As public policies are front and center of our national discussions, we must keep safety for schools and community spaces at the forefront of our conversations. This issue was raised to national attention in the 2024 vice-presidential debate by JD Vance when he stated that doors need to lock better in our schools. At the Door Security and Safety Foundation, we agree, and it’s core to our mission to help foster a secure environment in all of our community buildings.
We know that creating a secure environment doesn’t need to be complicated. In fact, in 2020, the Department of Homeland Security completed an active shooter simulation in which classroom doors that lock when closed had a “significant impact” on deterring the threat of the shooter. To date, no active shooter has ever breached a classroom door that was securely latched and locked. We know from experience and data proves this out. Safety starts with a simple solution—doors that are properly closed with the necessary safety locks in place.
Community spaces should be focused on fostering growth, learning, and connection without community members fearing for their safety while in these spaces. It is up to political leaders, community leaders, and those in the building industry to work together to implement solutions that lead to change.
Currently, no national standard for secure openings exists in America, leaving students, faculty, staff and community members at risk. To address this critical gap, the Door Security and Safety Foundation in collaboration with the Door and Hardware Institute recently released new guidelines, Are Your Door Openings Secure? to equip community space leaders, building managers and property owners with the knowledge and resources to confidently secure their buildings.
The guidelines are meant to serve as a resource on best practices for securing community spaces from the outside in. Outlined within the guidelines are three recommended levels of security for any building openings. These levels are meant to Deter, Detect, and Delay any unwanted behavior and to allow time for emergency response.
While there is no national standard, we wanted to provide the building industry and community space leaders with the resources needed to create safe environments today. Our guidelines address how to assess the security levels of various openings and to consider the probability of risk. For example, when assessing the risk of adversarial behavior at an exterior or interior opening, it is important to consider both the probability of this event occurring and the potential consequences. These factors will help guide users to the most appropriate recommendations for secure openings.
While we call on our political leaders to implement national change, we also want to empower building leaders and industry professionals to make the day-to-day decisions needed to help envision safer spaces for today—and looking to tomorrow. Addressing safety doesn’t need to be complicated. Learn more about how to create a secure space by downloading the Are Your Door Openings Secure? guidelines and finding a professional in your area to assess and implement safety guidelines in your building.
