TownSteel’s Innovative Solutions for Classroom Security

By Brandon Faber

Published on May 17, 2024

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TownSteel Aegis Bored Lock installed on classroom door

Custom Styles

At TownSteel, we understand that door hardware must be tailored to meet the requirements of each unique application. For classroom security, we revisited the fundamentals to thoroughly research the specific needs of door hardware in the context of school safety. We have detailed our findings and insights in this blog post.

Since classroom security is central to an effective school safety strategy, it was crucial to our mission that we design door hardware that precisely meets all these requirements. This led us to design our innovative Aegis Bored and Aegis Mortise locks, which are purpose-built to address the unique needs of classroom security. In this post, we’ll explain how these ground-breaking locks address these requirements.

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Features Are Classroom Focused

Classroom Egress

School safety needs to accommodate several requirements, including the ability to evacuate the classroom for situations like fires, severe weather, bomb threats, etc. That means the classroom door must always be able to be opened from the inside, regardless of the status of the lock, to enable rapid egress of the room’s occupants. Both Aegis Bored and Mortise locks meet this requirement. They can remain locked throughout the day, preventing access into the classroom, while maintaining the ability to open the door in one motion from the egress side without a key, special knowledge, or effort.

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Lock Status Indicators

While the ability for free egress is crucial, knowing that the classroom door is securely locked can provide significant peace of mind for students and teachers. Without an indicator to show the lock’s status, the only way to know whether the door is locked or unlocked is to open it and test the handle from the outside. This puts the classroom occupants in immediate danger and elevates the risk of an intruder gaining access to the room in a lockdown situation.

Both the Aegis Bored and Aegis Mortise lock have an indicator on the inside to show the status of the lock to the classroom occupants. The status indicator is large, uses clear text, and is color-coded—red for locked and green for unlocked—to ensure visibility during a stressful event. This allows the occupants to quickly see the status of the lock so they can completely focus on the next task: rapid concealment.

Aegis locks also feature the same status indicators on the outside of the door. By providing clear visual cues, administrators can easily validate adherence to security protocol during audits and keep safety at the top of mind for the school culture.

When the door is locked from one side, it simultaneously updates the indicators on both sides to display “locked.” This means that when a teacher locks the door from the inside, responders outside are immediately alerted to the locked status. This system acts as an “easy button,” providing a straightforward solution in stressful situations.

Additionally, the incorporation of large, color-coded indicators enhances visibility for law enforcement during critical incident response situations. As law enforcement is clearing a hallway, looking for the threat, they can quickly see each lock’s status, avoiding the need to slow down and check every interior door. This makes it safer for the officers and enables them to neutralize the threat more quickly.

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Ease and Speed of Locking

When the human body is subjected to critical incident stress, fine motor skills, such as inserting a key into and turning a lock, severely diminish. To combat that response, our Aegis locks are available with a convenient thumb-turn mechanism on the inside with large, engraved locking directions on the escutcheon, making it even easier for the classroom occupant to lock the door. Incorporating these features on the inside of the classroom empowers anyone to act quickly and decisively to lock the door during critical situations, not just a staff member with a key.

Additionally, the lock design is familiar and consistent for every opening. Providing both Aegis Bored and Aegis Mortise lock options with identical looks and features ensures compatibility with various types of doors and easy operation for end users throughout the building.

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Installation is Cost-effective for Schools

The Aegis classroom lock is uniquely tailored to meet the budget constraints of school districts, without compromising on quality or functionality.

As previously mentioned, there are two available options: Aegis Mortise and Aegis Bored. This versatility enables fitment into existing door preps, eliminating the need for costly door replacements regardless of the current door configuration. Whether Mortise or Bored, installing our locks won’t compromise the door’s fire rating. By leveraging existing door infrastructure, schools can significantly reduce installation expenses while enhancing security measures. Plus, with a simple installation process, schools can minimize downtime and disruption, reducing overall expenses.

The Aegis Bored is the only lock of its kind on the market.

The Aegis classroom lock also simplifies key management and security maintenance by offering schools the ability to retain their existing cylinders and cores. This continuity streamlines key control and distribution, reducing administrative overhead and associated costs.

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No Better Lock for Classroom Safety

TownSteel’s Aegis locks are priced significantly lower than those of competitors, while offering quality and performance that match or surpass any other product on the market. Built from heavy-duty stainless steel, our Aegis locks are built for durability and longevity. They are designed to meet ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 Certification and UL 10(C) 3-hour fire rating and comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

With their innovative design, durable build, unique features, and exceptional value, the Aegis line of locks empowers schools to enhance safety, aesthetics, and convenience in their safety ecosystem at a price unmatched in the industry…exactly how it should be.

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Getting Help and Resources

For additional resources on addressing school safety, you can review guidelines and materials from our partners at Partner Alliance for Safer Schools (PASS).

You can also get in touch with us directly. We’d love to hear your thoughts and comments.

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Learn more about our complete School Safety Program