Panic Room / Safe Room

Physical Issues:

Doors

Doors need to be of sufficient strength to withstand a heavy and prolonged assault and able to withstand the likely risk in terms of physical attack, bullets, explosion, gas etc. Not only should the door be strong enough to withstand the attack but also the frame, doorjamb, hinges and method of locking should be of equal strength. Multi locking points are to be preferred and the type of locking mechanism chosen that will withstand an attack but will still allow free exit when the area is safe without jamming.

Consideration should also be given to the direction any door opens. If the door opens outwards this is likely to provide the greatest strength against attack but could end up being blocked, purposely or by falling debris, thereby trapping those inside. The best solution would be to have a door, which under normal operation would only open outwards but in an emergency can be released from inside the room to open inwards.

A further consideration should also be the method of locking control. Ideally all locking mechanisms etc. should be quickly operated by an 'Emergency Switch' within the room and overridden by high security biometric access control readers such as fingerprint, palm print or iris eye scan readers. Obviously a secure means of opening the door to the room should be available from outside of the room in the event of accidental operation by children etc. or in a rescue situation - various methods for this are available which would form part of a confidential discussion.

Windows

If the room has windows and the risk is sufficient then consideration should be given to installation of shutters of sufficient strength to protect against the likely risk. Thought must also be given to the fact that windows may also be used as a means of secondary escape and an internal escape ladder, that could be quickly deployed, should be considered.

Walls, Floors & Ceilings

Careful consideration should be given to the construction not only of the walls but also of the floor and ceiling against any likely attack. In this respect consideration should not only be of physical attack but in certain risk environments, also against the risk of fire and gas attack etc.

Electronic Issues:

Communication

Communication in an attack situation is again a vital element in the successful outcome. This not only means the ability to communicate with the Police and Authorities by a combination of telephone, GSM and radio networks etc. but also the ability to communicate with other parts of the property, other Safe Rooms, Guards, Neighbours and even in certain situations the intruders themselves.

Closed Circuit TV Surveillance (CCTV)

It is important, in the stressful environment of an attack situation, that full surveillance of the surrounding property can be achieved from within the room, so that progress and activity of any attackers may be monitored and if appropriate, relayed to the Police and Authorities.

CCTV surveillance should be carefully planned and deployed so as to provide maximum observation in all eventualities and may consist of both overt and covert cameras, fixed and high speed moveable cameras (pan, tilt & zoom with automatic focus), cameras that can 'see' in the dark and even in some cases, cameras that can detect the presence of an intruder by body heat.

The design and installation of an appropriate CCTV system of this nature should be undertaken only by specialists with experience in such matters such as Westminster International.

To view our this product as a PDF please click here.

For more information - please click here to contact us.