I always love New Year’s Day – it’s a fresh beginning. Many of us make resolutions (let’s be honest – they only last for a few weeks) with the intention of improving our life in some fashion. Instead of sticking with the cookie-cutter resolutions that we never fulfill, I challenge you to make some resolutions that will improve your facility. After all, that building holds your livelihood doesn’t it? Instead of losing that last five vanity pounds, or finally getting your home/office/life organized, take advantage of this fresh start as an opportunity to increase the security of your facility or facilities.
It doesn’t take much to sound great on paper, but when push comes to shove how do you turn that into actionable tasks? I’m so glad you asked; these are the top five door and lock resolutions to consider for 2014.
Life Safety Compliance
Life safety compliance was a recurring theme throughout the 104 (104?!) blog posts of 2013. It’s critically important that your facilities are in compliance with life safety codes in order to avoid substantial fines, and more importantly, to avoid tragic incidents. We have seen a lot of violations in the field. From stock rooms with boxes stacked six high and three deep in front of exit doors to padlocks on exit doors, it’s out there and far more common than you would think. If you’re not sure where to start, check out this post on life safety considerations you probably haven’t thought of.
ADA Violations
While life safety codes are home to the life-threatening violations, it’s also important to remain in compliance with ADA codes. Violations will result in fines, of course, but they also impede the ability for disabled patrons to access and use your facilities. In 2010, the ADA Standards for Accessible Design received a pretty major overhaul for the first time since 1991. In order to ensure that you are in full compliance, we suggest performing audits for each of your facilities. The National Restaurant Association published a toolkit on ADA compliance that should prove useful in developing an audit program.
Perform a Specification Review for Incorrect or Missing Items
How many doors have you seen with two closers? How would you attach a door without hinges? What are the chances of long-term usefulness for an inexpensive (read low quality) lever set on a high traffic door? Unfortunately, we see door and hardware specifications with these types of issues on a regular basis. What does this mean for you? In short, increased costs – be it change orders, high maintenance costs, or time delays, an incomplete and/or incorrect door and hardware schedule will impact your bottom line. We recommend an evaluation of your door and hardware specifications by someone who knows doors, locks, and local code requirements inside and out. If you’d like LockNet to take a look at yours, let us know. We’d be happy to give you our thoughts.
Evaluate Your Key System Program
If you’ve been following our blog, you’re bound to remember my behemoth series on key systems. It spanned 10 weeks and covered everything from system types, to policies and procedures, to records management. If you want a key system that works for your organization rather than against it, it’s important to periodically review the state of your system. Do you have clear policies and procedures? Are they being adhered to? Has your system been compromised, and if so, was the issue rectified? Do you need to alter your system design to make operations more streamlined? If you need any assistance with any aspect of your key system, we’re more than happy to sit down and chat.
Evaluate the Security Level of Your Delivery Doors
Delivery doors are often targeted by would-be robbers, and as such, they need to offer a higher level of security than other doors in your facility. Many facilities have slapped on makeshift security measures in an attempt to keep the bad guys out. What they don’t realize is that in doing so, they have violated a host of life safety and ADA codes. There are many ways that you can increase the security of your delivery doors while being code compliant. Check out this post where to review the best options.
Biting off all of these at once is sure to be overwhelming and result in yet another failed New Year’s resolution, but checking off at least one of these tasks this year will help keep your door and lock program in good condition. All of us at LockNet wish you a happy, healthy, and productive 2014! As always, if you have any questions, let us know in the comments!