New school safety research reinforces an important message for BHMA members: code-compliant, standards-based and certified door hardware can play a meaningful role in protecting students, educators and staff when every second matters.

A first-of-its-kind study by the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) Center at Texas State University, conducted in partnership with the Security Industry Association (SIA), analyzed 54 school-based active shooter incidents from 2000 to 2025. The findings provide empirical support for the value of properly specified, installed, maintained and consistently used door hardware that meets applicable codes, recognized standards and certification expectations as part of a layered school safety strategy.

Join us at our Spring Meeting during the first full week of May 2027!

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Every door opening serves two fundamental purposes: it allows people in, and it allows people out. At first glance, that seems simple. In practice, these two goals (ingress and egress) are often in tension. A secure opening is designed to keep unauthorized individuals out, while a safe opening must always allow occupants to exit quickly and easily. When it matters most, particularly in an emergency, egress must take priority.