Page 32 - Campus Security & Life Safety, September/October 2022

CoverStory
“classroom” locking function. This function was designed to allow teachers to unlock their doors at the beginning of the day and allow free access (passage) into the room. At the end
of the day, or if the teacher left the room for a lunch period, the key would be used to lock the door to restrict entry into the room.
outside the room in the hallway. The lesson learned from Columbine was that entering the hallway placed the teacher in harm’s way, as they were unprotected in the hallway. The response was the “intruder” function lock, which added a key to the inside of the door, so the teacher could lock the door from inside the room.
Sadly, Sandy Hook, Parkland and other events taught us that only empowering one person, the teacher, was not effective in turning a classroom into a safe haven. The tragic loss of life meant new solutions were needed.
Enter Instant Locking to the list of locking solutions available to create safe havens. You are probably familiar with instant locking— it’s the use of a turnpiece or button to lock the door from the inside. We use it on deadbolts on our homes, and for privacy on bathroom door locks.
Instant locking empowers anyone in the room to quickly lock down the space. Just as important, these locksets also permit campus and school staff as well as first responders to easily access the room by key. Getting back to “Thou Shalt” requirements, life safety codes (NFPA, IBC) demand the ability to always exit the room with a single motion and have keyed access. This means add-on devices that can trap students in rooms because they require a separate action to remove from the door (and do not offer keyed entry) should never be used.
This locking
function
was performed
32 campuslifesecurity.com | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2022