Tools - buildings

Concrete in various forms is a very useful material for protection against, e.g., vehicle-borne attacks, firearms and explosives. Depending on the desired security effect and aesthetics, the concrete can be reinforced with a steel mesh, hidden under an outer cladding or designed as part of a sculpture. Concrete can also be used as part of composite security structures together with glass, steel, etc.

Glass can be used in many security contexts. It can be made burglar-proof, bullet-proof, and to some extent, to withstand blasts from explosives. Glass can be installed as part of a building; e.g., in windows, doors and facades, or as more independent interior elements, furniture or as decoration of a room.

Plastic materials are typically used in security elements to achieve savings in weight and cost, such as in laminated safety glass. However, the flammability and combustibility of plastic materials should always be considered.

Steel is a material that comes in many forms, from thin plates to large, load-bearing beams. There are numerous applications for steel, and to a certain extent other metals, in security design. It can be used, e.g. to protect against gunfire, to deflect the blast wave from an explosion, and in elements to stop unauthorised entrance of vehicles.

Revolving doors and turnstiles are a highly visible form of access control gate. They are often seen as full-height single doors or turnstiles, typically consisting of a narrow access path for one person at a time, designed as a revolving door, made of steel or glass. The doors/turnstiles are often equipped with locks and surveillance, controlled by reception or a security centre.

Speedgates are placed inside the building and are a form of access-controlled gates that appear more open than other secure entrance systems and can be designed more discreetly than revolving doors/ turnstiles. A speedgate typically consists of a glass panel that slides to the side and is activated with an access card. Speed gates can usually handle a substantial number of people in a short time and allow them to bring bags, packages, etc.

Vestibules are placed in the facade with an internal and external door, where access to the interior of the building can be controlled in different ways, e.g. with the first door closing before the next door opens. It is often designed as a small 'building' within the building, with a lower ceiling than the space inside and glass on the walls on all four sides for visibility. Regarding security solutions, vestibules are always equipped with locks and surveillance, just like access-controlled gates and revolving doors.

Security doors can take many forms, from simple fire- and burglary-resistant doors to heavy, gate-like doors that can withstand gunfire, explosion, flammable liquids, etc. It is important to consider the daily use of the door from the outset in order to find the right design so that it is not impractical to use the door.

From a planning and construction angle, a plan for the building's locks must be made early on in the building project. This is partially due to locks being a broad category as well as an element, and that they are associated with a host of practical, economic and design challenges if the lock system –  scope, type and connections – is not planned in a holistic manner. Start by drawing up an overall lock plan for the entire building or secured section and consult a specialist who is well informed on the extensive and complicated subject of locks.

Metal roller shutters, shutter curtains and other types of shutters are often used in designing building security. These elements are typically used for additional closure of a building when the site is closed. In addition to the need for security, one should also consider the signal value of seeing a building closed off in this way from the outside. Architecturally, however, it is almost always necessary to design the solution so that it does not unnecessarily obscure the building.

The location of windows facing particularly vulnerable areas should be carefully planned. If safety or security glass is used, depending on the resistance class, it must be installed in reinforced frames and be mounted in wall structures that are also fortified - both in terms of the type of impact, but also in relation to the weight of the glass element. Glass and laminated glass with polycarbonate can also be incorporated into a range of other building components for security. See more about this under 'Building materials'.

Regarding protection against surveillance, an important consideration is whether you should be able to see through the window, both from the inside and outside, or whether it should only let light into the room.

The Access Control System (ACS) is an integral part of a building's locking plan and must be planned in conjunction with it. As a starting point, chip readers and electronic control of who has access to open and close a door can be designed in a fairly straightforward way so that it does not detract from the architecture – provided it is thought of early on in the process. Consideration must be given to the most elegant and safest way of getting the necessary cables to all doors with ACS, as well as to automatic burglar alarm equipment and any interconnections between them.

An automatic intrusion detection system (IDS) is an electronic surveillance system that can detect and alert. It is a tool that needs to be considered early on in the planning process and, like AACS, it is often relatively straightforward to integrate more or less visibly into the architecture.

Unlike the other two electronic-based tools, AACS and IDS, it is often difficult to hide cameras for closed-circuit television surveillance (CCTV). It is important to consider data protection regulation, when using CCTV, both in terms of what you are filming (e.g. people and number plates) and where, as well as how you store the recordings.

As with all security measures, the need to implement CCTV must be carefully considered. Both too little and too much monitoring can do more harm than good.

In a secure area, lighting should provide safety, security and visibility at critical locations. The lighting can be placed in the ground, on bollards, on light poles, on the ceiling and on the building itself.

Deliberate lighting planning can include designing and distributing light to guide users and guests in a building to where you want to gather people in terms of security.

In addition to signage in the stand-off zone and perimeter, as well as to the public space, signage is also an important tool inside the building. The internal signage aims to inform and comfort the building user. Instructions should not be complicated or time-consuming to understand, as this can lead to increased risk, for instance in relation to an evacuation plan.

Signalling and alarming devices are often included in the overall security solution if the area is crowded and/or there are specific risks associated with the activities on site. It can often be designed in close connection with lighting, loudspeaker systems and other building elements. At other times, it can consist of separate electric flashing lights, sirens or other measures. These will almost always be highly visible components that are not so easy to integrate design-wise into a normal environment.