Budget for security and shop for value

Jan 1, 1997 12:00 PM, By DR. STEPHENIE SLAHOR

Appropriate security measures can cut costs if you first assess threats and vulnerabilities. Thomas C. O'Hara, CPP, project manager for EG&G Dynatrend of Arlington, Va., offers these tips:

* Set the scope of the work to be done from concept through testing and completion. Know exactly what the security problems are and how security equipment and procedures will solve or mitigate the problems. Be specific about the results you want from security and safety measures. Also, know the facility users, and choose the security measures they will accept.

* Determine whether retrofitting or rehabilitating present measures will prolong the use of existing items. Remember that retrofitting will be limited by existing architecture and by the need to be conservative when adding weight to walls and floors.

* Explore countermeasures that might save money. For example, rather than using physical barriers, lower or no-cost access control procedures may work (see sidebar). If you must use barriers, use simple rather than technical ones, e.g., ones that are manually rather than hydraulically operated. Choose those with a one-time installation cost instead of those using electronics which have ongoing maintenance costs. Physical barriers with electronics are still less expensive than hiring personnel - probably the highest ongoing expense.

* Consider the long term when selecting equipment and vendors, because you often get the best value by avoiding sole source equipment. What do the competitors charge? Get the best for your money with low-maintenance equipment that is easy to replace.

* Consider energy costs. Specify efficient indoor lighting, and use solar-powered outdoor lights where you can. When equipment is installed, require that it perform without failure for a specified time before you make that final payment to the vendor. Likewise, warranties should begin at the time of use, not at the time of shipment or installation.

* Use the lowest level of technology appropriate to your needs. For example, floor mat alarms may be as effective as more sophisticated intruder detection systems, but they cost less and trigger fewer false alarms. As another example, fiber optic transmission lines have no technical advantage over copper wire in many cases and yet cost more to install. Shop carefully for values.

Get what you need Peter J. Lindemann, executive director of Security Solutions International of New York, says when it comes to access control, proper design, application and installation are matters of chance, not choice, in many settings. People want good access control, but they have not learned the best ways to secure entrances, exits, freight docks, elevators, gates and perimeters. And it's more than knowing about locks, Lindemann says. There are also considerations about aesthetics, local codes and ordinances, factors which impede easy use of the lock, costs, and so on. Lindemann says security planners should aim for need-driven decisions, not incident-driven decisions. Regardless of the type of lock chosen - latch, dead latch, automatic deadbolt, electric strike, electric lock - Lindemann says it should be chosen on the basis of security and life safety, not just cost.

Access control also means learning about lock shields (to prevent someone from pouring in glue), signs on panic doors, vehicle barriers, fences, bullet-resistant barriers, ADA-approved returns on lever door handles, good hinges, and ways to secure money, records, computer disks, etc.

And last, don't forget key control. To get the expertise for good access control, start studying, and enlist the help of a consultant. In that way, you will know you are making the right decisions for your needs.

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© 2012 Penton Media Inc.

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