Outdoor Storage for Schools: Best Practice

Outdoor storage is an important issue for many schools. With a large volume of people in one place, keeping these areas secure is vital for the safety and security of staff, students and visitors. Below we outline the best practice for outdoor storage areas in schools.

Secure School Assets

With space often at a premium within schools, outdoor storage can help alleviate the pressures on indoor facilities, freeing up space for educational purposes. Outdoor storage areas can be used to secure a range of different assets, such as; bins, fuel containers, bicycles, air-conditioning units, generators, sports and play equipment. These storage areas should always be kept locked and secure to prevent children or unauthorised access. For higher value assets, care should also be taken to ensure that there are no objects nearby which could act as a climbing aid and that line of sight into storage area is reduced to minimise the risk of theft and break-ins.

Crime on school grounds poses a significant problem in the UK. A recent report confirmed that over 30,000 crimes had taken place on school grounds in one year. Over half were linked to theft, burglary, criminal damage and arson. Outdoor storage areas are essential for school grounds but are also obvious targets for crime.

Fuel Containers

The best course of action is to make sure any prospective outdoor storage solution meets established security standards. We recommend any intruder-resistant installation should be Secured by Design and approved by the Loss Prevention Standards Board (LPCB) and awarded an LPS 1175 Security Rating, particularly for the storing of fuel and gas supplies. 

Another consideration is the appearance of the fencing and gate around the storage unit. There are many different styles on the market and careful thought should go into how the fencing provides security and safety without appearing ‘fortress-like’.

Bin Stores

Our EuroGuard® Combi welded mesh fencing is ideally suited to outdoor storage areas, combining a pleasant timber façade with the strength of steel. The absence of grip points and footholds make it impossible to scale, while privacy is guaranteed with closely spaced timber slats reducing lines of sight. On top of this, our Euroguard Combi has achieved LPS 1175 SR1 certification from the LPCB, providing reassurance and peace of mind when it comes to creating a secure enclosure.

Air-con Units and Generators

For outdoor storage areas which contain high levels of constant and disruptive noise, such as air-conditioning units or generators, a different solution is required. These noises produce significant levels of interference, which can have a harmful impact on health and daily school activities. Jakoustic® Absorptive acoustic fencing has been designed with these types of enclosures in mind. It incorporates an absorptive layer with a protective membrane on one side of the fence, reducing noise by up to 32 decibels, while still having a pleasant timber aesthetic on the outside.