School lockdown and access control systems
For public school divisions, private and independent schools and First Nations schools in Alberta and BC.
Updated
The quick answer
A lockdown system lets staff lock every controlled exterior door, and the interior doors you choose, with one action: a button in the office, the access control software or a phone app. A door status screen shows which doors are locked, closed or propped open, a video intercom handles visitors at the main entrance, and cameras show the entrances and halls. People inside can always get out: lockdown controls who comes in, not who can leave. When it’s over, one action puts the doors back on their normal schedule.
What a lockdown system includes
| Part | What it does |
|---|---|
| Lockdown buttons | In the office and other places your plan names, with covers to stop accidental presses. |
| Software and app lockdown | Admins can start or end a lockdown from the access control software or app. |
| Door status | Shows which doors are open, closed or locked, and alerts staff when a door is held or propped open. |
| Classroom doors | Locks that staff can lock from inside the room, while the inside handle always lets people out. |
| Video intercom at the main entrance | Visitors call the office, which sees and talks to them before buzzing them in. See video intercom. |
| Cameras | Entrances, halls and parking, with views the office can bring up quickly. |
| Staff alerts | On systems that support it, a lockdown can send alerts to staff phones or start a paging message. |
Lockdown modes
| Mode | What the doors do |
|---|---|
| Lockdown | Every controlled door locks, including interior doors on access control. Fobs can be limited to staff you choose. |
| Secure the perimeter | Exterior doors lock and stay locked, while the school carries on inside. Divisions use different names for this. |
| All clear | Doors go back to their normal schedule, and the event is logged. |
Your school’s emergency plan decides which modes you use and who can start them. If a fire alarm sounds during a lockdown, exit doors still let people out and fire alarm releases work as designed; fire alarm work belongs to the fire alarm contractor. This is general information, not code advice.
Planning with your school or division
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1. Walk the school | With the principal, facilities and the division’s safety lead, door by door. |
| 2. Door schedule | Which doors lock in each mode, which need door status, and which classroom doors get new locks. |
| 3. Who can start it | The buttons, logins and phones that can start and end a lockdown. |
| 4. Install and test | Every door tested in every mode before handover, with no disruption to classes. |
| 5. Train and drill | Staff shown how to start, end and reset a lockdown, and how to test it during drills. |
| 6. Handover | Admin access and full documentation, so the school or division owns the system. |
Everyday access control for schools
During the day
- Main entrance locked after the bell, with visitors buzzed in from the office
- Staff fobs or phones on staff doors
- Classroom and office doors on schedules
- Panic buttons at reception, see panic and duress buttons
After hours
- Gym and community rental doors open only for bookings
- Intrusion alarm armed with a monitoring centre
- Camera health alerts if a camera goes offline
- Door logs for every entry
Funding for private schools
Private and independent schools may be eligible for the federal Canada Community Security Program (CCSP), which helps communities at risk of hate-motivated crime pay for security upgrades. Eligibility and decisions belong to the program, so we can’t promise funding, but our written plan and quote are laid out so they can go into an application. See security funding through the CCSP.
Public schools usually go through their division’s capital and maintenance budgets. We also work with First Nations communities on their schools.
Reviewing your school’s lockdown plan?
We’ll walk the school with your team, check every door and show you what one-button lockdown would look like.
Related: school securitypanic and duress buttonsvisitor managementelectric door hardwaresecurity funding (CCSP)
Stuck with a system nobody will fix?
We repair and take over cameras, access control, intercoms and alarms installed by other companies, when your current provider has fallen short.
Help: Export Avigilon video
School lockdown questions
What is a one-button lockdown?
One action, from a button, the software or an app, that locks every controlled exterior door and the interior doors you choose.
Can people still get out during a lockdown?
Yes. Lockdown controls who comes in, not who can leave. Inside handles and crash bars always let people out.
Who can start a lockdown?
The people your emergency plan names, using lockdown buttons, the access control software or an app on their phone.
What happens if the fire alarm goes off during a lockdown?
Exit doors still let people out, and fire alarm releases work as designed. Staff follow the school’s emergency plan. Not code advice.
Can classroom doors be locked from inside?
Yes, with classroom locks that staff lock from inside the room, while the inside handle always opens the door.
Can we see which doors are open?
Yes. Door status shows which doors are open, closed or locked, and alerts staff when a door is held or propped open.
Can lockdown be added to our existing access control?
Often. Many platforms we install have lockdown features. It depends on your controllers and software, and we check during the walk-through.
Can you help a private school with funding?
Private schools may be eligible for the Canada Community Security Program. We can’t promise funding, but our plan and quote can go into an application.
Can we test the system during drills?
Yes. We show staff how to run, end and reset a lockdown, and how to test it during drills.
More answers: Access control questionsGlossary: credentialfail-safe vs fail-secure
Plan your school’s lockdown system
Tell us about the school: the number of entrances and classrooms, and the system you have now. We’ll follow up to book a walk-through.
Call and a real person answers, 24/7 for emergencies.