There are many answers; however, one way that has been overlooked by many security door consultants is the use of panic exit devices with electric dogging. When installed throughout a school facility, electric dogging allows all locking devices to be "energized" by one control switch that can be located in a centralized area of the building. Electric dogging:
- keeps doors in push / pull configuration.
- can be activated from one of several switches located throughout the campus to lock main doors in case of a required lockdown.
- provides additional security when electricity is removed by reverting to secure mode, effectively preventing entry at every door equipped with this type of device.
Be aware that add-on mechanical options like hex or cylinder dogging may jeopardize the effectiveness of the lockdown system.
Electric dogging is different than electric latch retraction. With latch retraction, applying power pulls the latch(s) back and holds them until power is removed. With electric dogging, after applying power a user must manually depress the pushpad to retract the latch(s). The latches stay retracted until power is removed from the device.
When electric dogging is applied to entry doors, it removes the need for a staff member, perhaps in the height of a crisis, to remember where the key is and how to lockdown the doors. The administrator, taking the responsibility off the shoulders of the education staff, makes the decision and takes action to lockdown. Electric dogging can:
- allow doors to be dogged for push / pull operation during a specific hours.
- automatically revert to secure mode at a pre-selected time, locking the doors to entry, but individuals leaving are still allowed to exit.
