Page 84 - Security Today, July/August 2018

Layering Facility Security Taking a look at different facilities and how they protect people and property
BTy Dana Pruiett
oday’s facility operators must prepare for virtually any event from vandalism to a terrorist attack. With facilities ranging in size and use—from an emergency communications center to a multi-family apartment building—there’s no readily available one-size-fits-all
security plan.
However, there are basics that apply to any facility. Security be-
gins at an entry, whether it’s a door or a gate. From there, layers of equipment—integrated, diverse systems—combine to create the strong security solutions facility operators require.
Here’s a brief look at how four very different facilities are protect- ing their people and property.
911 Center
A southern state 911 communications center serves as the heart of police, fire, paramedic and other vital public services. The center’s
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JULY/AUGUST 2018 | SECURITY TODAY
director said emergency calls are received at the rate of more than one a minute. There’s literally no time for the center to close due to a security issue.
Security is designed for the center’s 80 employees, but also has to accommodate a few employees from the local telecommunications company that also uses the four-story building as a switching station.
The facility has two entries, front and back, that are kept locked 24/7. Most employees enter a fenced parking lot at the rear of the building. Employees use their access cards at the gate entrance to gain entry into the parking area.
A video intercom is mounted beside the card reader at the gate. Visitors with no access cards press a button to request entry into the facility. A staff member inside the building uses a master station to see and speak with the visitor before determining whether or not to remotely open the gate.
After parking, visitors and employees encounter a second secu-
FACILITY SECURITY
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