Protection in depth - Redmark Security

What is meant by protection in depth?

Well, there is the surface level that most of us are aware of but there is more intricate and detailed practice that can bring a higher sense of safety and security. These actions will create a sense of confidence amongst tenants and staff alike. Involving all in the security process will yield the best results.

There are some critical building components that should be away from main entrances and parking areas. These are as follows:

• Telephone equipment room
• Emergency generator and water supply room
• Fire pumps & sprinkler room
• HVAC systems room
• Elevator machine room

Another aspect to protection in depth is involving tenants and staff in the process. This is something that trained security guards can assist with in the execution of the evacuation Drills. There are many parts to this process.

• Choose who has the authority to authorize an evacuation.

• Decide who will lock the doors and turn off the power for certain functions in an evacuation.

• Make sure floor plans are posted by the elevators in the lobby, so they are available to all who will be involved in the evacuation. This would include your current location, entry and exit points. These should be available to first responders and other emergency personnel at all times.

• For the purpose of the evacuation drill, it is important to make sure there is two exit and entry points.

• Make sure there is emergency lighting installed at all fire exits and/ or everybody has access to flashlight in case emergency lighting fails.

• All systems of communicating an evacuation should be tested regularly. This can often be done by trained security guards on site if allowed by the management or fire fighters can be called for immediate announcement through the annunciator panel.

• There needs to be a proper plan to help people with mobility problems & exit in an emergency. There should also be a way to communicate an evacuation, especially in old buildings where there are less announcement systems & more people with hearing problems.

• There should be a designated assembly site or muster point. It would be prudent to have two gathering points.

• Having a system for doing a head count or keeping track of all who should be present could involve floor wardens for each floor. They could meet with building management and trained security guards in the lobby before moving on to the designated assembly area.

The previous is very applicable in situations where an evacuation is realistic. While it hasn’t happened yet but being in the Vancouver area there is the possibility of an earthquake. There have been smaller earthquakes over the years but we should be prepared if a big one to strike. There is a yearly event where building tenants and staff do a test run in case of earthquake, where to drop on the ground and cover. This is usually a sixty second event but this can prepare us all for the possibility of an earthquakes that could occur here.

Another area that should be addressed is the access control issue. Now if there is a trained security guard in the lobby hopefully this is less of an issue but often once the building closes guards do patrols. There is a chance of tenants allowing people to piggyback into the property. Making sure all staff know that they need to be aware of this and not allow access to people coming in from behind them. They should also be aware that contractors and visitors should have ways to be identified via a badge or tag of some sort.

These various tactics should help with more in depth protection and keep your property and staff safe.