In the past year, we have seen civil disturbances, widespread retail looting, and attacks on government buildings. These events result in property damage, and sometimes even injuries or deaths. So, what can be done to prevent or mitigate these events at your facility? Telgian Engineering & Consulting, LLC (TEC) Vice President, Security Risk Consulting Lauris Freidenfelds recently explored essential CPTED principles in the just-published article, “How Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) Principles Shape Design” for Buildings magazine.
“It starts with a risk assessment,” Freidenfelds explains. “What are the risks to your facility or building from outside influences? What kinds of attacks are possible and probable? What is the impact and what can be done to mitigate that? Security measures will be different for government, iconic buildings and retail or office buildings. What is your specific risk?”
In the piece, Freidenfelds also reviews the three key principles of CPTED: Natural Access Control, Natural Video Surveillance and Territorial Reinforcement.
Natural Access Control is the ability to control access to a space and delineate the space as public or private. It also looks at the movement of people and placement of people within a space. The implementation of this can be done through the employment of doors, landscaping, lighting, fencing and gate entries.
Natural Surveillance emphasizes the opportunity to maximize visibility of a space and identify those who would be considered as a normal user versus an abnormal user. Typically, this is achieved through the use of windows, strategized lighting and planned landscaping to create an open environment.
Territorial Reinforcement influences a space or environment and creates a sense of ownership of that space for normal users, while further deterring and defending against the abnormal users or potential criminals of that space.
A nationally recognized security expert, Freidenfelds provides on safety, security and emergency consulting for a variety of clients. His 40+ years of experience include operational security, technology and emergency management programs. And, his extensive knowledge of emergency management personnel and operations encompasses planning, organizing, and directing security programs and activities, as well as development and coordination of disaster preparedness plans, the mitigation of, preparation for, and recovery from hazards and disasters.
Click to read How Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) Principles Shape Design in its entirety.
Additional safety and security articles of interest by Freidenfelds include:
- How Security Controls Help Implement a Corporate Security Policy
- Evacuation Essentials: Proper Planning Prevents Panic
- Preparing For Events That Could Require Evacuations
- Incorporating the Four Elements of Emergency Management
- How COVID-19 has Changed Visitor Management
- Best Practices: Healthcare Security
- Prioritizing Workplace Violence Prevention
About Telgian Engineering & Consulting, LLC (TEC)
Telgian Engineering & Consulting, LLC (TEC) is a full-service global design, engineering and risk mitigation consulting firm providing professional services related to the protection of people, property, information and organizational mission against preventable losses. These include security risk consulting, strategic / enterprise risk management, fire protection engineering and environmental health and safety.
For media interviews with Lauris Freidenfelds or additional information, please contact Susan McNeill, smcneill@telgian.com.