ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions announced the latest release of its K-12 School Virtual Tour. Along with a 360° exploration of a K-12 school environment that allows users to visualize how door security solutions can be used to address everyday challenges, the interactive experience now provides an added dimension of detail on the PASS K-12 Safety and Security Guidelines from the Partner Alliance for Safer Schools (PASS).

Protecting schools against emerging threats while maintaining a nurturing learning environment is complex, challenging, and always evolving. The PASS Guidelines provide the most extensive information available on best practices for securing K-12 educational facilities.

The Virtual Tour’s new PASS Guidelines tool allows users to easily select the various layers of perimeter protection required for K-12 settings, with realistic 3-D renderings, providing critical information to understand the fundamental link between readiness for day-to-day emergencies and disaster preparedness:

• District Wide: Outlining best practices along the TIER Continuum to use in addressing a wide range of emergency situations, such as incidents of natural disasters, violence, mental health and medical emergencies.
• Property Perimeter: The physical security of a school facility begins at the property perimeter, where the most outwardly visible security deterrents to an external threat can be implemented.
• Parking Perimeter: In many cases, this area is where schools experience the most safety issues, such as falls, car accidents, theft, vandalism and assault.
• Building Perimeter: Key safety and security functions take place within this layer, as it is often complex and encompasses all areas where people enter and exit a school building.
• Classroom Perimeter: Both the last layer of defense against external threats and, often, the first protection against internal threats to student, staff and visitor safety.

“It’s important to note the guidelines have been vetted extensively by experts across the education, public safety and industry sectors,” says Guy Grace, K-12 national safety program manager at ASSA ABLOY and chairman of the Advisory Committee for PASS. “As a result, they serve as an objective, reliable resource on available safety and security technology as well as a framework for defining the people, policies and procedures that need to be included.”

Grace says he’s extremely happy ASSA ABLOY has added the new PASS Guidelines feature to the company’s K-12 School Virtual Tour. “I appreciate the way the company provides such a variety of informative tools, guidance, and consultation to help K-12 stakeholders identify issues and find technology solutions to meet their needs. They’re truly committed to this critical mission.”

For more information, visit: assaabloy.com.