Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) - Applying to Building Design

Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) Applying to Building Design

Applying the logic of CPTED to building design suggests a number of ways to shape the behavior of people in their environment:

• Landscape design features should be used • Architectural design: Shrubbery and without turning the facility into a fortress.

bushes can be used to deter persons Elements such as water and vegetation from going down a specified path. are attractive and can also be used as

• Lighting of doorways: Lighting,

safety features. particularly around doorways, plays a major deterrent role in critical efforts.

• Critical areas must be isolated from the public and employee traffic.
• Contact devices (switches): Can be

Security doors combined with Crime controlled by contact devices. If doors

Prevention through Environmental

can be remotely controlled by computer-

Design (CPTED) can help by "selecting controlled switches after the correct areas off the beaten path" for critical identification and authentication, areas such as server rooms.

so much the better.

• A guard with a switch that opens doors can be problematic, since the guard may be subject to intimidation or social engineering. Contact alarms can also signal if a door is blocked open.
• Doors should be solid core. Hollow-core doors provide little security; they are easily breached and provide a very limited barrier to fire.
• Turnstiles and Mantraps: Both turnstiles and mantraps have been a cost-effective method for controlling access and limiting traffic flow.
• Key locks are the most common way to secure areas and property.
• Windows should not be placed adjacent to the doors because if the window is broken, the door may be reached and unlocked.
• Use laminated glass in place of conventional glass and place window guards, such as grills, screens, or meshwork, across window openings to protect against covert entry.