Selecting door and window systems for any building project demands a complete articulation of safety and security concerns. Balancing life-safety performance and integration with overall security planning is one of the most difficult aspects of fenestration design. According to Safe Havens International, security and safety in the design of new buildings include proper egress, improved natural surveillance (the ability for people to see their surroundings and be seen by others), and heightened situational awareness through the use of windows and other means. Visibility in and out of the building is often just as important as hardening the fenestration elements, says Safe Havens. Another useful technique: natural access control, which Safe Havens defines as "designs that control access through a building by channeling visitors through areas where they can be observed by staff."
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