What Are Lockdown Alarms?

If you’ve been keeping up with the news recently, you may have heard of ‘Martyn’s Law’. This is a pending piece of legislation that has been introduced with the aim of improving safety in all public spaces, including schools and colleges.

Under Martyn’s Law, schools will have to improve emergency preparedness by putting specific lockdown procedures in place. Installing a lockdown alarm system is an essential part of this, but many people may be unsure of what this is or why it is necessary; that’s why the team at Astra Security Systems has written this guide to help.

Lockdown alarms are a security system designed to alert a building’s occupants to an immediate threat, such as an intruder. While fire alarms provoke an evacuation, lockdown alarms usually have the opposite effect and signal that the building must be secured and those inside should follow the relevant procedures and find a place of safety.

They are easily distinguishable from other alarms, such as fire alarms, due to their unique sound that will prompt those inside the building to quickly take action. When you order a lockdown alarm from Astra Security Systems, you have over 30 alarm sounds to choose from and can even record a custom message.

How do lockdown alarms work?

Lockdown alarms are usually made up of multiple wireless control points that are strategically positioned around the site. These can be discreetly activated and once triggered, will sound a unique alarm to warn everyone inside the building of the threat.

These individual units can all be remotely controlled using a PC app, meaning authorised staff can always manage the system, no matter where they are. Many lockdown alarm systems can also be paired with CCTV cameras and access control measures to further boost security and allow for real-time monitoring.

Why do schools need lockdown alarms?

Rapid emergency response: In an emergency situation, every second counts. A lockdown alarm system will immediately notify staff and students of a potential threat and will enable the school to be secured as quickly as possible to minimise danger. It also ensures that the emergency services have more of an idea of what kind fo situation they’ll be faced with.
Effective communication: Having a dedicated lockdown alarm reduces confusion and panic by effectively communicating the nature of the threat to staff and students so that they can respond appropriately. It also ensures that the emergency services have more of an idea of what they’ll be walking into.
Compliance with Ofsted recommendations: As part of the Ofsted inspection, schools will be asked whether they have a lockdown policy in place. In line with guidance from the NACTSO (National Counter Terrorism Security Office) which states that the ‘use of fire alarms should be avoided to reduce incorrect response to an incident’, Ofsted now also recommends that every school has a dedicated lockdown alarm system.
Peace of mind: Staff and students should be able to focus completely on their learning without having to worry about potential threats. Lockdown alarms provide the reassurance that, should an incident happen, immediate action will be taken to secure the site.

How can Astra Security Systems help?

Here at Astra Security Systems, we supply and install the ALERTEX lockdown alarm system from Luminite. This has a number of benefits, including:

It’s entirely wireless for simple installation
It requires minimal maintenance
It’s durable with an IP66 weather rating
It’s ideal for larger sites, with up to 64 units able to be used per site
It’s customisable with a range of alarm sounds to choose from or the option to record your own message.

If you’re looking for ways to improve security at your school in Maidstone, Medway, Tonbridge or the surrounding areas, let us help. We also supply a range of CCTV systems, security gates and access control systems, so you can create a comprehensive security plan that’s tailored around your needs.