ALL ABOUT THE DOOR
DOOR HARDWARE : PROTECTING COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OVER WINTER
Between crime and cold weather , many commercial facilities develop vulnerabilities over the winter period , but door hardware can play a vital role in protecting property says Daniel May of Consort .
» THE TEMPERATURE HAS DROPPED . The nights have drawn in . And many commercial properties now face a tough period of additional challenges . From drastically increased footfall and extended periods of closure to extreme weather conditions , the winter months invite a host of differentials that are seldom considered during the other three seasons of the year .
Throughout the holiday period , buildings and businesses are at a heightened security risk especially , and facility managers must look to prepare their property and its people . Theft is the most common type of misconduct experienced by commercial properties and according to a previous study from The National Office of Statistics , seasonal crime is an area of concern for many , where businesses have been found 22 % more likely to encounter robberies between November and January .
Before facility managers can officially wind down for festive celebrations , it ’ s essential to address the key areas of vulnerability in a commercial property . And so , where accessibility , security and fire safety are core themes to consider , decision makers must use this time to review the multiple points of entry located around their premises while recognising the true impact of fully functional door hardware .
Assessing access points
At the heart of any building ’ s operation is its access points , or more specifically , its doors . Designed to facilitate access and egress , doors - alongside external windows - also play a crucial role in the security infrastructure of a facility and should be regularly reviewed as part of ongoing risk assessments .
Rather unsurprisingly , it ’ s documented that 67 % of burglars choose to enter a premises through a door , whereas 29 % break-in through the windows . With this in mind , facility managers have a duty to assess the key access points in and around their building to further nullify the risks associated with security breaches . Leaving these areas compromised can paint a larger target on commercial properties - especially while the building is vacant during Christmas and potentially more prone to other criminal activity such as vandalism and arson attacks .
Some commercial facilities may benefit from the adoption of modernised access control systems , designed to add a further layer of security while aiding ease of movement around the building . Modern access control systems integrate digital locks and access credentials into a building ’ s security infrastructure to facilitate higher levels of control . Commonly adopted in hospitality and commercial settings with high footfall , these centralised solutions provide individuals with key card or mobile access identification and grants them admission to areas only when necessary . At the same time , instant updates are delivered to facility managers via smartphone or digital device - allowing users to revoke access and keeping them informed of activity , even when they ’ re absent from the building .
Facility managers are also urged to conduct simple checks to their doors and windows ahead of business closure dates . Aside from confirming access points are closed and locked at the correct times by staff , there ’ s an onus on decision makers
to review their hardware ahead of any temporary holiday shutdowns , ensuring its safe and fit for application . Consider a door ’ s locks and latches for example , where low quality , damaged and missing hardware will create vulnerable and easy to identify points of entry for opportunists as well as fire safety risks .
For access points , and for fire door ’ s specifically , British Standards recommend a building ’ s designated responsible person conducts regular visual checks of all locks , hinges , apertures , frames and leaves , alongside six-month periodic maintenance inspections . In some cases , insurance companies may insist on minimum security standards for locks , windows and the perimeter doors of a commercial building and so upon locating ineffective or inoperative hardware ,
Sources : https :// www . gov . uk / government / statistics / crime-against-businesses-findings-from-the-year-ending-march-2021-commercialvictimisation-survey / crime-against-businesses-findings-from-the-2021-commercial-victimisation-survey
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JAN / FEB 2023
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