Securing your building – one door at a time

Facilities managers may soon be facing rising crime rates alongside the growing list of challenges caused by inflation and crippling energy costs. James Saunders, Managing Director of Enfield Speciality Doors, explains why it’s wise to address potential security issues now.

Food and energy prices are soaring and, unfortunately, the upshot of these economic conditions is almost certainly a rise in acquisitive crime as desperate people turn to desperate ways to make ends meet.

In the past, there has been a correlation between a downturn in living conditions and crime rates. In 2013, Government cuts and a fall in wages created what police leaders referred to as the ‘austerity bulge’ in crime figures. Today, sadly, many businesses are already feeling the pressure of crime too. The 2021 Commercial Victimisation Survey (CVS) estimated that 38% of businesses in the wholesale and retail sector in England and Wales had been a victim of crime between April 2020 and March 2021.

As during these dark winter nights, it’s a good time for facilities managers to review security measures at the premises they oversee, starting with the doors.

The benefits of security doors

It’s easy to think that security doors are just for main access points. But, in fact, they can actually be used to great effect as part of a holistic approach to security throughout a building. When specified correctly, internal security doors can provide a number of other functions too.

Whether you are considering a school, hospital, cinema, concert hall, office building or apartment block, a full risk assessment is required to identify any weak points in your building and help decide which security doors you need.

High security doors provide additional lines of defence against unwanted access, but they don’t need to be big, metal industrial doors. Timber security doors can still provide a comprehensive barrier when fitted with secure locks.

Choosing the spec for your security door

When you start looking for a security door, you’ll need to check its accreditations to ensure it’s going to do the job it’s needed for. For internal entrance doors to offices or apartments, for example, if its marked PAS 24 compliant, you are choosing a door which meets the minimum British Standard for security. These doors can withstand attempted breach and break-in pressures of impact, sustained force and even cylinder lock tampering.

From office buildings to entrance doors to flats in apartment blocks, standard wooden doors can develop weak points over time that can become visible to potential intruders. Timber security doors, however, with severe duty door core and quality ironmongery, can help keep tenants, visitors and users safe and secure.

To ensure facilities managers and tenants get the most from their security doors, the type of lock used needs to be considered as well. Options include mortice, multi-point and night-latch locks. In addition, deadbolt locks are almost impossible to be breached by some of the burglar’s favourite tools and are most suited to doors made of timber, steel or fibreglass.

And just because their main function is safety and security, internal security doors don’t necessarily need to look like they come from Fort Knox. Bespoke timber doors are available with a choice of veneers, laminates, paint and glazing options. So they can easily blend into the surrounding décor or match any branding desired by the landlord or tenants.

However, if you need your internal security door to serve multiple purposes, it’s best to seek the advice of a specialist manufacturer. One dilemma you may encounter is that dual-certified doors serve two purposes, and the materials that you need to specify for security may not necessarily complement the materials needed for fire protection or sound reduction.

Where to start

If you are looking to upgrade your premises’ security, speak to a specialist door manufacturer such as Enfield Speciality Doors, which manufactures bespoke timber-framed doors for a range of commercial clients. Our team of experts manufacture dual certified doors to meet the highest security, fire safety and sound management standards, while offering a range of colours and finishes. Protecting your building and its tenants has never looked so good.

For more information or advice on specifying acoustic doors, email sales@enfielddoors.co.uk, call 020 8805 6662 or visit enfielddoors.co.uk.

This article was originally published in PFM Magazine.