Guest Editorial by Heather Bender, Director of Commercial Product Marketing, Clopay® Corporation

In the built environment, security and safety are critical considerations in the planning, engineering, and design of any structure.

From government buildings and educational institutions to healthcare facilities and retail centers, it is the responsibility of all project stakeholders to be certain that building plans yield an environment that, above all else, keeps occupants and valuable inventory safe.

To successfully secure structures, architects, engineers, contractors, owners, and facility managers all need to consider potential threats from every angle.

Indeed, safety and security threats come in many forms and from many sources, and they can impact both external and internal areas of a building. Openings and points of access like entryways, doors, and windows are the most vulnerable.

For instance, building fenestrations should be secured against extreme weather events and forced entry, while certain areas of the interior of the structure must meet applicable fire codes, as well.

Whether the security threat to a building’s occupants and goods is external or internal, caused by Mother Nature or humans, here are some considerations to help safeguard its entryways.

When Extreme Weather Threatens

Hurricanes, tornados, severe thunderstorms, and other extreme weather events are impacting communities across the country at increasing rates.

The ability to properly shelter occupants with little warning has become a growing concern in more parts of the country, as some of these storms are difficult to predict.

(Learn More about Increasing extreme Weather Events – The New Normal? Courtesy of ENDEVR Documentary and YouTube. Posted on Jul 10, 2022.)

What makes extreme weather events especially deadly are straight-line winds.

Extreme storms have wild swings in positive and negative pressure, creating winds that exert acute force on buildings. This force can ultimately cause windows and doors to blow out, creating life-threatening conditions for anyone inside.

Wind-loaded and impact-rated rolling steel doors and shutter products can help secure the building and protect lives. These doors can be deployed quickly and easily with the turn of a key, or even automatically when an alarm is activated in some cases.

Manufacturers work closely with designers to meet individual client specifications and are able to create maximum-protection rolling doors in various sizes—to cover a single door or window opening or even banks of windows.

Some products can coil up into out-of-sight headers, remaining unseen until needed, and they can be easily integrated into retrofit construction projects.

Some rolling doors are designed to work with interior safe room architecture. This is especially key for structures like K-12 schools or public buildings in meeting standards like ICC-500 and FEMA P-361 for storm shelter safety.

For some applications, it is also important to make sure that any doors being considered are tested for both static and operable wind load.

While many buildings are concerned primarily with static wind load (the maximum wind load at which a door is able to remain safely in place while closed), there are structures, such as healthcare and first responder facilities, that need to operate doors during severe weather.

In this case, it is necessary to consider the door’s operable wind load, which specifies the maximum wind load at which a door is able to safely open and close.

Some rolling doors are engineered with unique wind locks that enable the door to operate during extreme weather and stay within its guides even when exposed to winds up to roughly 88 mph (these doors offer an operable wind load of 20 PSF).

These maximum-protection rolling doors may be configured to withstand full ranges of wind load requirements, including Miami-Dade, Texas Department of Insurance, and ANSI/DASMA-108, depending on the region.

Defending Against Forced Entry

Even when skies are free from ominous clouds and winds are calm, a building’s security can still be compromised.

Ideal for government buildings, retailers, and companies that deal with sensitive information and valuable goods, heavy-duty rolling security doors are specifically designed to secure entryways during threats of forced entry.

With the ability to be retrofitted and installed on the exterior of existing structures, rolling doors can be used to protect glass windows, such as storefronts, which can be expensive to replace. In addition, when lowered, a solid rolling door prevents thieves from viewing the building’s contents. Blocking sight access to the building’s interior can deter criminals.

To further impede looting events and increase a building’s level of protection, select a heavy-duty door that is also lift-resistant and pry-resistant.

These doors are put through rigorous testing, and some security doors even meet Department of Defense forced entry standards (SD-STD-01.01, Revision G (Amended)) which can provide up to an hour of protection against violent attacks against the door to gain entry.

(The award-winning EntryDefender™ Door is designed to protect government buildings, pharmaceutical and cannabis dispensaries, manufacturing facilities, and other sensitive structures from attack for 5, 15, and 60 minutes in accordance with the U.S. Department of State Standard for forced entry SD-STD-01.01, Revision G (Amended). It is the only rolling door in the United States that meets that criteria while still allowing designers and architects the flexibility to design large openings without compromising security. Courtesy of Cornell Iron Works, Inc. and YouTube.)

In addition, some manufacturers offer doors with robust locking devices and rigid heavy-duty bottom bars, enabling the doors to withstand up to 4,500 lbs. of lifting effort.

If there is the possibility of smoke or toxic gases being used to gain entry, consider a rolling security door that has been third-party tested to withstand smoke penetration.

Doors that have been tested for air and smoke infiltration are designed to keep occupants safe while they move to a tenable space.

Fire and Smoke Protection Inside the Building

However, the threats aren’t always from exterior forces. Fire and smoke are significant interior safety concerns, and building planners must take steps to keep occupants free from harm and allow them enough time to escape to a safe space.

Trapping and blocking flames and smoke with the correct rolling door or curtain is essential to saving lives.

To achieve a fire protection rating, a rolling steel door must withstand one to four hours of heat of up to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, followed by a hose stream impact test while staying in place without any visible damage or breaks that could allow the passage of fire.

Doors that pass these stringent tests meet the UL 10B standard to acquire a fire protection listing from agencies such as Underwriters Laboratories, Interteck, Warnock Hersey, and Factory Mutual.

Properly installed and well-maintained fire-rated doors prevent the spread of fire and smoke from 45 minutes to four hours, depending on the door’s rating. And mitigating smoke has become an increasing focus to better ensure occupant life safety.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), most deaths associated with fires are actually caused by smoke inhalation, because people are incapacitated quickly and aren’t able to reach an accessible exit.

A common goal of Fire Protection Engineers is to create a 20-minute window to enable people to exit or find an area of refuge, such as an exit stairwell, before smoke inhalation becomes an issue.

After years of research and development, manufacturers have engineered innovative products that specifically help isolate and contain smoke, including elevator hoist-way smoke doors that prevent smoke migration upward through elevator shafts.

(See why SmokeShield Fabric Smoke and Fire products, like the SmokeShield Elevator shown here, is the clear choice for elevator smoke protection. Using our nearly 100 years of experience in life safety and fire protection, SmokeShiled Elevator smoke curtain’s patented GuideLock™ technology ensures that it positively reseals after each cycle – containing the smoke to the impacted floor. Courtesy of Cornell Iron Works, Inc. and YouTube.)

Fabric smoke and fire curtains are innovative, supplemental fire protectives used to help compartmentalize fire events and typically meet UL 1784 air infiltration and UL 10D burn test requirements.

By compartmentalizing dangerous smoke and fire with the correct door, building owners and safety directors are giving occupants more time to reach safety, decreasing property loss, and helping to prevent dangerous situations for firefighters and emergency responders.

The Proper Defense

It’s not practical to know all the specifics of rolling security doors and which doors provide the right amount of protection in each situation. Manufacturers offer knowledgeable design support teams and provide online specification resources, including dedicated portals, to assist clients and ensure that the rolling security door offers the correct protection for the application.

Whether the threat is extreme weather, forced entry, or danger inside the structure, when the appropriate rolling security door is selected, not only is the building protected but so are the occupants and goods inside.

About the Author

Heather Bender, is an experienced Marketing Professional with 12 years in the manufacturing and building materials industries and seven years in Product Marketing.

Product Management is her passion, and she is well versed in product life cycle planning, market research, complex business analysis, and strategic marketing.

Heather’s current role at Clopay Corporation as the Director of Commercial Product Marketing, involves finding unique solutions to challenging problems for building owners and designers, and bringing new products to life from inception to commercialization and beyond.

Heather graduated with honors from Misericordia University with a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing and obtained her Project Management certification from Pennsylvania State University.

CornellCookson Nominated to Compete in 2022 ‘ASTORS Homeland Security Awards

American Security Today’s Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards is the preeminent U.S. Homeland Security Awards Program, and now in its Seventh Year, continues to recognize industry leaders of Physical and Border Security, Cybersecurity, Emergency Preparedness – Management and Response, Law Enforcement, First Responders, as well as federal, state and municipal government agencies in the acknowledgment of their outstanding efforts to Keep our Nation Secure.

CornellCookson(First of Two)

Best Vehicle Security Entrance Control

• Extreme MicroCoil Grille

• When you need security in an opening with limited vertical space, the Extreme High Performance MicroCoil® Grille – 500K Cycles is the answer.

• Perfectly engineered to occupy the smallest amount of headroom on the market, this high-performance compact grille not only coils in nearly 50% less room than other security grilles but also provides higher performance, and is engineered to handle at least 500,000 cycles (opens/closes) at speeds of up to 24” per second.

• But, with the MicroCoil Grille, higher speeds do not mean you get a loud and clunky security grille; this low headroom parking security grille’s patented nested link system actually minimizes noise and vibrations – making it one of the quietest and smoothest coiling parking garage gates available today.

(See the Extreme High-Performance MicroCoil Grille – 500 Cycle in Action. Courtesy of CornellCookson and YouTube.)

CornellCookson(Second of Two)

Best Perimeter Protection Solution – Physical

• StoreDefender Door

• Created to provide immediate security to store and building owners during times of unrest or unoccupied hours, the StoreDefender is not only a better choice for instant protection, but it can also be more cost-effective than other means of protection (such as plywood board-ups).

• The StoreDefender™ Door was engineered to be a reliable solution to prevent theft and property damage, protecting against riot events and mob attacks.

• More rigid and robust compared to traditional  security doors, StoreDefender was created to be lift and impact-resistant and has been tested to withstand more than 4,500 pounds of effort to lift 3” and resists more than 2,500 pounds of pull force without exiting the guides.

• Designed to safeguard property, merchandise, and most importantly, lives, the door ensures pharmaceutical facilities, cannabis dispensaries, high-end retail, and big-box chain stores can fortify perimeters against looting events and burglaries.

• *CornellCookson, was also recognized in 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program.

Homeland Security remains at the forefront of our national conversation as we experience an immigration crisis along our southern border, and crime rates that are dramatically higher than before the Pandemic across the United States.

These challenges have become a national priority with an influx of investments in innovative new technologies and systems.

The pinnacle of the Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program is the Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Luncheon, an exclusive, affordable, gourmet, full-course plated meal event, in the heart of New York City, held at the International Security Conference & Exposition (ISC East) since it’s inception in 2017.

And who better to address the aforementioned challenges, and initiatives to meet today’s threat landscape than Deputy Executive Assistant Commissioner (DEAC) Diane J. Sabatino of the Office of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the opening keynote speaker at the much-anticipated 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Luncheon, on Wednesday, November 16th, 2022.

As the DEAC of the Office of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Mrs. Sabatino leads more than 31,000 employees and oversees an annual operating budget of $6.5 billion.

Register for the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Luncheon Today

(Hear a recent interview with Deputy Executive Assistant Commissioner (DEAC) Diane J. Sabatino held at Identity Week Europe on leveraging biometric comparison technology in U.S. air, maritime, and land border environments for the security of passengers, enhancing the customer experience and limiting the transmission of biological pathogens while respecting personal privacies and educating the public as the CBP further expands the implementation of biometrics to keep up with threats to the aviation and other border sectors. These new technological tools are there to automate administrative functions so that the most valuable component of the process, the officers, are able to focus on critical issues as they arise. Courtesy of evie kim sing and YouTube. Posted on Jul 13, 2022.)

Enter, American Security Today, the #1 publication and media platform in the Government Security and Homeland Security fields with a circulation of over 75,000 readers and many tens of thousands more visiting our AST Website at www.americansecuritytoday.com each month.

The continually evolving ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program will emphasize the trail of Accomplished Women in Leadership in 2022, as well as the Significance and Positive Impact of Advancing Diversity and Inclusion in our Next Generation of Government and Industry Leaders. #MentorshipMatters

So be on the lookout for Special Guests, Presenters, Book Opportunities, and Attendees at the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Luncheon in November of 2022 in NYC!

The United States forever changed on September 11th, 2001, and we were fortunate to have many of those who responded to those horrific tragedies join us at our 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Luncheon.

In the days that followed 9/11, the critical need to protect our country catapulted us into new and innovative ways to secure our homeland – which is how many of the agencies and enterprise organizations that are today ‘ASTORS’ Awards Champions, came into being.

Our 2021 keynote speaker featured a moving and informative address from TSA Administrator and Vice-Admiral of the United States Coast Guard (Ret), David Pekoske; to our attendees who traveled from across the United States and abroad, on the strategic priorities of the 64,000-member TSA workforce in securing the transportation system, enabling safe, and in many cases, contactless travel.

Legendary Police Commissioner William Bratton of the New York Police Department, the Boston Police Department, and former Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department  was also live at the event, meeting with attendees and signing copies of his latest work ‘The Profession: A Memoir of Community, Race, and the Arc of Policing in America,’ courtesy of the generosity of our 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Premier Sponsors.

The 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program is Proudly Sponsored by New PLATINUM SPONSOR:   NEC National Security Systems (NSS),

New Premier Sponsors Rajant Corporation, guardDog AI, and IPVideo Corporation, and

Returning Premier Sponsors ATI Systems, Automatic Systems, Fortior Solutions, RX Global, and SIMS Software!

In 2021 over 200 distinguished guests representing Federal, State, and Local Governments, and Industry Leading Corporate Firms gathered from across North America, Europe, and the Middle East to be honored among their peers in their respective fields, which included:

• The Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

• ICE Homeland Security Investigations (ICE HSI)

• Customs & Border Protection (CBP)

• The Federal Protective Service (FPS)

• Argonne National Laboratory (ANL)

• DHS Science & Technology (S&T)

• The National Center for Disaster Medicine & Public Health (NCDMPH)

• The American Red Cross

• The InfraGard National Alliance

• The Metropolitan Police (MPD)

• The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA)

• Naval Postgraduate School Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS)

• The Federal Air Marshals Service

• The San Diego Harbor Police Foundation, and Many More!

Register Today for the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Luncheon

ISC East is the Northeast’s leading security & public safety event, hosted in collaboration with premier sponsor Security Industry Association (SIA) and in partnership with ASIS NYC.

Each year, in order to keep our communities safe and secure, security dealers, installers, integrators, and consultants, along with corporate, government and law enforcement/first responder practitioners, convene in New York City to network, learn and evaluate the latest technologies and solutions from premier exhibiting brands.

This combination of one-on-one conversations with top innovators, high-quality special events, and cutting-edge education and training, makes ISC East the most comprehensive East Coast event to guide the industry in getting back to business.

Taking place November 15-17 at the Javits Center in NYC (SIA Education@ISC: November 15-17 | Exhibit Hall: November 16-17), ISC East will be co-located with the Natural Disaster & Emergency Management Expo (NDEM EXPO), a comprehensive trade event and online resource dedicated to the preparation, response, and recovery of physical and human assets of public and private organizations, and the 33rd ASIS NYC Expo. 

Qualified professionals who register for the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Banquet Luncheon, will receive complimentary access to all three events.

Corporate firms, the majority of which return year to year to build upon their Legacy of Wins, include:

AlertMedia, Allied Universal, AMAROK, ATI Systems, Attivo Networks, Axis Communications, Automatic Systems of America, BriefCam, Canon U.S.A., Fortior Solutions, guardDog.ai, Hanwha Techwin of America, HID Global, Mark43, IPVideo Corporation, Konica Minolta Business Solutions, Lumina Analytics, NEC National Security Systems, NICE Public Safety, OnSolve, PureTech Systems, Quantum Corporation, Rave Mobile Safety, Regroup Mass Notification, Robotic Assistance Devices, Rajant Corporation, SafeLogic, Senstar Corporation, ShotSpotter, Singlewire Software, SolarWinds Worldwide, Teledyne FLIR, Valor Systems, and Wiresecure, just to name a few!

Why American Security Today?

The traditional security marketplace has long been covered by a host of publications putting forward the old-school basics to what is Today – a fast-changing security landscape.

American Security Today is uniquely focused on the broader Homeland Security & Public Safety marketplace with over 75,000 readers at the Federal, State, and local levels of government as well as firms allied to the government.

American Security Today brings forward a fresh compelling look and read with our customized digital publications that hold readers’ eyes throughout the story with cutting-edge editorial that provides solutions to their challenges.

Harness the Power of the Web – with our 100% Mobile Friendly Publications

AST Digital Publications are distributed to over 75,000 qualified government and homeland security professionals, in federal, state, local, and private security sectors.

‘PROTECTING OUR NATION, ONE CITY AT A TIME’

AST Reaches both Private & Public Experts, essential to meeting these new challenges.

Today’s new generation of public safety and security experts need real-time knowledge to deal with domestic and international terrorism, lone wolf attacks, unprecedented urban violence, shifts in society, culture, and media bias – making it increasingly difficult for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Military and Private Security Professionals to implement coordinated security measures to ensure national security and improve public safety.

These experts are from Government at the federal, state, and local levels as well as from private firms allied to the government.

AST provides a full plate of topics in our AST Monthly Magazine Editions, AST Website, and AST Daily News Alerts, covering 23 Vital Sectors such as Access Control, Perimeter Protection, Video Surveillance/Analytics, Airport Security, Border Security, CBRNE Detection, Border Security, Ports, Cybersecurity, Networking Security, Encryption, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Campus Security, Security Services, Corporate Facilities, and Emergency Response among others.

AST has Expanded readership into integral Critical Infrastructure audiences such as Protection of Nuclear Facilities, Water Plants & Dams, Bridges & Tunnels, and other potential targets of terrorism.

Other areas of concern include Transportation Hubs, Public Assemblies, Government Facilities, Sporting & Concert Stadiums, our Nation’s Schools & Universities, and Commercial Business Destinations – all enticing targets due to the large number of persons and resources clustered together.

(See just a few highlights of American Security Today’s 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Luncheon at ISC East. Courtesy of My Pristine Images and Vimeo.)

To learn more about ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Award Winners solutions, please see the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ CHAMPIONS Edition Fully Interactive Magazine – the Best Products of 2021 ‘A Year in Review’.

The Annual CHAMPIONS edition includes a review of Annual ‘ASTORS’ Award Winning products and programs, highlighting key details on many of the winning firm’s products and services, including video interviews and more.

It serves as your Go-To Source throughout the year for ‘The Best of 2021 Products and Services‘ endorsed by American Security Today, and can satisfy your agency’s and/or organization’s most pressing Homeland Security and Public Safety needs.

From Physical Security (Access Control, Critical Infrastructure, Perimeter Protection, and Video Surveillance Cameras and Video Management Systems), to IT Security (Cybersecurity, Encryption, Data Storage, Anti-Malware, and Networking Security – Just to name a few), the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ CHAMPIONS EDITION has what you need to Detect, Delay, Respond to, and Mitigate today’s real-time threats in our constantly evolving security landscape.

It also includes featured guest editorial pieces from some of the security industry’s most respected leaders, and recognized firms in the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program.

• For a complete list of 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Award Winners, begin HERE.

For more information on All Things American Security Today, as well as the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program, please contact Michael Madsen, AST Publisher at mmadsen@americansecuritytoday.com.

AST strives to meet a 3 STAR trustworthiness rating, based on the following criteria:

• Provides named sources
• Reported by more than one notable outlet
• Includes supporting video, direct statements, or photos

Subscribe to the AST Daily News Alert Here.

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CornellCookson Adds Secure & Easy Install Rolling Counter Door Package