How to make a building safe

In the commercial and public sectors, keeping your building safe and secure is a key priority. Establishing a secure building and a safe environment will typically involve implementing a range of technological and physical measures that protect people, assets, and the physical fabric of your building from a range of potential threats.

When asking how to make a building safe, it’s important to consider the weak spots in your security infrastructure, and why securing them is essential.

What makes a building safe, why is building safety so important, and what practical steps can organisations take to ensure the safety of their building?

What makes a building safe?

A safe building is an environment where risk has been minimised, and a range of measures are in place to protect occupants, assets, and infrastructure from both internal and external threats. Typically, this will include a combination of physical security measures, controlled access, and surveillance systems. An emergency procedure will be in place and understood by users of the building.

Access control is a fundamental element of building safety, limiting and monitoring who can enter and exit the building. Systems such as speed gates, turnstiles, and biometric access controls limit building access to authorised personnel.

Surveillance technologies such as CCTV are a key element of building security and safety. These allow for constant monitoring of the building, with particular attention paid to vulnerable areas. A visible surveillance system acts as both a deterrent and a tool for investigating and prosecuting incidents after they have occurred.

Strong, secure entry points ensure the structural integrity of the building. Reinforced doors and windows prevent unauthorised access, ensuring the safety of occupants and assets.

When security breaches, fire, or other emergencies occur, a clear emergency plan should come into action. This will include having clear evacuation routes, emergency exits, and communication systems that quickly alert occupants to the danger and what is required of them.

Why is it important to ensure property security?

Effectively answering how to make a building safe is essential for anyone managing an organisation or commercial property. The reasons for this include:

• Protection of assets

Buildings will often contain valuable physical and intellectual assets that need to be protected against damage, vandalism, and theft. The loss of assets can lead to financial losses and operational disruptions.

• Occupant safety

A safe building is a secure environment for employees, visitors and customers. A safe environment increases employee productivity and morale.

• Regulatory compliance

There are a range of regulatory requirements across different industries when it comes to building security. Failing to adequately secure property may result in non-compliance, which can ultimately result in fines and potential legal consequences.

• Operational continuity

A safe, secure property reduces the risk of incidents occurring such as theft, vandalism, or deliberate sabotage that could lead to operational disruptions. A safe environment supports smooth, uninterrupted operations.

How do you ensure the security of your building

Building safety and security typically involves a multi-layered approach:

• Assess security needs

Conduct a thorough security assessment to identify the unique security requirements of your building, based on size, layout, and assets you wish to protect.

• Install access control systems

Modern access control systems are a key element of any overall security strategy, preventing unauthorised access. These can be tailored to different areas of the building based on security levels.

• Use surveillance systems

CCTV systems and remote monitoring solutions play an essential role as both deterrent and investigative tools.

• Reinforce entry points

Doors, windows and other entry points should be secure. Automated doors can enhance security by controlling entry to specific areas and providing locking mechanisms should a threat develop.

Ways to keep your building safe

While many security solutions are applicable across different environments, there are also differences depending on the sector:

• Private sector

Businesses often need to manage visitor access while ensuring that sensitive areas such as executive offices, or data centres, are protected and secure. At Safetell, we offer speed gates and turnstiles designed to integrate seamlessly into busy office and commercial environments. These ensure that only authorised personnel can enter the building.

• Public sector

Hospitals, schools, council offices, and other public sector buildings all face particular security and access issues. Ensuring access for the public while maintaining safety and security is a key requirement. Automated doors are used widely across the public sector, facilitating access to public areas, while ensuring restricted access to other parts of the building. At Safetell, our experienced door automation service can install user-friendly, functional, and secure doors across public sector buildings.

• Retail sector

The retail sector has to secure the free flow of people in and out of stores and shopping centres, while ensuring the safety and security of the building. Shoplifting, vandalism, and threats against the person can all occur in the retail sector, and the security measures put in place need to reflect this. As well as automated doors, security teams, and monitoring systems, elements such as secure screens and counters may be required.

Individual organisations, businesses, and buildings will have their own unique safety and security challenges. When asking how to make a building safe, it’s important to consider what it is you wish to keep secure, what particular challenges your building presents, and what portfolio of security measures can help you address them.

Working with experienced security professionals like Safetell, you can develop a comprehensive security strategy that ensures the safety of your building, assets, and people.

Make your commercial building safe with Safetell

At Safetell, our experienced team work with clients to ensure that their premises are safe and secure. We help to protect a company’s assets, ensuring that access can be controlled and that a strong deterrent is in place. We take time to understand the security and safety challenges that the company faces, and then offer solutions that help them meet those challenges.

Our unique portfolio of products and services has been developed to meet the evolving needs of our clients. They have been tried and tested for over 30 years and are designed to provide comprehensive levels of protection for employees and company assets, protecting against attacks, intrusions and theft.

Contact us to discuss how to make a building safe and to find out more about our products.