“SIA truly benefits from the contributions of these folks at Allegion, who offer us their rare combination of government relations experience combined with their expertise in electronic and mechanical security solutions,” said Jake Parker, SIA director of government relations. “I have delivered my heartfelt thanks to them many times for a job well done, and it’s a terrific opportunity to thank them formally with the first-ever SIA Policy Leadership Team of the Year Award.”
Allegion accepted the award at the SIA Government Summit in Washington, D.C. In addition, Anshu Mehrotra, vice president and general manager of the commercial business for Allegion in the Americas, attended the annual conference as a recognized industry expert and speaker on the exclusive “Safe Schools: How School Districts Fund and Implement Security Improvements” panel, a session which also took place Tuesday.
The panel explored how schools are addressing the need to improve security and safety every day, as well as in the event of emergencies, and the types of solutions being sought by education leaders to meet those needs. Mehrotra noted that school officials are often concerned about finding security options that are both cost effective and easy to implement.
As a panel member, Mehrotra also warned against schools using unproven or barrier-type devices that could cause fire safety and code compliance issues at schools throughout the United States. After the Sandy Hook tragedy, a proliferation of these devices arose as quick and cheap fixes for lockdowns. Allegion recommends using classroom security function locks that allow staff to secure doors safely from inside the classroom while maintaining the ability for quick evacuation should the need arise.
“School emergencies tend to be very dynamic – you can’t always predict when you will need to shift from a lockout to a lockdown or to a shelter-in-place or evacuation,” Mehrotra said. “While a barrier-type device may provide extra peace of mind, it actually gives a false sense of security and makes it harder to leave a room if there is fire or other threat from within. There are code-compliant options available that give our teachers, students and staff the security they need during these times. Let’s not wait for a tragedy to ensure our schools are safe and meet code.”
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About Allegion
Allegion (NYSE: ALLE) is a global pioneer in safety and security, with leading brands like CISA®, Interflex®, LCN®, Schlage® and Von Duprin ®. Focusing on security around the door and adjacent areas, Allegion produces a range of solutions for homes, businesses, schools and other institutions. Allegion is a $2 billion company, with products sold in almost 130 countries.
For more, visit www.allegion.com.
