Perimeter Security Infrastructure to protect government assets
The recent infrastructure bill may have you considering many worthy projects if you are serving government at the state, local or industry levels. Some of the major areas of infrastructure investment in the next five years to come out of this bill are to include:
- $110B for roads and bridges
- $66B for rail
- $42B for air/sea ports
- $39B for mass transit
When considering infrastructure that helps to protect roads, bridges, rail, airports, sea ports and mass transit, B.I.G. guard shelters can be found serving government in all of these areas: Education, U.S. Customs (CBP), U.S. Secret Service, Toll Roads, NASA, Army, Air Force, Dept of Defense, GSA, Navy and Marines.
Governments of all sizes, be they local, regional, state-wide or federal have all been focused on the Pandemic—a multitude of resources have been pulled in the direction of Covid compliance, Covid support and Covid prevention. As a result of this very necessary demand for governments’ attention, we understand that it is super important that we keep things like security in front of you—that we at B.I.G. bring you information that can help you make more informed decisions about defending the facilities that you serve.
Misinformation and uncertainty opened the door for an increase in criminal activity over the past year, in addition to other kinds of military and commercial aggression from nation states.
So, the people of B.I.G. want to bring information to you about physical security - perimeter security—information that can help you fight back against any misinformation or weak links in your need to protect the people and facilities that you serve.
We want you to know about:
1. Survivability – Guard Shelters are the lynchpin of any facility’s perimeter security defense strategy. We strongly encourage referencing appropriate agency standards such as those produced by among others the Army Corps of Engineers. Depending on the threat level to the facility its Guard Shelter may be required to be blast resistant, or that there to be gun ports to facilitate active defense or equipped with sufficient communication resources to assure constant contact with command central and first responders. Guard personnel’s lives may be at stake and these issues should be considered during the design phase, not during a post event review.
Depending on the threat level to the facility its Guard Shelter may be required to be blast resistant, or that there to be gun ports to facilitate active defense or equipped with sufficient communication resources to assure constant contact with command central and first responders. Guard personnel’s lives may be at stake and these issues should be considered during the design phase, not during a post event review.
2. Flexibility – There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all Guard Shelter. The terrain’s physical characteristics and climate where the Guard Shelter is to be located will impact its features. The distance from the facility and its security perimeter as well as whether the setting is highly or sparsely populated are all factors requiring attention. In addition, the impact constructing onsite will have on the facility’s operations should be factored into the decision.
3. Longevity – Once in place, a Guard Shelter should be relied upon to function day-in and day-out for years. This requires strong components properly designed and executed using high-grade materials by skilled craftsmen in controlled factory environments.
It means weather resistant finishes tested and proven to stand up to Mother Nature, and the daily abuse of standard use. Doors and windows that will open and close again and again and still seal tight. Latches that will latch and HVAC systems that will function season after season.
These are just a few of the considerations when specifying a Guard Shelter.
Jeff Zarkin, senior Policy Advisor at the U.S. Department of Energy expressed his points of view with B.I.G.'s security products and support: “As the Project Engineer at Department of Energy Headquarters who has overseen the design, construction, and installation of four of your booths in the last two years, I just want to take a few minutes to let you know how happy we are with your products and your company.
I have been around long enough to know that projects of this type often hit little bumps in the road. A seam may not be properly sealed or an improper light fixture installed. These things happen. What is far more important is how these events are responded to - and in the case of B.I.G. Enterprises, they have been consistently responded to with professionalism and a commitment to customer service. You folks are doing it right - and it is appreciated.
What was even more impressive is the way you responded to the failure of a bullet resistant window in one of our booths. Even though we reported that there is a likely impact mark, you have offered to send us a replacement window at no cost. This is truly taking customer service a step above. Thank you again. Your products and service have been exemplary.”
We’ve all witnessed the results of the weakest link in a chain failing. A Guard Shelter may seem like an inconsequential element among the myriad of decisions made on a large construction product. As mentioned earlier, Guard Shelters are the lynchpins of an effective perimeter security system.