Classroom doors can be breached and unlocked easily through a broken glass door window.
A single classroom door lockset is not enough. Even the most expensive classroom function door latch can be defeated. A second mechanism or an extra layer of security is needed to guarantee the safety of students and staff.
This is a significant concern when it comes to school security. A dangerous individual or active shooter can break the door window easily, then reach through to turn the inside door lever to unlock the locked door and gain entry. This is why many schools and organizations have taken steps to reinforce classroom doors by adding a 2nd or 3rd layer of security that can’t be by-passed through broken windows such as temporary door locking devices also known as barricades.
Temporary door barricade devices are very popular but only a few designs are code complient and safe to use. One highly recommended solution is the Nightlock Lockdown barri-cade device, which has been adopted by over 10,000 schools and universities nationwide. When considering a temporary door locking device, remember it should be a portable and removable mechanism that is only engaged during emergency lockdown situations, or drills and only in place for a finite period of time.
To enhance the security of classroom doors and ensure the safety of students and staff during an active shooter event, it’s important to take steps beyond a standard single door lever latch. While typical door lever locks may provide some level of security, they are vulnerable to breaches. Adding an extra layer of security in the form of a door barricade device can be a major safety advantage. This device should be positioned low, near the floor, away from the window to prevent easy access from the outside if the window is broken.
The Nightlock Lockdown device offers many key advantages:
1. Code Compliance: Nightlock devices comply with NFPA, IBC, IFC, and ADA code standards and exceptions ensuring that it does not introduce new hazards while enhancing security. It is only engaged during an emergency “shelter in place” lockdown situation. The locking mechanism is stored away from the door in a wall box when not being used. Like a fire extinguisher, it is only used if necessary.
2. Effective Protection: Nightlock devices enable securing the door from inside the room without opening the door. While inside the room, the Nigthtlock devices are always unlocked to enable free egress from the room.
3. Ease of Use: Nightlock barricades are fast and easy to use during an emergency lockdown by all ages, and designed to be easily unlocked from the outside of the room by authorized personnel using a special release tool. This ensures that first responders and other emergency personnel can still access the classroom to facilitate evacuation if needed.
4. Low and Out of reach: This second layer of protection is mounted at the bottom of the door and out of reach if the door knob mechanism is breached or fails.
Most schools safety protocols include “Run Hide Fight” or “Alice” training which advocate barricading classroom doors when necessary. Barricading with environmental objects such as furniture, filing cabi-nets or desks is recommended by organizations including FEMA, Dept of Education, Dept of Homeland Security, DOJ and FBI if evacuation is not possible. But moving heavy furniture is a hazard and is time consuming, where as a common and consistent barricade device is fast and easy and does not present first responders with unknown inconsistent obstacles. That is why police and fire officials in all 50 united states have recommended Nightlock Lockdown devices.
There are several other code compliant barricade devices on the market, yet none are as safe, as easy to use, as economical or as widely accepted as Nightlock. This video shows why a door knob latch is not enough and why an extra lock is needed at the floor level.
By implementing these additional security measures, schools can better protect students and staff in the event of a violent threat.