LSC

Design issues

Security

The design of modern educational buildings and the need for inclusion of the local community often conflict with the need for security. For example areas of educational buildings are being increasingly used for community meeting and sports.

Security, comfort and sense of well being maximised, opportunities for crime and feeling of insecurity should be minimised.

The needs of different users should be considered. The key aim should be to create a safe learning environment.

Key issues to consider include:-

  • Are all public areas open to views from all areas? Secluded areas should be minimised.
  • If a security system is being implemented is this system appropriate.
  • Can operating hours of leisure facilities be extended to keep area active into night hours?
  • Has suitable external security lighting been implemented.

Intruder Alarm

Intruder alarms are required to be comprehensive and cover the entire building perimeter. The systems will need to also provide additional levels of security in sensitive areas (administrative and educational storage areas) or areas housing large amounts of IT equipment.

Systems should be designed to allow alarming/disarming of zones to allow use when the main educational activities do not occur, i.e. evening community events, use of sports facilities, etc.

A certificate of NSI compliance should supplied once the system is complete.

The alarm system should be designed to provide protection to the specified areas with warning via internal and external sounders, supplemented by strobe light. Remote signalling to an Alarm Receiving Centre via Dualcom GPRS should also be incorporated.

Close Circuit Television

Closed circuit television (CCTV) installations are becoming more widespread and the areas it covers internal and external is increasing. This is for deterrence purposes and evidence gathering.

CCTV is a rapidly developing technology. A correctly designed, installed, and maintained system can be an effective tool in the prevention and detection of crime.

The use of event recording, only recording when movement is detected or reduced recording when no movement detected, reduces the amount of hard drive required for the recording of images.

Purpose of the CCTV System

  • To seek to influence the behaviour of student, external visitors and staff
  • To protect staff and students
  • To protect buildings from damage
  • To protect property from theft
  • Where necessary, to provide unequivocal evidence of an incident to assist subsequent prosecution
  • To monitor student behaviour
  • To recognise and identify offenders
  • To produce physical evidence of incidents which may subsequently be used in Court

Picture quality

The quality of images recorded is of paramount importance. They should therefore:

  • Clearly show actions of persons involved in an incident
  • Give evidence of identity of offenders
  • Show an overall view of the scene

The Operational requirement will outline the problem or area of interest in clear and simple language.

1.2.3 Equipment In its simplest format a CCTV system comprises of one or more cameras, a multiplexer, a monitor, and a means of recording images (usually a digital recorder with inbuilt hard drive). If poorly specified, each item has the potential to reduce the resultant image quality. To enable accurate identification from recorded images, The Home Office Police Scientific Development Branch (PSDB) recommend that the system should produce an image quality at the monitor of 400TVL. 1.2.4 Cameras Image quality is measured against the Rotakin standard. The Rotakin target was developed by PSDB as a means of auditing the efficiency of a CCTV system. It consists of a human silhouette target 1.6m in height. When the target fills the screen vertically it is said to be 100%R.
 

Monitor Monitor

Not less than 5%R - This will provide a general or wide angle view of an area. Individuals will be tiny and unrecognisable

Detect    Detect

Not less than 10%R - The observer would be able to detect activity but it is still unlikely that individuals would be recognisable

Recognition Recognition

Not less than 50%R - The field of view of the camera is narrower. Familiar individuals should be recognisable

Identification Identification

Not less than 120%R - The field of view is very narrow and so the area covered by the camera is small. Images of the individual should enable identification beyond reasonable doubt

The quantity and location of cameras is site specific. They must meet the requirements identified within the Operational Requirement procedure.

General guidance

  • Internal cameras should produce colour images to enable accurate identification of offenders.
  • External public access doors should be fitted with cameras, which enable clear, unobstructed images of all persons entering/exiting, the premises. Where practicable, these cameras should be mounted internally. Such cameras should be mounted at a suitable height - looking towards, rather than down at the doorway. These cameras should be capable of producing PSDB Identification standard images (a minimum of 400TVL resolution and 120% Rotakin screen target height) at the monitor.
  • Internal cameras should be capable of producing PSDB Recognition standard images (a minimum of 400TVL resolution and 50% Rotakin screen target height) at the monitor.
  • External cameras should be capable of giving useable images under a variety of weather and lighting conditions. Careful consideration should be given to the type of cameras utilised in these locations as they may require regular maintenance to ensure that the image quality is not degraded.
  • Exterior colour cameras are preferred. Colour cameras may produce poor images at night due to a lack of image contrast. Such areas must be effectively illuminated to ensure high image quality.
  • CCTV Cameras are susceptible to interference and vandalism. External and vulnerable internal cameras should be fitted with robust anti-tamper housings to prevent such actions.

All cameras should be a minimum standard of 400 TVL. They should have back light compensation, direct drive or amplification capability, and a sensitivity of a minimum of 1 Lux.

Access Control

The use of access control systems to prevent unauthorised access is a normal requirement on modern design of educational buildings. The use of access control systems can conflict with the various usage requirements of the educational building such as community and external sports events.

Access control should not impede the use of educational buildings by the local community or the use of sports facilities into the night.