STAIRWELLS & ELEVATORS: THE MOST IGNOREDSECURITY ZONES – FIXED IN

Stairwells and elevators are the in-between spaces where incidents happen: tailgating, vandalism, package theft, even after-hours trespass. The good news? A few focused changes dramatically improve safety without slowing your tenants or team.

What “good” looks like

• Clear lines of sight (no posters on glass, no light glare in cameras)
• Distinct access rules (card-only to floors after hours; visitor badges expire)
• Evidence you can use (faces at the call panel, plates at lobby approach)
• Fast decisions (operators see the event and know who to call)
  

9 Fixes

1. Aim for faces, not ceilings
   Tilt elevator-car and landing cameras slightly down and toward the call panel—faces beat top-of-head views for investigations.
2. Fix the light before the lens
   Swap any flickering bulb; add a diffuser if glare blows out faces. If IR is washing out, step the camera back or shift to low-light mode.
3. Name your views
   Rename cameras by purpose: L1-ELEV-LANDING-FACE, L1-STAIR-A-DOOR-OVERVIEW, GARAGE-ELV-PLATE. You’ll find footage faster during an incident.
4. Stop tailgating at the source
   Add reader-inside-cab access or require card on the landing after hours. Post a one-line policy: “One card = one rider.”
5. Talk-down where it counts
   Install a small speaker near the landing; play a brief deterrent message on analytic trigger (loitering, door-propped).
6. Door-propped rule
   Create an alert if a stairwell door stays open >120 seconds. Send to on-site plus monitoring with location in the subject line.
7. Panic & help that actually helps
   Tie elevator emergency button to monitoring; provide operators a one-page “Building Info” sheet with lobby access, after-hours contacts, and gate codes.
8. Make the exit obvious
   Add contrasting signage to stairwell exits and lobbies so visitors don’t wander back-of-house. Wayfinding reduces trespass excuses.
9. Test the proof
   Export a 20-second clip from each elevator/landing view and one stairwell cam. If you can’t export in under a minute per clip, fix it now.
   

Micro-checklist (copy/paste to your work order)

• Landing cam shows faces at call panel
• Elevator car cam shows mid-torso to face
• No IR washout / glare at night
• After-hours requires card to move floors
• Door-propped alert at 120s (stairwell & service doors)
• Talk-down message tied to loiter/tailgate analytics
• Camera names follow SITE-AREA-ASSET-PURPOSE pattern
• Monitoring has building sheet (codes, contacts, maps)
• Last export test (mm/dd) archived
  

Benchmarks to hit

• Alarm-to-decision: ≤60 seconds (operator sees verified video)
• False alerts in stairwell zones: ≤5% per month
• Coverage uptime: ≥95% for elevator/stair cameras
• Off-boarding: user deactivated within 24 hours, no exceptions
  

Pro design tips (MDU & office)

• MDU package rooms: place the reader inside the room, not in the lobby. Pair with an overhead cam and talk-down.
• Garage to lobby: add plate view + lobby face view to connect a person to a vehicle.
• Contractor windows: “contractor access profile” with auto-expire date; distinct badge design to cut confusion.
  

Want a 1-page plan for your building?
Ask for our Stairwell & Elevator Tune-Up. We’ll run a night audit, set door-propped rules, align camera angles, and deliver a 30-day action list prioritized by impact.