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There are many reasons why it may be necessary to quickly lock down an entry way, and especially front entries. There are now products available that can make quick, safe lockdown as fast as pressing one button.
The typical exit hardware that is used on front/main entrances of schools, places of worship, medical facilities and other large buildings is a rail style device with a locking bar. These exit devices are available with manual and electronic dogging; both styles provide a locked and unlocked state for entry and exit.
Unfortunately, sometimes an event occurs and quick lockdown is required, and that can't be quickly or safely accomplished with exit devices that require manual dogging. These types of buildings should be equipped with exit devices that have electronic dogging, where the individual units are tied together by a power supply to a single button, that when depressed, places all associated doors in a locked state that inhibits entry.
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.
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.
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