School Fire vs. Active Shooter
I am constantly in front of superintendents, school boards, parents and teachers who are engaged on the topic school safety. A real-life, close-quarters question that is often overlooked when evaluating layers of protection is the fire code.. The question is, does the layer of protection schools are considering offer a real benefit while not creating a fire code issue or increase fire threat?
When evaluating door products, and there are several options to choose from, examine the release system. Are they complicated to release or have multiple steps to release that could create an additional fire hazard in the event of an active shooter emergency.
Here are a few questions to consider when evaluating door security devices.
1. Is the device locked up and secured from students 24/7?
2. Is the device a multistep release process?
3. Does the device take time to release?
4. Can the device fail or break when releasing?
Lets look at each of these questions a little closer.
- Is the device locked up and secured from students 24/7?
An emergency can happen with a door security device without the presence of an active shooter threat and/or a lockdown situation. For example, if the door device is not locked up from students, it could be deployed without the supervision of administrators or teachers. If this occurs and a fire starts a series of new problems immediately surface. First, the student does not have the training or knowledge of how to release the device and is in danger of being locked in the room, unable to disarm the device. Second, administration can now not enter the room to provide assistance and/or rescue those inside the room. Selecting a device continuously locked and secured from students prevents a deployment during or just prior to a fire that could result in injury or death.
2. Is the device a multistep release process?
If there is an active shooter lockdown scenario, and the device is deployed, a series of new issues arise if the shooter starts a fire in the school or if a fire happens to ignite out of chance or from other emergency tactics being deployed during the lockdown. If the door device is a multistep or complicated release, the staff could be unable to disarm the device due to the steps quick enough to avoid injury or death to those in the room. If the teacher is working on the release and panicked students are pressing up against the exit door, completing the steps can become cumbersome and difficult to complete. Couple this scenario with the presence of thick smoke, sprinkler systems down-pouring water and a potential power outage. You can imagine the great increase of risk, putting all of those trapped inside at great risk.
3. Does the device take time to release?
All of the dangers illustrated in point 2 above “Is the device a multistep release?” are recreated in this situation where a device may not be overly complicated, but simply takes time to release. If the door protection device takes attention, motor skill(s) and time to disarm; coupled with smoke, darkness, water and a crowd of panicked students pressuring the exit, the risk of dis-engaging the device in time to escape the fire danger is greatly increased.
4. Can the device fail or break while releasing?
If the door security device has a release function that includes parts or components that can fail during a fire emergency, this situation can create an extreme threat to those trapped inside. It also adds the “power-failure” element to a door security device. If a device is powered directly or by battery and the power source fails while deployed, a great risk of injury or death is created. If parts to the device fail or break during release, and the device is not fully disarmed, this causes an additional threat to the safety of those trapped inside.
In conclusion, for those involved in securing classrooms, examine potential protection devices for these release features. Ensure you are not introducing new threats with devices intended to decrease risk of injury and death to your staff and students.
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Justin M. Osburn is a door security expert and owns and operates SOS Systems, LLC. SOS manufactures and sells a patent-protected, active-shooter interior door security device called the Guardian Angel. It stops, slows and/or thwarts active shooters from accessing classrooms or offices or any other type of room. Need a speaker about school safety or want to learn how to protect your school using door security devices? Call Justin at 660.227.1123 or email him at [email protected]
Photo Credits:
Copyright: <a >ambrozinio / 123RF Stock Photo</a>