NCJ Number
58484
Journal
Security World Volume: 16 Issue: 6 Dated: (JUNE 1979) Pages: 96,98-100,102-103
Date Published
1979
Length
7 pages
Annotation
TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES, THE NEED FOR SECURITY CODES, FIRE AND SECURITY CONFLICT, MANAGEMENT POLICIES, AND DEFENSIBLE SPACE ARE DISCUSSED WITH REGARD TO BUILDING SECURITY.
Abstract
THE NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS AND THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING AND MATERIALS COMMITTEE F-12 ON SECURITY SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT ARE WORKING TO IDENTIFY PRESENT WEAKNESSES AND CREATE NEW APPROACHES AND PROCEDURES CONCERNING BUILDING SECURITY. ATTENDEES AT A RECENT SYMPOSIUM AT THE NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS IN WASHINGTON, D.C. HEARD FROM RESEARCHERS AND EXPERTS WHO ARE WORKING TO IMPROVE THE RESISTANCE OF BUILDING ENVIRONMENTS TO UNLAWFUL ENTRY. EXCERPTS FROM THESE PRESENTATIONS ARE REPORTED. IN ADDRESSING THE MANY TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES THAT HAVE OCCURED IN SECURITY SYSTEMS, IT IS NOTED THAT THE PLANNING AND SELECTION OF EQUIPMENT HAS BECOME MORE COMPLEX AND CRITICAL, AND THE SECURITY EXPERT MUST BECOME MORE EXPERT IN ORDER TO SELECT THE MOST COST-EFFECTIVE SYSTEM UNDER THE PRESENTED CIRCUMSTANCES. SOME CONSIDERATIONS FOR SELECTING A SECURITY SYSTEM SHOULD BE: (1) THE NATURE OF THE STRUCTURE BEING SECURED, (2) THE TYPE AND LOCATION OF BUILDING OPENINGS, (3) THE NEED FOR INTERIOR SPACE PROTECTION, (4) CONTENTS OF THE STRUCTURE, (5) THE SKILL OF THE POTENTIAL INTRUDER, (6) NATURE OF THE TRANSMISSION LINE TO A SIGNAL RECEIVING POINT, AND (7) THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SIGNAL RECEIVING CENTER'S SECURITY AND CAPABILITIES. IN DISCUSSING SECURITY CODES THAT WOULD BE ENFORCED THROUGH GOVERNMENT APPROVAL OF BUILDING PLANS, IT IS SUGGESTED THAT STANDARDS SHOULD BE SET FOR SECURITY DEVICES AND MATERIALS IN TERMS OF EFFECTIVENESS RATHER THAN RIGID SPECIFICATIONS FOR DESIGN. SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR RESOLVING CONFLICTS BETWEEN FIRE AND SECURITY CODES ARE OFFERED, AND ITEMS ARE LISTED WHICH ARE CONSIDERED SUITABLE FOR STANDARDIZATION. AIMS FOR EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT POLICY AND PRACTICE REGARDING SECURITY ARE ALSO DISCUSSED, FOLLOWED BY A CONSIDERATION OF SOME PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF THE DEFENSIBLE SPACE CONCEPT IN BUILDING DESIGN. (RCB)