When we work with our customers to create security, we take an all-encompassing approach. As complete security integrators, we must use multiple security avenues when securing any property. When designing business security in particular, we come up against several unique security concerns. In order to address them, we can dip into a large array of equipment at our disposal. Today, we’ll share some of our top voluntary security measures to help secure your business.
First, we’ll explain what we mean with the term “voluntary” security measures. Understanding what we’re looking at in this post, and how it compares and contrasts to commercial security’s required measures, will go a long way towards understanding the material in this post. Then, we’ll begin discussing specific types of commercial security measures. Specifically, we’ll start by explaining the function of intercom and access control systems. Both of these types of security use the same types of electronic door hardware. Therefore, we’re grouping them in the same section. From there, we’ll shift our focus to installing an effective monitored burglar alarm for your business. Finally, we’ll wrap up our discussion of voluntary commercial security measures with a look at installing commercial surveillance. Now, let’s dive in and see what we mean with the title of this post!
What do We Mean by “Voluntary” Commercial Security Measures?
Many people think that we can design security systems for any application based solely on what our customers ask us to do. For residential customers, this thought rings true. However, our industry has strict standards when it comes to life safety-related security measures in commercial locations. In this section, we’ll detail what types of security these requirements touch upon, and where we go to find these important legal guidelines. Let’s begin with a look at some fire-related commercial fire requirements.
The International Building Code, or IBC, creates many of the security equipment installation guidelines that we must follow.
Managing Fire Safety-Related Security Installations
The International Code Council (ICC) and the National Fire Protection Alliance (NFPA) create the codes and standards for a number of safety measures, especially when it comes to fire alarm installation. The most relevant code for smoke alarm requirements put out by the ICC is the International Building Code, or “IBC.” The code that provides guidelines for fire alarm system design is the National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code, or “NFPA 72.” For this reason, fire departments and fire system designers reference these code books frequently. These codes both require fire alarms installed in many businesses and even set legal requirements for the types of devices we install and where we install them.
Just as with fire alarms, the NFPA has a large say in commercial fire extinguisher requirements. In this case, NFPA 10 provides the blueprint for extinguisher installation. These requirements include industry-specific guidelines for the type of extinguisher required in specific areas of a business based on the present fire hazards. Now, let’s turn our attention to another measure of commercial security that carries strict regulations that we must follow.
Getting Door Hardware Installation Right
In addition to fire-related security, we also have to follow some guidelines when installing lock hardware. For starters, the International Building Code contains safety-related hardware mandates. Primarily, these standards revolve around fire safety. For example, a commercial building’s fire exits must provide means for a single-motion egress (or exit). For this reason, you generally find exit devices (also known as “crash bars”) installed on exterior doors of a business.
Additionally, the Americans with Disabilities Act (“or ADA”) of 1990 helped create many commercial lock requirements. Congress passed this law in order to ensure universal access to commercial buildings. The requirements put in place under this law include minimum guidelines for door openings to allow for wheelchair accessibility. They also include specifications on how quickly doors can close. Commercial levers must also meet ADA requirements for handicapped usage. Therefore, using doorknobs instead of levers in almost any commercial application fails to meet these guidelines. This surprises many business owners who install doorknobs, only to have to later swap them out for ADA-compliant levers. We recommend calling a commercial locksmith (such as Northeast Security Solutions) when designing your locks to ensure both safety and ADA-related security compliance.
As you can see, several types of security carry strict requirements. In addition to requiring you to install certain types of equipment, local codes and laws create guidelines to follow for sufficient and proper installation as well. However, security above and beyond what we’ve outlines here is up to business owners. Now, we’ll turn to the main subject matter of our post today and move onto our top voluntary commercial security measures!
Access Control Systems
Access control systems represent one of the most effective means of controlling and tracking access to your property. These systems utilize electronic locking hardware to operate specific doors within a business. Rather than using a key at these doors, users approach a keypad or a credential reader and present either a code or a physical credential such as a card or fob. Users who present an approved credential will then be able to open the door after the reader interacts with the door’s electronics to unlock it. You can create schedules that customize credential holders’ access to your building to limit permission to specific days and times if desired.
In addition to controlling access to certain doors, access control systems include software that tracks access as well. Every time an employee approaches an access door, it creates a time-stamped event that you can view on a computer by logging in to your access control system. Furthermore, it allows you to see if anyone tries to enter doors in your business that they should not attempt to enter.
Access control equipment, such as this example from Alarm.com, can help you both control access to your property and track access as well.
For example, if employees without the necessary permission attempt to use their credentials to enter your business during a time that you do not want them to do so, the system will both deny access and “flag” this event. At that point, you will know which employee attempted this breach. The flexibility and security these systems provide make them an extremely popular addition to any complete commercial security plan. Let’s now look at how you can also use electronic locking hardware to create intercom-based commercial security.
Intercom Systems
Intercom systems create a basic and effective way for visitors to attempt to gain access into a business. These systems use the same types of electronic locking hardware as we use in our access control systems to allow for remote locking control. Instead of installing readers at the doors, however, we attach stations with a doorbell on them to call in to the building. Audio intercoms have a doorbell with a speaker, allowing anyone with an indoor station and speaker to talk with them. Video intercoms have a camera on the outdoor stations and video screens on the indoor stations. This allows those inside to get a look at anyone attempting to gain entry and ensure the visitors are people they want to enter the building.
Upon verifying a visitor’s identity, the employee can then use a remote release button to unlock the door. These systems can prove invaluable to businesses with frequent visitors that do not wish to leave their doors unlocked during business hours. Let’s now turn our attention to how you can upgrade your business’s overall security by installing a monitored security system.
Designing and Installing an Effective Burglar Alarm
We’ve long touted installing a monitored burglar alarm as one of the cornerstones of complete commercial security. These systems create a couple important responses to potential break-ins. For starters, they provide a blaring siren response upon alarm activation. This alerts anyone on your property to the potential security breach. Moreover, a monitored alarm also reaches out to our central monitoring station after detecting a security breach. This will cause a phone call to anyone you wish to receive this important notification. Even more importantly, it will also prompt a police dispatch if necessary.
Over the last several years, our interactive Alarm.com interactive monitoring has made these alarms more effective than ever. This monitoring allows you to control your security system through the free Alarm.com phone app. Forget to arm your alarm on the way out of work? No problem! Simply pick up your phone and turn the security system on with the press of a button. Additionally, this monitoring service also provides you with customizable alarm event alerts.
For example, now you can create a text message to let you know when someone disarms the security system. This helps you ensure your business opens when it should! You can also create time-based alerts. For example, you may expect everyone to leave your business by 6pm. If nobody arms the security system by then, you can receive an alert. This allows you to check on the situation quickly. Now, let’s turn our attention to installing commercial surveillance.
Installing security cameras on your property can add multiple layers of security to any commercial application.
Adding Effective and Efficient Surveillance
Adding cameras to any property adds an extremely important security upgrade to any business. Unlike other forms of security, surveillance systems can help you solve crimes that occur on your property. They can even help you catch suspicious behavior before it turns criminal! Finally, adding surveillance acts as a deterrent in and of itself. After all, criminals seeing cameras often choose to pick another target. These features make surveillance one of our top voluntary commercial security measures.
When we install cameras, we create the ability to review both recorded and live video footage. For starters, we connect your cameras to a recorder that captures recorded video 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We can provide you with as much storage capacity as you desire for future viewing! We also connect this recorder to your businesses’ network. This gives you the ability to log in to your cameras’ footage in real time using any internet-connected device. Therefore, you can check in on your property at any time for added security and peace of mind.
Moreover, you can also create live alerts when your cameras detect motion on specific areas of your property. For example, if you wanted an alert when someone approaches a room with a safe, you can receive a live video clip if and when this happens. As an added option, we can even monitor your cameras using our central station. Therefore, unexpected activity in any area of your property can lead to a police dispatch and a phone call to alert you to the action! This option creates unique security for especially sensitive areas of your business.
Putting our Top Voluntary Commercial Security Measures to Work for You
We hope that this post helps you understand your options for adding voluntary commercial security measures. Additionally, we also invite you to contact us with any questions this post may raise for you. We will happily answer any and all of your security-related inquiries. Moreover, we also encourage you to take advantage of our free site survey program. We’ve always offered complimentary security audits and equipment quotes to both new and existing customers alike. During our visit, we can find solutions for all of your existing security concerns. Furthermore, we can also make suggestions of our own based on observations of your property. Over our 38 years in business, we’ve helped over a thousand customers create commercial security plans using a variety of equipment and approaches. Together, we can work together to keep your business, and everyone on it, as safe and secure as possible.