Recent events in this country and the world have changed the way people think about security.  A certain level of protection is now expected and deserved.  Although not necessarily affecting the self-storage industry specifically, the consciousness of the public has been altered forever.  People now accept the fact that security is, and should be part of their everyday lives.  Not only for their personal safety, but the security of their belongings.  The lesson to be learned from all of this, when developing a self-storage site is that cutting corners on the security design, yields a less marketable, less than state-of-the-art project.  Your peace of mind and your customers’ is at risk with a scaled down security plan.  In other words, “Do It Right The First Time.”

The best way to secure the stored property of your customers is with individual door alarms.  It is an active form of security that lets the operator know immediately when a breach has occurred.  As soon as a potential burglar opens the door to a unit an alarm sounds.  This demands a response to the situation.  Certainly cameras have a use for securing areas of the property, but they do not let the manager know when an attempted burglary is taking place.  Unless he or she happens to be viewing the monitor when the attempt occurs. 

Controlled access to the storage areas is a must.  When it is not linked with a door alarm system it welcomes the prospective thief.  The storage renter is given an access code to the property, which he/she enters at the gate or entrance door.  The gate or door opens, the individual door alarm for that unit is turned off, and the renter goes about his business at the unit.  The tenant leaves the site by again entering his code.  This re-arms the individual unit alarm on that particular door. 

The self-storage security system that ends at the access gate welcomes the would-be thief.  This person will rent a unit, and is given an access code.  He then begins spending time on the site, observing activity and what’s inside any open units.  All the while, he is making a mental inventory; planning which locks he will cut, to steal the belongings later.  When the opportunity is there, the locks will be cut, the goods taken and stored in the thief’s original unit, or moved to the front of the original unit for loading in a truck later.  The burglar puts a lock back on the storage bins where he cuts the locks, so no one is suspicious, until the original tenant comes in and can’t open the lock. 

Individual door alarms eliminate this possibility of theft.  As soon as the thief opens the first door not belonging to him, the alarm sounds, and the office or monitoring company is notified.  The burglar has no choice but to go rent a unit down the street, where unit alarms have not been installed. 

Individual unit alarms should be part of your marketing strategy.  Advertising and signage can point out that the site’s doors are individually alarmed.  Every time a prospect walks on site, the alarm system should be demonstrated.  Through this your prospects will learn that your self-storage is more secure than the competition, because you did it right, and installed an alarm system. 

Each unit will have its own individual door switch.  Several different types of door switches are used depending on the type of door specified.  Swing doors use a switch mounted to the door header and the magnet is mounted to the door.  A bracket is usually not needed unless the swing door has no header.  Some applications will use this type of switch installation for roll-up doors, as well.  Floor switches are also common for storage roll-up doors.  The device is anchored to the floor inside, at the front corner of the unit.  Magnet is then mounted on the inside of the door with a bracket lined up above the switch. 

The new Quick Switch has taken the industry by storm.  Designed for roll-up’s, it is ideal for self-storages where many doors need to be outfitted with a switch.  The quick switch mounts on the door track by the opening that receives the door latch.  The device detects the metal in the latch when it is closed.  Installation time is greatly reduced, because just one piece is mounted instead of two.  It can be put in with as little as two screws.  Any popular door manufacturers should specify the proper metallic material latch.  Just let them know that you are using the quick switch. 

Most door alarm systems have the flexibility to accommodate various differences at the site for the customer.  Many times tenants have more than one unit.  Instead of having to punch several codes to disarm all of the different units, a multiple unit feature is employed.  The customer can punch in one code and disarm all of his/her units.  As usual, when they exit, their one code will re-arm all of the units. 

Some storages have units outside the perimeter, fenced-in area.  Although somewhat unique, these areas can be alarmed, as well.  A keypad is mounted on a wall, or in a central location.  The renter punches in their code to disarm the door.  Most users will forget, or choose not to go back and punch in their code, when leaving the property.  This situation requires a system that re-arms when the storage door is closed.  A simple software setting accomplishes this. 

Other devices can be used that do not necessitate the use of a passcode.  Instead a magnetic touch card can be issued.  This card is touched to a stationary touch plate at the entrance.  Proximity cards are also available.  These only need to be held near the reader for the access to open.  All entry, egress, and other activity are recorded just as with the code entry. 

The idea of adding a door alarm on a “one at a time” basis, as the units are rented is not practical from a time management or financial standpoint.  Most of the groundwork installation will already be done ahead of time.  To ask personnel to finish the installation and activation at the time of move-in can be time consuming and an interruption to the operation of the business.  Financially it does not make sense to rent adjacent units for different amounts.  A door alarm system warrants charging higher rents.  Take advantage of that from the outset. 

Reputable alarm system suppliers will recommend installing your system during construction.  This allows it to be hard-wired.  Hard-wired systems are more reliable.  Technology and outside signals can affect the reliability of wireless systems.  Maintenance of equipment can also be an issue.  Wireless systems can be used in some retrofit situations.  To install wireless on a new construction is risking that you may have to do it a second time to get it right. 

Things to avoid:

Stay away from systems that are “generic” and not designed for a mini-storage application.  These systems have trouble supporting the amount of doors on a site.  They become wiring and operational nightmares.  They also will not interface with self-storage management software. 

New companies or companies that are new to self-storage door alarm systems.  You need a company with the experience to supply a reliable system.  They also need to be around in the years to come to help support their products.

Inexperienced installers.  Installation is crucial.  Allow enough time at the end of construction, before opening to have the system put in correctly.  It is much easier to get it right before a unit is rented, rather than after the fact. 

More and more owners are building in an individual door alarm system at time of construction.  The competitive edge and marketability make this a sound investment.  If the site is ever sold, it will attract more high dollar buyers with state-of-the-art security.  Be sure to budget the proper time and money to do it once, and do it right.  It may cost more to get the proper system with the right features, and have it installed professionally.  It will not cost as much as cutting corners the first time, and having to re-do a site over the second time.                

John Fogg, General Manager of Sentinel Systems, has been involved in the self storage industry since 1986.  He may be reached by email at:  jfogg@sentinelsystems.com, or by phone at (800)456-9955.  Sentinel Systems Corporation is in its 33rd year of serving the self storage industry with security products and software systems.