Certain facility areas in your home or commercial building call for extra security to prevent unauthorized access or tampering. Experts often recommend the installation of security access doors to provide an additional protection layer for your establishment utilities.
However, choosing from a wide range of security access panel types can be challenging. The number of options available in the market can overwhelm owners new to the product. Hence, this blog post aims to guide owners who need more security door knowledge. You’ll discover here valuable and timely tips that you can take note of to purchase the right security panel for you.
Assess the location of your security access door
Since you’re now aware of the purpose of your access door installation, which is for security, you will assess the system areas wherein you will apply the door. It’s essential to do this before you purchase the panel, so you can identify the features you should look for in a security door based on the demands of its location.
Roaming the establishment with a contractor or construction professional would be best. This way, you’ll also get advice on which building part it’s wiser to place the security panel—wall, ceiling, roof, or floor. It’s also one way to figure out how many security access doors you’ll need to achieve the level of protection you’re aiming for.
Identify the best-fitting security door material
Steel is an element well-known for its strength and fracture resistance. Hence, most security access doors consist of steel materials of different types, such as:
- Galvanized steel: Construction professionals recommend using galvanized steel for utility areas often exposed to harsh weather as it can resist degradation. It’s a type of steel coated with zinc, which firmly protects the steel underneath from rust issues. Compared to stainless steel, it’s more ductile.
- Stainless steel: On the other hand, construction experts recommend stainless steel security door installation in areas vulnerable to wetness or moisture. It’s a steel type designed through chromium addition to molten steel. Thus it’s the most potent weapon against rust, mold, and mildew. Although galvanized steel is more ductile, stainless steel is more durable and has more powerful corrosion-resistant features.
Measure the needed security panel size
When deciding which security access panel to purchase, consider the standard sizes it offers as well. To know the specific dimension you’ll need on particular areas, you must first measure and jot down the weight and height inches of your desired opening. This way, you can inquire if a specific security door type has the size you need or if a vendor accepts a custom-size order. Some of the standard security access door sizes available in the market are:
- 8″ x 8″
- 10″ x 10″
- 12″ x 12″
- 14″ x 14″
- 16″ x 16″
- 18″ x 18″
- 22″ x 22″
- 24″ x 24″
- 24″ x 30″
- 24″ x 36″
- 30″ x 30″
- 30″ x 36″
- 36″ x 36″
- 48″ x 48″
Know your security options
Overall, there are four security access door and panel options that you can buy depending on the needs of a certain facility area:
- AL-9500: The AL-9500 or Anti-Ligature Panel is a unique access door type ideal for installation in facilities that require utmost security and safety, including prisons, correctional facilities, psychiatric hospitals, and many more. It serves essential security functions and necessary safety capabilities, preventing self-harm inside the vicinity.
- Fire-Rated: If a particular area demands security and fire resistance simultaneously, the fire-rated security access doors best address all concerns.
- Medium Security: The medium security access panels have a high gauge door elements design, like 12 gauge, that can provide standard yet sufficient security protection.
- High Security: If maximum security is your focus in the area, the high-security access doors are the most fitting for you to add to your cart, as it’s often engineered with detention-grade materials, ensuring extreme safeguarding.
Consider your budget and other standard safety requirements
Plan and evaluate your budget when deciding on the right security panel for your establishment. Recognizing the amount of security protection and additional features you need can help narrow down the access door type you must purchase and find cheaper alternatives.
Furthermore, make some time to visit your local building department, as particular safety protocols are required depending on the type of building, whether it’s banks, prisons, hospitals, or commercial and industrial structures. Your job as an owner is to make your establishment fully functional while practicing safety standards.
Security panels for added facility protection
Security access doors and panels are a great addition, especially for special structures like prisons, banks, hospitals, or mental health facilities that demand extreme security and protection inside the vicinity. This way, these establishments are far from unauthorized or forced entry attempts that can disturb the work or individuals dwelling in it. Take note of these five tips, so you can smartly pick the right security panel for your building.
Photo by Nastuh Abootalebi on Unsplash
