An oft-overlooked but incredibly vital component of property management is security. Not only does having ample security measures keep the property’s assets safe, but it also keeps people—its tenants—safe. Landlords should embody a holistic approach when it comes to security. This doesn’t only mean hiring qualified security personnel to monitor building activity and promote order within the establishment. It also means investing in the right security storage solutions to keep hazardous goods and valuable equipment from falling into the wrong hands. Whether you're managing a multi-family apartment complex or a single-unit rental, having these storage solutions is key for promoting a secure living environment. A quality security approach can create a pleasant atmosphere, which can make people more likely to choose to deal with your property over other establishments. This article will give you a breakdown of why having it is so important and what items you should get to keep your property safe. We’ll also share how you can keep these security equipment functional and durable for years to come. Let’s jump right into it. As important as it is to hire security personnel and have surveillance on the premises, these deterrents won’t protect assets with a 100% success rate. It’s also important to safeguard building assets with the right storage containers. There are a multitude of reasons why it’s important to invest in quality storage solutions for your property, whether it’s a residential or commercial building. Here are some of these reasons: Protects tenant assets from theft or vandalism Adds convenience for tenants in storing outdoor and valuable goods Reduces the risk of damage to personal belongings Keeps the property safe from explosions, fires, and other spontaneous chemical reactions Reduces scattered clutter in common area and rooms Increases tenant satisfaction Enhances property value With all the pros of investing in secure storage solutions, it’s about time to answer the question: what are the types of secure storage solutions landlords can get, anyway? We’ll hold the fort and provide you with all the details in the next section. There are two main categories of storage solutions to consider placing on the property: storage for normal goods and storage for hazardous goods. First, here are some storage solutions for non-hazardous goods that can be convenient and useful for your tenants and building staff. Individual lockers: Lockers placed in a lobby of a public area can safeguard items like shoes and outdoor belongings. Bicycle racks: This storage provides a compartment where tenants can park their bikes. Smart parcel lockers: Smart locker system that requires a passcode to open. Storage cages: For property owners of public spaces, a storage cage can hold multiple bags and belongings temporarily. Vaults and safes: Safes are great for storing an individual’s most valuable possessions. They can come in all sizes, making them versatile tools to safeguard items. Lockboxes: An alternative to the standard locker, usually a standalone model. Can also be wall-mounted for easier access. Having these storage solutions makes storing goods more efficient, safe, and convenient—which are definite pluses to any tenant prospecting potential properties. And here are storage solutions specifically designed for hazardous goods: Liquid storage cabinets: Large flammable storage cabinets can help keep the house and its tenants safe against fire, explosion, chemical spills, and vapours from hazardous liquids. Corrosive substance cabinets: Specifically designed to withstand corrosive material like cleaning acids. This can be used to store these substances and eliminate the risk of chemical reactions and leaks. Compressed gas cylinder storage cages: Helps keep compressed air containing hazardous gas like oxygen, propane, or acetylene upright, ventilated, and well-spaced to reduce the risk of explosions and fires. Oxidising agent storage cabinets: These cabinets prevent flammable products like hydrogen peroxide or bleach from coming into contact with non-combustible materials. Hazardous waste storage units: This storage compartment provides a safe and secure space to dispose of chemical waste and prevent it from contaminating landfills, waterways, and the environment at large. It’s crucial to put hazardous goods in an appropriate and certified container. This is to ensure that it doesn’t negatively react to its environment, which can be dangerous to both the property and the people living within it. It also helps you store excess hazardous items that may exceed the legal limit for indoor storage. See below to know the limits of each type of hazardous goods classification according to guidelines set by Australian Standards. If your property has more of the maximum indoor capacity of these items, then you’ll have to create a dedicated space outdoors to house the excess material. You also need to label the storage appropriately to warn others of the contents inside the storage and prevent people from accidentally tampering with it. Your responsibility to security doesn’t stop at merely having these storage solutions within your premises. You’ll still have to perform regular upkeep and perform other duties to keep your property safe for you and its dwellers for the long haul. Here are six key points for maintaining secure storage solutions within your property, particularly if you’re storing hazardous goods. Look into your storage unit bi-annually and assess its conditions. Is it rusting? Are there signs of wear and tear? Are all the locking mechanisms working as intended? Is it still effective in reducing substance emissions? Find the answers to these questions and proceed appropriately. If there are signs of wear and tear and other malfunctions, then it may be time to repair the storage unit or put it out of commission in the meantime. Besides looking into the safety product itself, consider upgrading the security features surrounding it. For instance, if your storage solution is something that can easily be accessed by the public, consider putting the storage option behind a locked door and putting a surveillance system facing it to deter unauthorised access. You can even employ smart technology—only allowing people who know a passcode to enter the area or open the storage unit. By doing this, you can eliminate the chances of security breaches and keep your and your tenant's items safe. For hazardous goods, it’s important to keep your storage container and its contents under optimal conditions. One way of doing so is by regularly ventilating it and cleaning its vents. Dust, mould, and debris can accumulate in the container, causing it to become more inefficient over time. Furthermore, it can also prevent it from completely safeguarding the contents, which can lead to an increased risk of injury and damage due to improper storage. By cleaning and ventilating the storage unit regularly, you can keep the integrity of the contents intact and make the container more effective in performing its job. Furthermore, be sure to keep the ventilation outdoors and not in an enclosed space, as doing the latter can be a major safety risk for people within the room. Before hiring new employees and signing in tenants, be sure to inform them of any hazardous waste storage facilities and other storage guidelines you have within the premises. Get them to follow proper waste disposal practices, especially for hazardous goods. Besides that, also post guidelines in public areas like the building lobby about the rules surrounding the premises. This way, you’ll do your due diligence in informing people about the presence of hazardous goods, reducing the risk. If your property is a public space rented by multiple tenants, then you should label potentially hazardous areas with visible signages that indicate the hazard. Be sure to use the appropriate designated pictorial for the hazardous good you’re trying to warn others of. For instance, explosive materials will need an orange, diamond-shaped sign with a picture of an explosion on the top half to serve as an indication, while toxic gases will need a white, diamond-shaped sign with a skull and a clear text saying “Toxic Gas” in it. By putting these signages in an easy-to-view area, people will clearly understand the danger of the zone and behave appropriately.Why Secure Storage is Essential for Protection
Types of Storage Systems for Your Property
How to Maintain Secure Storage Solutions
Conduct Regular Inspections
Upgrade Security Measures
Ventilate and Clean Regularly
Employee and Tenant Training
Post Visible Signages of Hazardous Goods