Living in an apartment is great. You can be close to a variety of bars, restaurants, and other hotspots in the town. Unfortunately, if your building doesn’t have the measures to keep residents protected, the crime rate can be high. If you are the owner or manager of an apartment building, contact Securiteam to help you with some of these security features.
On the other hand, if you are considering moving into an apartment, you’ll want to make sure that they have the following security features.
Important Security Features for Apartment Buildings
Below, we’re going to take a look at 8 of the most important security features that every apartment building should have.
Proper Lighting
One of the first security considerations for an apartment building is proper lighting. All of the entrances/exits to the building, as well as each unit, needs to be well-lit. another important area for proper lighting is parking lots and parking garages. Lighting in these areas needs to be on 24/7 and residents should feel secure regardless of the time of day.
There should be streetlamps in parking lots and plenty of bright overhead lights in parking garages. If you are considering moving into an apartment complex, try to drive by at night to check out the lighting.
Additionally, you should check lighting in other areas, such as stairwells, breezeways, and hallways. Other common areas, such as storage areas, laundry rooms, and mailrooms should at least have motion-detection lighting. After all, residents should not have to fumble around in the dark to find a light switch in the common areas.
Security Cameras
Security cameras/video surveillance should be part of the security system of the apartment building. Common areas, especially hallways, stairwells, elevators, and parking lots need to have security cameras that are visible and functioning.
If residents must enter/exit through a lobby, these areas should also be equipped with visible, functioning security cameras. If you are a resident that lives in a walk-up apartment, you might want to consider installing your own security camera or even a video doorbell to ensure your safety.
One of the security solutions offered by Securiteam is HD Video Surveillance- and they monitor the cameras, so you don’t have to worry about extra staff to keep an eye on things.
Gated Entry/On-Site Security
As the owner or manager of an apartment building, you might want to consider including security measures such as gated areas, an on-site or virtual security guard, locks, and/or concierge service.
The parking areas should be gated and locked. The only way to access the parking lot should be with a key fob or by entering a code on a keypad.
Some apartment buildings have a security guard on-site that patrols at night or remains in the lobby. Another security option is to have a concierge on-site to monitor who comes in and who leaves and to answer any emergency calls.
All entrances/exits inside the building need to be locked, and only accessible with a keycard or code entered into a keypad.
Key Access for Common Areas
All common areas, such as gyms, swimming pools, and other recreational spaces should require key access. This can be with a key card or by entering a code on a keypad. Securiteam can help with this through their full-service access control services.
The lease should outline the rules of the building and state the number of guests each tenant is allowed at one time- along with what is/is not allowed in the common areas.
For buildings that have elevators, tenants should be required to scan their key card or fob before clicking the button on the elevator. Some apartment buildings choose to program the key cards or fobs to work only for the floor that the tenant lives on and common areas.
As a resident, make sure that you pay attention to the entrance/exit points and who can access them. Also, avoid buildings that have entrances/exits that are hidden or dimly lit.
Fire Escape Plans
It is critical that residents are aware of the specific evacuation plan for their building. Make sure to post this information where it’s readily available for residents to see. Listen to your residents if they have any questions or concerns or if they feel they cannot safely evacuate under the guidelines you have provided.
Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Detectors in Apartment
While the details vary from one state to the next, most apartment buildings are required to be equipped with functioning smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. They should be checked regularly, based on the regulations for the state that you are in.
Sprinkler Systems
Another security feature that varies by state is the sprinkler systems. Not all states require them, but they are an important security feature to include. If you do have them as a security feature in your building, it’s important to maintain them so they work properly if a fire happens to break out.
Fire Extinguisher in Apartment
While it’s not required for landlords to provide fire extinguishers in their units, it’s a good idea. This will ensure the safety and security of your residents if a fire happens to break out in the unit. If they have a fire extinguisher, they will be more likely to be able to fight it and avoid extensive damage than if they don’t have one. If you do provide fire extinguishers for your units, it’s important to make sure they check them every 5 to 15 years, based on the expiration dates.
How Can We Help Secure Your Apartment Building?
Securiteam provides a variety of cutting-edge security and technology features for apartment buildings, including HD Video Surveillance, automated gate control, virtual security guards, and much more. Schedule an assessment today to let us show you what we can do to help you secure your apartment building so that your residents feel safe.
As a resident, these are the things you should ask about when you are touring an apartment. If they don’t have the proper security features in place, you will want to move on to the next one on your list.
