Schools, workplaces and public buildings are being encouraged to use the remaining weeks of summer to assess entrances, access arrangements and physical security measures before normal activity resumes in September, says physical security specialist Safetell.
The return of pupils, staff, visitors, contractors and delivery teams can rapidly increase activity across a site. Temporary arrangements introduced during quieter summer periods can also remain in place, potentially creating gaps in access control or causing disruption once occupancy levels rise.
Safetell is urging facilities and estates teams to consider how buildings will actually be used when normal operations resume, rather than assessing security measures separately from one another.
Key areas to review include:
- Staff, pupil and visitor entrances – checking which access routes need to be operational and removing any temporary arrangements introduced over the summer.
- Automatic and manual doors – looking for slow operation, inconsistent closing, visible damage and outstanding faults.
- Visitor control – reviewing reception areas, controlled access points, call systems and visitor management procedures.
- Gates, barriers and delivery routes – checking for damage, unreliable controls and temporary solutions that may still be in use.
- Access permissions – removing credentials that are no longer required and confirming that new employees, contractors and temporary staff have appropriate access rights.
- Fault escalation procedures – ensuring facilities, reception and security teams are clear on who to contact if a critical entrance or access system stops working.
Jason Guy, Head of Servicing and Maintenance at Safetell, said: “September can change the way a building operates almost overnight. Entrances that were relatively quiet during the summer may suddenly be supporting large numbers of staff, pupils, visitors and deliveries.
“The return-to-site period is a useful opportunity to check that access arrangements still reflect how the building needs to operate and that known faults or temporary workarounds have been addressed before demand increases.”
Safetell also advises organisations to confirm that accessible entrances remain available and to ensure any faults reported before the summer closure have been properly resolved and formally closed.
If technical issues are identified, any necessary repairs or adjustments should be completed by suitably trained and competent personnel rather than relying on temporary fixes.
