Site Security Assessment (SSA) for Residence and Offices.

This section contains checklists and tips to help you conduct site security assessment for residential and office sites, and describes the IFRC minimum security requirements that apply.

If you do not have experience conducting a site security assessment, we recommend you read: Office Opening: A guide for non-governmental organisations published by GISF in 2015. It provides clear step-by-step instructions and security considerations for selecting, acquiring and setting up a new office. It is available in English and French. Of course, if there are discrepancies between this guide and IFRC standards, the IFRC standards apply to IFRC operations.

Before starting a site assessment, check the area Security Risk Assessment and Security Regulations/Plan to see if there are are specific threats in the area.

 
 
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Singular vs. Multi-occupant buildings

Which is Safest?

In most locations, the preferable option can be made easily using local staff input, combined with a security risk assessment and site security assessment. However, if both options are available, you can consider the following pros and cons:

Singular-occupant building:

  • A building or compound occupied by a single entity (organization or resident) may be more isolated in case of security or health emergency.

  • Security is more expensive to instal and maintain because costs cannot be shared.

  • Your organization or staff will have a greater say on who can access the building because there will be no other occupants. In this case it is easier to identify unwelcome strangers.

  • Occupants have more control over security measures and guards, allowing them to have direct control over access procedures, guard staffing, security procedures, installation of equipment, etc.

  • If you are at risk of being directly targeted because of your profile or reputation in a particular context, it may raise your risk of direct attack if you are housed in a single-occupant building.

Multi-occupant building:

  • Safety in numbers. Having more occupants (e.g., companies or other residents) in the building may reduce the likelihood you will be directly targetted.

  • Reduced security costs, as security costs such as guards, are usually shared between tenants.

  • Less control on who can access the building.

  • Less control over guards. If guard forces must be responsive to the requests and demands of multiple tenants, it can be more difficult to direct their behaviour.

  • Increased numbers of visitors are more difficult to keep track of. Once the visitor has gone through security, they are harder to detect and may have more time to commit a crime.

  • If you share a building with other occupants, you may be impacted collaterally by attacks or crimes against your co-occupants.

 
 
 
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Checklist

Site Security Considerations

Checklist

Here are some questions to help you conduct a site security assessment. The IFRC, and most organizations, have a form you must fill out when conducting site security assessments. Contact your security officer to obtain the form. If your organisation does not have a form, we recommend the one by GISF (see link above).

Property and Area

  • What are the crime rates in the neighbourhood?

  • Is it located near sensitive buildings or potential targets (e.g., political party HQs, military checkpoints, etc.)?

  • Is it located near any industrial sites with hazardous material or products?

  • Is it close to any accredited medical facilities (to be included in a medical response plan)?

  • How close is it to the police and fire stations?

  • Are there any other aid organisations in the area?

  • Is the property an apartment, house or other? See pros and cons.

  • If in a building, what floor is the residence or office located? Can the balcony or floor be easily scaled (climbed) from outside by intruders? Can the floor be reached by the local fire service?

  • What are general hygiene/sanitation conditions like?

  • Can the property/compound be overlooked by outsiders?

  • What is the pedestrian/traffic flow like?

  • Is the apartment or compound occupied by others? If so, by whom?

  • Is the property/compound susceptible to natural hazards?

  • Who is the owner of the property? What is their profession and reputation?

Compound Access

  • What type of perimeter wall is in place? Is it sufficient to prevent intrusion? How tall and thick is it?

  • Is there sufficient space between the perimeter wall and property?

  • Is there a secondary exit in the perimeter wall in the opposite direction to the main entrance?

  • Is access into the compound regulated? What procedures are in place (e.g. signing in/out, vehicle/bag searches, metal/explosive detectors, etc.)?

  • Are guards required? If so, where are they positioned? Are they stationary or do they patrol? Are they present 24/7?

  • Are the guards part of a wider response infrastructure? If an incident occurs, will additional support be provided? What is the estimated response time of the police/guard company involved?

Building Access

  • Are all doors and windows sturdy and secure?

  • Who has copies of keys?

  • Do ground floor doors and windows have grilles/shutters/barriers? 

  • Are doors and windows alarmed when locked (if necessary)?

  • Do windows have anti-shatter film (if necessary)?

  • Does the property have CCTV (if necessary)? If so, where are the cameras placed? Are the images monitored, and if so where/by whom?

  • Does the property have good exterior lighting that illuminates access and exit points?

  • Is there only one access point? Are access to the side and back of the property restricted?

Fire Safety

  • Are fire extinguishers and smoke detectors installed? Does the occupant know how to use them? Who maintains the equipment?

  • Are there any flammable materials inside the property? Are they maintained and compartmentalized safely?

  • Is there an alternative way to exit in case of fire or intrusion? Are these emergency exits locked when not in use? Will occupants still be able to escape easily when needed? Even if the property is filled with smoke?

  • Is escape to a neighbour’s property possible?

Alarm and Response

  • Are panic alarms installed (if necessary - in case of the risk of intrusion)? If so, where are they located? Ensure they are not too close to entrances.

  • Is there a safe haven (if necessary - in case hibernation is necessary)? How secure is it? How will the occupant communicate out from it?

  • Who maintains/checks the alarm system? When was the date of the last test?

  • Do occupants know how to respond to alarms? Or how/when to access safe havens?

Health and Safety

  • Have wired electrics been serviced and tested professionally?

  • Do you have sufficient first aid kits? Who is responsible for keeping them up-to-date, and how frequently? Where are they stored?

Communications

  • Is there a strong mobile telecommunications signal in the property?

  • Can VHF radio or satellite phones be used there?

  • Is there a backup generator? How long can the generator sustain power for?

Want to download the checklist?

 
 
 
 
 
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Doors and Locks

The following are Minimum Security Requirements for IFRC residences and offices.

Lock types

Primary locks are the main lock on a door and have a handle. Secondary locks are stronger locks, like a deadbolt or a sliding bolt that reinforce the primary lock by securing the door into the floors. Door chains and padlocks are not considered adequate secondary locks (for our purposes here).

Main Doors

Main doors open to the outside. All main doors must be solid and have a strong frame. Make sure all main doors are of good quality - not just the front door. All main doors must have a primary and a secondary lock. The front door should also be equipped with an optical viewer or peephole (that gives a clear 180 degree view) to see who is outside without opening the door. A door chain is not sufficient as a secondary/auxiliary lock and provides a false sense of security. Avoid sliding glass doors unless they have a metal grille installed with a heavy lock on the inside.

Metal-Grille Doors

If the main door(s) are equipped with a solid metal-grille, then a good quality high-security padlock is acceptable as a secondary lock. Warning! steel-grille doors can easily trap residents inside in the event of fire, so make sure that keys are easily accessible near and always present on the inside near the front door.

Bedroom and Bathrooms

In staff and offices residences, all bathrooms and bedrooms must have a lock that can be locked from the inside.

Key control

  • Maintain strict key control on all main door (exterior) locks. This means knowing who has access to keys, where they are being kept, that they cannot be copied, etc.

  • Do not hide an extra key to an exterior lock outside the house; experienced burglars know all the hiding places.

  • Always change locks if keys are lost.

  • Lock all utility boxes (electricity, gas, water) located on the exterior of the residence. 

  • Keep a spare set of keys in a sealed envelope in a secure place in the office (safe, key box, etc.)

 
 
 
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Exterior Lighting

Exterior lighting is an integral part of any anti-intrusion system. When properly used, it will discourage intruders and make areas visible.

  • Exterior lighting should cover all sides of the property, including any walls or fences, shrubs and blind spots not visible from the building.

  • Lights should be placed on the building facing outwards – not on the walls facing in.

  • Light fixtures operating on sensors are useful.

  • Manual switches and overall light control should always be located inside the residence, as well as accessible to guards who may be patrolling at night.

 
 
 
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Fire and Safety Equipment

Fire is often a bigger risk than security threats. The most common fires are kitchen fires and electrical fires, often caused by phone chargers and electrical adaptors. Fires are especially common in emergency settings and in countries with unstable electrical supply.

IFRC Requirements:

  • Check the capacity of the local fire service (if there is one) and make special arrangements if required. 

  • Place fire extinguishers in the kitchen area and in the hall near the bedroom. Make sure it is the right type of extinguisher and approved by the authorities. Check extinguishers once a year for pressure. 

  • Install smoke detectors in the kitchen, near the bedrooms, in offices with electrical equipment and near the generator (if applicable). If all the bedrooms are located along a single corridor, the smoke detector should be placed on the ceiling of the corridor.

  • Place a first-aid kit in the common area of the residence for easy access, and make sure everyone knows where it is.

  • Train staff on the fire procedures and on the use of fire safety equipment.

  • Inform staff to unplug electronics when sleeping.

  • Check the smoke detectors batteries regularly.

  • Hold fire drills at regular intervals (e.g., twice a year).

  • Post the emergency numbers on a wall somewhere visible.

  • Clearly mark the fire exits and escape routes, including ropes and ladders, if needed. 

  • If there are bars on the window, check that the bedroom window can be opened easily from the inside.

  • Place “No Smoking” signs. Smoking is strictly forbidden in IFRC premises.