Ensuring Safe Environments
Visible controls help assure confidence in safety and security of medical facilities
- By Bryan Sanderford
- Apr 01, 2017
People usually think of doors as
a means of keeping someone
out, or alternately, keeping
someone in. Doors provide
privacy and, when locked, a
level of security that is both simple and effective.
Doors can be opened manually with
a handle or push bar; they can slide open; be
revolving or swinging; doors can be opened
automatically with the push of a button or
the swipe of a card; can be programmed to
open automatically only when another door
is closed; doors can be alarmed, and so on.
While it may seem unnecessary, all of
these types of entrance/exit doors and accompanying
hardware are often needed in
a hospital, elder care facility or medical environment
to meet various life safety codes,
security precautions or staff/patient movement.
The physical security and safety of patients,
staff and visitors, as well as asset protection,
play a significant role in determining
what kinds of door access control is needed.
Intelligent and reliable access control solutions
help security professionals in managing
risk and enhancing protection and conforming
to ADA requirements. Deciding on
the right tools to meet requirements of local,
state and federal regulations as well as facility
needs however can be complicated.
Electromagnetic Locks – Used for swinging
doors provide positive, instantaneous
door control. They are inherently failsafe,
releasing instantly upon command or loss of
power to provide unobstructed egress. Independent
of any mechanical type locks, they
have no moving parts and are easy to retrofit
onto existing doors. Alternately, mortised
electromagnetic locks are used where aesthetics
are concerned such as hospital lobbies
and vestibule entrances.
Another kind of maglock that can be
implemented to provide added security is one
for cabinets and drawers or pedestrian gates.
These small but powerful magnetic locks can
have a holding force of 300 pounds and are
capable of being controlled individually, sequentially
or simultaneously from one or several
locations. And because of their confined
magnetic field they can safely be used in computer
rooms and other electronically sensitive
areas within a hospital environment.
R-E-X Push Buttons – Used in areas
where security codes require a readily apparent
and easy-to-use door control or electric
lock release. They are easy to operate and are
available for use in outdoor or harsh operating
conditions as well as with alternate action,
momentary or time delayed contacts. Proximity
activated switches can help decrease
the potential to spread contagious diseases
since no actual hand contract is required to
activate. Super bright LEDs clearly indicate
whether doors are locked or unlocked.
Mantrap/Interlock Doors – Mantraps
are often manual swing doors forming a
vestibule but they can also utilize automatic
doors or gates. Two door mantraps are most
common but systems can incorporate many
doors when several controlled areas are interconnected.
Life safety codes may be involved
when mantraps are used to limit ingress
and egress. These will require that door
interlock systems be interfaced with the fire
alarm control to allow an emergency door
release. A local emergency pull station may
be required to allow doors to be unlocked in
non-fire alarm emergencies or to interface
the mantrap system with NFPA 101 delayed
egress controls.
Door Prop Alarms – Used primarily for
exit doors, these alarms provide an audible
warning sounder at the door as well as activating
an alarm relay to signal other remote
monitoring systems.
Panic Devices/Emergency Pull Stations –
As the name implies, these devices facilitate
quick and safe egress from the facility in case
of emergency.
Should we find ourselves or our loved
ones as the patient of a hospital, elderly
care facility or other healthcare provider,
we put our trust in the safety and security
of the environment that we are in. Visible
and reliable entrance/
exit door security goes a
long way in reinforcing
that trust.
This article originally appeared in the April 2017 issue of Security Today.
About the Author
Bryan Sanderford is the national sales manager at Dortronics Systems, Inc.