-build contractors.
Many facilities have a security systems provider who already serves them.
If someone does not know what is best, doesn’t have a relationship with
an installation contractor that fosters confidence, or wants to know about new
options, then the independent security consultant is best.
This latter category of resources provides information about products
that are available from many sources, but does not sell or install them.
Lorna
L. Chandler, CPP
Security By Design, Inc.
(An independent physical security design and engineering firm)
2870
Howe Road, Suite 100
Martinez, CA 94553
925.229.3900
925.372.8069 Fax
www.securitybydesign.us
(An
informational website depicting the options available with several
manufacturers’ access control systems for small, medium, large, and mega
facilities)
www.securityconsumer.com