hile it is alarming that to people who are not
the security of many professionals in security to make
buildings, href="http://www.realestate-direc that to be one of the biggest
t.info/building-security.htm" problems.
title="http://www.realestate-dire
ct.info/building-security.htm" "Or second, they leave security
target="_blank">color="#001000" most cases, to unqualified HR
size="-2">http://www.realestate-d managers or, worse, financial
irect.info/building-security.htm< managers. I find that in 98% of
/font> , in Thailand does not all properties I have visited for
meet international standards, a 10 years.
bigger concern is that even
top-notch systems are often not "This is a fatal error by
managed properly, says Thavorn building owners who wish to
Srisukato, the chief operating attract tenants today because
officer of a security service and they want to promote their
real estate broker, Bangkok. buildings as safe and secure,
particularly high-rises."
For building owners who want to
protect their investment, failure Fire prevention and control are
to demand high security standards vital for high-rises given the
could be disastrous. basic physical constraints on
firefighting equipment _ most
"The big mistake is that the rigs can only reach 12 floors or
owners of the buildings so.
themselves don't get involved in
decisions of security, fire and "If you have a fire that starts
safety," he says. "They leave it on one of the ground floors or
near one of the ground floors, take much more time to burn.
heat and smoke only travel up and
the length of time to come down, But the reality is that security
say 40 floors, you probably won't decisions in most buildings, be
survive and most people know they offices or condominiums, are
that," says Mr Thavorn . usually made by management
companies and they focus on
Despite this scary scenario, saving costs for the owners.
buildings with proper security
equipment, href="http://www.realestate-direc that work just in the security
t.info/security-equipment.htm" field. They cover all aspects,
title="http://www.realestate-dire from pest control, to toilet
ct.info/security-equipment.htm" cleaning to building maintenance,
target="_blank">color="#001000" operations _ they don't have
size="-2">http://www.realestate-d specific expertise of security in
irect.info/security-equipment.htm house."
, and management
should be safe. "If you have your Often a security firm is hired
systems installed and they are because it quotes the lowest
inspected and they work and you price but the building owners do
have a good reaction force, 99.9% not do due diligence or
of fires are going to be put out background checks.
before they become anything
major." "One of the biggest problems here
is that guards have to work a
Mr Thavorn also notes most 12-hour shift, a very long shift.
buildings today use materials They're not given much respect.
that are not flammable so they The manpower delivering security
at the site seven days a week are that the guard in the control
usually ill-trained, not room is alerted if it's opened.
sufficient, underpaid."
Above all, these systems have to
He recommends that building be monitored by well-trained
owners get involved and bring in people. "So the best security
professional security advisers to plans do not require a lot of
review all security programmes, human manpower. What's needed is
such as electronic systems, and smart, sharp, well-trained,
the integration of these systems well-rested manpower driving
with the manpower, at least once those systems."
a year. Among the vital systems
are fire alarms, smoke detectors The smart technologies now
and sprinklers. available are helping to improve
security. Mr Thavorn cites the
"You have to have back-up example of cameras that rotate
emergency power that works, you and cover all parts of a room, or
have to make sure that if all the technology that alerts the
water fails there's a holding control room if, for example,
tank with sufficient water to someone were to lift a laptop off
pump into the sprinkler. The a table. Prices of these systems
batteries in the emergency light have come down sharply while the
areas and stairwells have to quality of digital imaging, plus
work." the ability to do remote and
online monitoring, offer great
Importantly, one also has to potential.
ascertain that emergency
stairways are not used for I also advises that building
storage, and the emergency exit owners and operators maintain a
door bar needs to be alarmed so close relationship with the local
police and emergency service light of the New Year's Eve
providers such as hospitals. bombings, in Mr Thavorn 's
opinion Bangkok is no easier a
"Hire them to come in once in target than most major cities in
every six months to do some fire the UK or the US.
training, security awareness
training, maybe bomb recognition However, he says he is
training for example. They would particularly shocked by the poor
come in and be your friends _ buy quality of security at vulnerable
them lunch," says Mr Thavorn. tourist areas. He is also
concerned about how well guarded
Also before renting an apartment the underground and skytrain
or buying a condominium, he urges stations are, as well as petrol
people to inspect the fire pumps.
procedures and ask the management
what they do when there is a "The problem in Thailand is
fire, how long it takes fire always enforcement, you have laws
trucks to reach the building _ _ it's illegal for prostitution
and whether this has ever been here _ you have many laws, you
tested. have laws about fire codes that
have to be met but are they
While security has become a enforced?"
growing concern in Bangkok in
About the Author:
Mr. Thavorn Srisukato has many years experience with leading consulting firms. He currently start up business consulting company, http://www.realestate-direct.info/ , which concentrate in area of property development, marketing management and investing.
Read more articles by:
Thavorn Srisukato
Article Source: www.iSnare.com 
