CRISP report focuses on tall building security

23 Jan 09

The latest CRISP report released by the ASIS Foundation offers salient advice on security measures for tall buildings.

As tall buildings – including high-rises – become more common, their security and the safety of their occupants merits attention.

The latest Connecting Research in Security to Practice (CRISP) Report says nothing new by stating that tall buildings are exposed to all the normal security risks – crime, disorder and emergencies – that threaten any street-level or campus-style building.

However, what it also says – and is not recognised by all – is that the physical nature of tall buildings (or tower blocks) calls for different security emphases.

The series of Connecting Research in Security to Practice Reports comprises White Papers on subjects that impact the security industry. Each of the reports explores issues of topical and practical concerns to security professionals. Previous reports include Preventing Gun Violence in the Workplace, Strategies to Detect and Prevent Workplace Dishonesty and Lost Laptops = Lost Data.

The CRISP Report entitled ‘From the Ground Up: Security for Tall Buildings’, written by Dennis Challinger, was commissioned by the ASIS Foundation.

Challinger’s background lies in criminology. For the past 18 years, he has worked as a security practitioner, holding executive positions in several organisations in Australia. In each of those positions, his work was directed toward the practical reduction of losses to his employees from crime and deviance. In essence, the commercial version of crime prevention.

In this instance focusing on commercial and residential buildings, Challinger makes the point that tall buildings often house many people and much property in an environment where movement is restricted by elevators and stairways.

Ownership is ambiguous

Along with lobbies and corridors, these areas constitute considerable sections of the building where ownership is, at best, ambiguous. Moreover, the anonymous masses of people that move through these common areas present offenders with a fertile setting in which to operate.

Challinger’s research suggests that crime, disorder and emergencies are continuing issues for security providers in tall buildings. He discusses how research points to specific responses that may be most useful in developing security plans for tall buildings. These include situational security approaches, both physical and procedural, the promotion of a sense of community within the building and ensuring that the building is well maintained.

Current security approaches include access control, physical security (locks, alarms, perimeter fences), CCTV, lighting, security officers, emergency plans, documented procedures and security awareness efforts.

To view From the Ground Up: Security for Tall Buildings, access the dedicated web link on the right hand panel of this page.