ASIS International sets global benchmark
ASIS International, one of the world’s leading organisations for safety standards, has introduced a groundbreaking standard for school safety. Approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the guide provides the first comprehensive, interdisciplinary framework for developing, implementing and continuously improving security concepts in educational institutions – from primary school to upper secondary school (K-12).
Holistic approach to safe learning environments
The standard is designed as a scalable tool that can be used regardless of a school’s size or budget. It provides clear criteria for implementing a security programme that integrates structural safeguards, threat analysis and management, and emergency and crisis plans.
‘This tool helps schools worldwide to systematically identify risks and derive appropriate measures – without losing sight of their educational mission,’ emphasises Jeffrey Slotnick, CPP, PSP, co-chair of the ASIS School Security Standard Technical Committee.
Multidisciplinary development
Experts from numerous disciplines were involved in its development, including school administrators, security professionals, architects, psychologists, threat analysts, facility managers, emergency and crisis managers, police authorities, and communication and business continuity specialists.
The result is an evidence-based, practical framework that helps schools analyse their status quo and identifies specific options for risk mitigation.
Dynamic framework for continuous improvement
The standard is not designed as a rigid set of rules, but as a living instrument. It is intended to evolve continuously based on feedback from the field. ‘With this standard, we are creating a basis for sustainable improvements that go beyond structural measures and also include behaviour, prevention and responsiveness,’ explains Drew Neckar, CPP, co-chair of the committee.
European context: relevance for the DACH region
Holistic approach in line with European requirements
The standard integrates structural safety, threat analysis, prevention and crisis management – topics that are also relevant in Europe.
- Germany: State building regulations and school building guidelines regulate minimum structural standards such as escape and rescue routes. However, comprehensive safety concepts are usually the responsibility of the individual school authorities.
- Austria: The Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF) has issued guidelines for crisis and disaster management. These contain specifications for alarm and evacuation plans, but do not yet form a systematic overall concept.
- Switzerland: Cantonal concepts for violence prevention and emergency organisation exist, supplemented by practical recommendations from Suva. However, there is no standard for the whole of Switzerland.
Multidisciplinary development approach as a model
The US model shows how the expertise of education, security experts, police, architecture and psychology can be brought together in a unifying standard. For Europe, such an approach could create synergies and bring the actors, who have previously worked separately, closer together.
A dynamic framework instead of a rigid set of rules
The concept of a learning standard that evolves through practical experience is also in line with the European standardisation system. Similar to DIN standards or CEN standards, schools, authorities and professional associations could be actively involved in the process.
Impetus for the DACH region
The introduction of the standard could trigger a discussion about uniform minimum requirements in Germany, Austria and Switzerland:
- Germany: Closing the gap between building regulations and violence prevention programmes.
- Austria: Supplementing existing crisis plans with standardised risk analyses and systematic security management.
- Switzerland: Harmonising cantonal differences and establishing a nationwide basis.
‘This document makes it clear that safety in education should be understood as a continuous process – not just a response to crises,’ summarises Drew Neckar, CPP. ASIS International is thus sending a signal that Europe should also take up: school safety requires uniform standards that take structural, organisational and psychosocial aspects into account in equal measure.
