How to lock classroom door from inside

Now that you’re aware of the various school door locks and devices, take into account the following questions in order to determine what type of school safety door locks and classroom security locks suit your school or college campus. 

1. Who will be using the lock?

If the door lock for school safety needs to be operated by students, school staff and visitors, keep in mind that this will impact your decision on the choice of locks and devices, as you’ll need to take into account the number of users, when they will need access and how your team will be able to handle school door lock operation.

2. How often will the lock be used?

Locks that are used frequently will experience more wear so it’s important to ensure that robust school security door locks are installed on doors that see a lot of use. 

3. Can the school exterior door locks and classroom emergency door locks be operated quickly in an emergency?

In a lockdown situation or another emergency scenario, it is vital that your emergency door locks for school can be operated quickly to secure students and staff.

4. Is it necessary to have doors lock automatically?

If yes, it is crucial that you explore electronic locks that contain a spring-loaded mortise latch.

5. Would you like a hold-open feature? 

The hold-open feature allows security teams to open up access to classrooms, gym halls, libraries and other school areas during school hours or during a school-wide event, such as an open day. Outside of these specific hours, the school security door lock can restrict access. 

6. Does your lock system require a tamper-proof feature? 

This feature provides extra protection against those who are trying to intrude upon a restricted area. It typically kicks in after multiple failed attempts to gain access, for example, via a keypad, and automatically shuts down the device to prevent further attempts. 

7. Will your school door lock system need to integrate with your existing access control system?

If so, it is essential that you discuss which school door lock systems have the capability to integrate with your current access control system. For example, Motorola Solutions Access Control Manager integrates with leading lock providers, including ASSA ABLOY, Allegion and SALTO.

8. What is your budget for procuring new emergency classroom door locks for school safety?

This will have the biggest impact on the choice of door lock for school safety you opt for. Be sure to work out the total cost of procuring door locks for your school or college building and remember to keep in mind potential costs associated with integrating the lock system with other school security systems, as well as maintenance and upkeep over time.

The Sandy Hook Advisory Commission and The National Association of State Fire Marshals recommend doors that can be locked from the inside only.

This video from Schlage Security gives recommendations from the National Association of State Fire Marshals and the Sandy Hook Advisory Commission for securing classroom doors from inside the classroom.

February 10, 2018 Amy Rock Jump to Comments

Whether facing an active shooter emergency or another type of lockdown situation in school, it is vital for staff to be able to successfully secure classrooms from the inside to protect students from potential threats.

At Sandy Hook Elementary School, the classroom doors could only be locked from the outside, forcing teachers to walk out into the hallway and potentially into the line of fire in order to secure their classroom, reports The Hartford Courant.

The Sandy Hook Advisory Commission, a 16-member panel of public safety experts created by Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy following the devastating Sandy Hook shooting, released a report containing several recommendations regarding classroom door safety.

Related: Physical Security: Are We Protecting People or Trapping Them?

First and foremost, the report emphasizes the importance of all classroom doors having the ability to lock from inside the classroom. The report says testimony and other evidence presented to the commission revealed that there has never been an event in which an active shooter was able to breach a locked classroom door.

The report also emphasizes the importance of distributing keys to all staff members, including substitutes teachers.

Location, type and size of glazing adjacent to the hardware to ensure the lockset cannot be defeated by breaking glass is also vital.

NASFM Guidelines for Classroom Door Security

The National Association of State Fire Marshals echoes the Sandy Hook Advisory Commission’s standpoint on the importance of being able to lock doors from inside the classroom.

NASFM recommends classroom door hardware meet the following criteria:

1. Hardware must be lockable from inside the classroom without opening the door to minimize exposure by inserting a key in the cylinder of the inside lever
2. Give emergency responders access from the outside of the classroom, either by using a key or some other credential
3. Egress without a key, tool, special knowledge or effort and only one operation to unlatch the door
4. Operable hardware should be mounted between 34 inches and 48 inches above the floor
5. No tight grasping or twisting of the wrist to operate
6. If a classroom door is fire rated, the door must be self-closing and self-latching and may not be modified in a way that invalidates the fire rating

Since some staff members may have difficulty using fine motor skills to lock a door from the inside in a high-stress situation, it is vital to have regular lockdown drills to help familiarize teachers with the operation of the locks. These door locks should also have an indicator that will confirm the door has been put into lockdown.

Many doors that do not have hardware that allows teachers to lock it from inside the classroom can be locked by turning a thumb turn or by pushing a button on the door. Although this makes it easy to lock without opening the door, the door can be also locked by an unauthorized person, including someone who may want to secure a classroom to commit an assault or a theft. If this lock function is used, staff should carry keys to unlock the door from the outside in case of an unauthorized lockdown.

Many schools whose doors have the above capability but do not have the budget to install updated hardware have instituted a policy in which classrooms are locked at all times of the day. This forces teachers to unlock the door themselves to grant someone else access, helping to prevent lockdowns by unauthorized individuals.

For more information on hardware for securing your classroom, visit www.idighardware.com/schools. Be sure to check your local and state building codes for specific requirements.

Tagged with: Door Locks Lockdown Locks and Door Hardware Physical Security School Safety Student Safety

About the Author

Amy Rock, Senior Editor

Contact:

Amy is Campus Safety’s Senior Editor. Prior to joining the editorial team in 2017, she worked in both events and digital marketing.

Amy has many close relatives and friends who are teachers, motivating her to learn and share as much as she can about campus security. She has a minor in education and has worked with children in several capacities, further deepening her passion for keeping students safe.

In her free time, Amy enjoys exploring the outdoors with her family.

Related Content

8 responses to “Best Practices for Securing Classroom Doors from the Inside”

1. Dan Richter says:

   February 21, 2018 at 10:50 am

   I’m no expert, but it seems to me that in addition to the above, there should be a central system with electrically actuated locks so that in the case of an active shooter, all the classrooms could be locked simultaneously from one or more locations, including a wireless fob that could be carried by select school personnel.

   Reply

   • Art Kirkland says:

     March 3, 2018 at 1:36 am

     For such a system to work, it would have to be hard-wired at a cost of several thousand dollars per door. This is impractical for most schools. Additionally, it creates a single point of failure in which one failure results in the entire facility being open.

     Reply

   • Art Kirkland says:

     March 3, 2018 at 1:36 am

     For such a system to work, it would have to be hard-wired at a cost of several thousand dollars per door. This is impractical for most schools. Additionally, it creates a single point of failure in which one failure results in the entire facility being open.

     Reply

   • Benjamin A. Kirkland says:

     March 3, 2018 at 1:39 am

     In addiion, such a system would have to be hard wired. This is expensive and beyond the capability of most schools. Additionally, it creates a single point of failure. If the central locking system fails or is not activted, how do individual teachers know?

     Reply

2. Ricky Arms, FF II, Certified Fire Safety Inspector says:

   February 21, 2018 at 11:26 am

   Keep in mind the weakest link principle. Such a system could be disarmed from the central point unlocking ALL doors including exterior ones. Has there been any research on the vulnerability of the front office? A hostage situation / breach there could compromise the entire plan.

   Reply

3. J.MO says:

   September 13, 2018 at 12:45 pm

   How many student/teacher deaths have occurred since 2000 due to fire at a school??

   Why can’t the teacher be trusted with access to a barricade device for the door, only to be used during An active shooter situation?

   I understand the concern for delayed contact from emergency services personnel due to barricade devices, but I thought the whole point of these devices IS to make it very hard for anyone to gain entry.

   The video in this article uses examples from the sandy hook incident and others to show that no locked has ever been breached by an active shooter. Do we have any examples of victims in need of help inside a classroom who would’ve been unable to let responders in??

   Seems to me like an over abundance of fire safety and what if scenarios is getting in the way of what could be the easiest most cost effective solution for providing safety for students and teachers in schools.

   Reply

4. Mellisa Alcala says:

   October 24, 2018 at 7:55 am

   A single hinge that runs along the full length of the frame does the same job.

   Reply

5. paul sonan says:

   November 27, 2018 at 11:52 pm

   I feel that its the same reason dead bolts cannot be locked from the inside, classroom function a fire code, its not the teacher locking out the intruder but kids locking out everyone during an assault or a violation. when inside thumb turn is held locked, no way of turning the key, leverage.

   How can I lock my door from the inside?

   You don't need a key to lock most doors from the inside. Find the push-lock or twist-lock button on the inner doorknob. If your knob has a push-lock: You should see a small, cylindrical button protruding from the center of the knob. Push the button.

   Why is my door not locking from the inside?

   In many cases, when a door doesn't lock, it's due to the door latch rather than the lock itself. This is usually because the latch is not aligning with the hole in the strike plate. While this can be easily fixed, it's always best to call a professional locksmith rather than attempting to repair it yourself.

   How do you block a door that opens outward?

   STEP 1: Secure and reinforce the hinges. ... .

   STEP 2: Install a latch guard. ... .

   STEP 3: Use a door barricade. ... .

   STEP 4: Install a door security bar. ... .

   STEP 5: Tie the doorknob or handle to a heavy object or piece of furniture. ... .

   STEP 6: Protect your home even further by installing a home security system..