Authored by Lori Greene of Allegion, and submitted by Kelly Reese of Allegion for publication by CSI 5/16/2018.
In recent years, dozens of retrofit security devices have entered the market with promises of being less expensive, more secure and easier to procure and install than traditional security hardware. Considering the immediate need to address classroom security—often within tight budgetary constraints—these retrofit products may seem like the answer school administrators have been searching for. But it's crucial that all aspects of the available security products are considered when evaluating potential solutions. What might initially appear to be a cost-effective way to secure classroom doors may have negative impacts on life safety, fire protection, accessibility and protection from internal threats.