ESTATE
SECURITY:
COMMON
DESIGN AND
TECHNOLOGY
MISTAKES
of intruders, and unless it is state-of-the-art, it can
books or on sheets of paper, because if paper
Authors: Glenn Allen and Derek Lategan
be penetrated. As a general rule; the better
registers are to be believed, Mickey Mouse is
the standard of the fence, the lower the risk of
a regular visitor to many estates. Once these
intrusion.
technologically advanced steps are taken to
Introduction
Estate living has become an increasingly
popular choice for South African families and
home owners, particularly because it comes
with the promise of better safety and security.
Most popular estates are able to offer residents
a blend of both privacy and space, as well
as the added comfort of close neighbourly
security.
It is therefore ironic that many estates are not as
secure as they appear to be. Budget constraints
often result in shortcuts being taken on some of
the most integral security measures of estates,
lulling estate residents into a false sense of
security and causing them to neglect taking the
precautions that they should.
The Perimeter Fence
The perimeter fence is probably the most
important aspect of estate security, not only
because of the function it needs to perform, but
because its standard is regarded as indicative
of the overall estate security, and sends this
message to would-be intruders. A large
percentage of break-ins in housing estates can
be directly attributable to inadequate fencing.
Often a case of profit over performance, some
developers have been known to cut costs when
it comes to the fence line. These days, most
fencing is no match for the ingenuity and skills
improve the quality of estate security, the next
Primary Solutions
stage is to ensure that there is suitably trained
A good perimeter fence is a physical barrier,
and capable manpower to operate it. It is no
a psychological barrier and an early warning
longer good enough to have estate security
system, so it is essential that the fence is not only
monitored by traditional night watchmen. Such
formidable, but that it has intruder detection
guards need to be up-skilled to not only use the
capabilities. The detail to which intrusions are
technology, but also to effectively react to what
detected, based on the size of the detection
the technology reveals to them.
zones, is a major consideration. It costs more
to have smaller zones but they do give more
Internal threats
accurate intrusion locations, and when coupled
Perimeter fencing and access control is
with a good quality, monitored CCTV system,
designed to stop people on the outside,
they provide accurate data on which security
usually with nefarious intentions, from getting
personnel should act. Many modern-day CCTV
in, but it cannot stop those already inside. An
systems also incorporate thermal detection,
established trend is for properties within estates
which is highly recommended for better quality
to be rented by criminals and syndicates and
– and more efficient – estate security.
then used as a base from which to commit
crimes in the estate. There are often stringent
Added security measures
methods of vetting potential homeowners, but
In addition to quality perimeter fencing and
not enough control over who those owners
detection, access control, which includes the
rent their properties out to. Estate managers
monitoring of staff, visitor and contracto r
do need to establish firmer control, or at least
access, needs to be more stringent and
better vetting of rental tenants.
technologically capable. Access control should,
if possible, consist of biometrics which makes
Gatehouse design
it impossible for access to be transferred, as
From a security perspective the design and
is the case with access cards. Cards can be
positioning of the gatehouse needs careful
borrowed, or lost – potentially ending up
consideration. Some architects will design
in the wrong hands. There also needs to be
an estate in such a way that the gatehouse is
proper visitor management to determine
outside the estate. However the best practice
how long visitors are on site for, and should
is for the gatehouse to be secured within the
not simply consist of vehicle details written in
estate as it needs to be protected by the same