Securing parking garages

Question: We live in a condominium and have had several parkade break-ins. Numerous automobiles have been broken into resulting in a number of insurance claims. How can we make our garage parkade more secure?

Fourchalk: Parkade problems can be controlled, however you must first check with your local fire department to assure that any changes you make are within the fire code.

Install full-length astragals that wrap into the frames where possible on all exterior doors. These astragals will cover the gap between the doors and the frames making it virtually impossible to wedge or pry the doors open.

Install deadbolts on all exterior doors. Deadbolts are usually permitted as long as they have a ninety-degree thumb turn on the inside to allow for quick fire exit.

Install a timer on the postal-entry lock to restrict hours of postal entry. Make sure that the timer is installed in the electrical room inside the building, not in the enterphone panel outside the building.

Consider installing locksets with guards on stairwell doors leading to the parkade from the building creating a need to use a common key to enter the stairwell.

Check your delay times on your overhead garage door. If you have a beam to prevent the door from descending on vehicles make sure that the door is not open for more than six seconds. If it is longer than six seconds, have your overhead-door serviceman shorten the time.