Security & Safety
Security (and safety) systems and devices can be basically split into six main design categories:
- Physical barriers such as fences, hedges, gates, locks, safes, firesafes, etc.
- Pyschological deterents such as lighting on timer switches, PIR driven lighting, false alarm boxes, etc.
- Safety devices such as fire extinguishers, escape ladders, fire blankets, etc.
- Alarms and sensors such as PIRs, beam-break sensors, smoke detectors, CO2 detectors, glass-break sensors and magnetic switches.
- Surveillance cameras such as video cameras, to record activity and not necessarily raise an alarm.
- Survival spaces such as bomb shelters or hurricane proof cells.
Physical Barriers
Never underestimate the simplicity and power of physical barriers in making your home and its content more secure. A tall hedge grown using spiky plants can offer great protection for exposed perimeters and act as a real deterrent to thieves and burglars. A simply locked gate can prevent casual or opportunistic thieves entering your garden. A simply padlock on you garden shed could be the only thing between a thief and your garden tools and implements.
Another less obvious physical barrier for improving your security is to use a paper shredder to shred sensitive paperwork and junk mail that has pre-filled forms and address data on it. Composting shredded paper makes it even less likely for it to fall into the wrong hands.
Psychological Deterrents
Night Lights
These are the most basic form of automated lighting and should be avoided if possible. They basically turn a light one when it gets dark outside. An obvious downside to this is that they use electricty unnecessarily. There are more advanced versions that allow control of the time the light comes on for, when dusk is detected.
Timer Switches
These are perhaps the cheapest and most readily available deterrent on the market today. They are easy to use and also provide have a convenience element whilst you are still at home. They are available in analogue (dial) or digital (display) form and the latter can be programmed to perform quite complex timing sequences over a 24 hour or 7 day period.
PIR Activated Lighting
These essentially come in three forms:
- Standard external lamp with a built-in PIR sensor to automatically switch on the light when someone approaches.
- PIR activated flood light, used to illuminate large spaces.
- PIR activated switch unit, which can be used to control existing lamps.
Safety Devices
Safety devices should be designed into any new home, to make things more accessible when needed. This includes:- Glass hammers to break double glazing windows (there are rules defining which windows should open though).
- Escape ladders from rooms above ground level and fire escapes.
- Signs and lighting to signify escape routes.
- Fire Door and barriers.
- Fire fighting equipment
Surveillance Cameras
These are covered in the camera section.
Safety Spaces
Bunkers, storm shelters, hurricane proof cells, bomb shelters, survival shelters, priest holes, etc.
