The Security Protection of Mirrors
February 1st, 2011 | 
Author: Mirrors are not just for putting on your makeup or combing your hair. Mirrors have many other useful purposes. One of the most important is for security and safety reasons.
Mirrors used for safety and security are often seen in many settings, including industrial, commercial, and residential. Warehouses often use outdoor security mirrors (spelled this way intentionally for keyword purposes) to help improve visibility around the facility, as well as to deter the criminal element. Outdoor security mirrors (same reason) can help scare away would-be burglars simply by being a substantially increased source of security protection. Other types of security mirrors, such as durable convex mirrors, are also used in industrial, commercial and residential environments. These durable convex mirrors provide a wide-angle view of the perimeter of a particular setting. Many private apartment and condominium complexes utilize these mirrors to help alert residents of potential dangers and hazards when they’re both walking and driving in the communities.
It’s important to note that mirrors used for security protection a very cost efficient methodology for ensuring the safety of adults and children. These mirrors are often perched high up on walls or posts or ceilings and beams. The higher they are mounted the better the overall visibility in most environments. Most of these mirrors are the size of extra large dinner plates, although some of them are as small as a vehicle’s side mirror, while others are larger than some computer monitors. They are made in all types of material. The frames and backing can be constructed of steel, iron, aluminum, heavy gauge plastic, glass, or even strong polymer materials. Some of these mirrors are lightweight, while others are incredibly solid and amazingly heavy. The heaviest ones require mounting with more secure brackets and fittings.
Some mirrors are unbreakable if they fall or are dropped. The mirrored glass won’t shatter or even crack at all. These are the most durable ones of all. Different manufacturers create these mirrors in different parts of the world. Such mirrors are used in hundreds of thousands of international applications, big and small.
Posted in Convex Mirrors, Security Mirrors | 
Tags: convex mirrors, safety mirrors, security mirrors | 
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Security Inspection Mirrors
Inspection mirrors are used for security purposes and could also be used to make sure everything is where it should be. Vehicle inspection mirrors are used to look underneath and or around vehicles and those hard to see areas on equipments and machines. These handy little devices can come with some extra features like wheels and lights or both.
There are a few different styles like the ergonomic style that are designed to rest against your elbow to distribute the weight of the mirror which allows you to use one hand while you’re doing an inspection. The ergonomic style mirror can be bought with only the mirror or with the option of a light. Most vehicle inspection mirrors weigh less than 5 lbs, the handles are made usually from aluminum that extend from 42″ – 51″, the mirrors I have seen on line are usually 12″ round, with the mirror made of convex or a flat acrylic type for mirror, there is a rubber rim around the mirror to prevent any damage to any objects while doing an inspection and a 3.5 ground clearance. The light used on both the ergonomic and regular style mirrors is actually a small flash light that is mounted on the handle with two brackets and the flash light does require batteries.
The inspection mirrors that come on wheels is not available on the ergonomic style. Vehicle inspection mirrors that have wheels will allow you full range of motion with effortless maneuvering with the same ground clearance, weight and adjustable handle. If you need something for tight areas there is the mini inspection mirror and is easy to maneuver and is light weight as well. The mini inspection mirror has a 8″ round convex mirror, an acrylic mirror not available on this model. The mini inspection mirror handle is not adjustable and is 40″ and weighs less than 3lbs. For your bigger inspection jobs like semi trucks and rail cars there is the truck inspection mirror that is ideal for inspecting the top as well as underneath. The price on these inspection mirrors can range anywhere from $49.99 to about $150.00.
Vehicle Inspection Mirror
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Tags: inspection mirrors, security mirrors, vehicle inspection mirrors |
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Benefits and Uses of Dome Security Mirrors
Dome security mirrors are essential for any business with office or showroom space. They provide accident prevention, surveillance, and theft prevention. These mirrors are also known as convex security mirrors due to their rounded shape. There are many options when choosing dome security mirrors for your business place but most often they are split into three main categories. These are the 360 degree dome mirror, the 180 degree half dome mirror, and the 90 degree corner dome mirror. Each of these types have specific attributes and are made to fill precise visual needs.
The full 360 degree convex security mirrors are used for four way intersections or for better viewing of large areas, such as a showroom. Full dome mirrors look like half of a sphere and are meant to be mounted to a ceiling where no walls closely intersect. These mirrors allow a sight line from every direction. Common uses include building hallways and large, busy showrooms.
The 180 degree or half dome mirror are often used at hallway intersections shaped like the letter “T.” They may also be used in a large open room where the ceiling and a wall meet. While looking directly into the middle of the half dome mirror the viewer can see 90 degrees to the left and 90 degrees to the right. Common uses for these mirrors include the edges of showrooms and office rooms with cubicles (cubicles can easily be monitored without having to look over walls).
Quarter dome mirrors or the 90 degree mirrors are used for corners of rooms or hallway intersections shaped like the letter “L.” These types of mirrors fit perfectly into an area where the ceiling meets two walls. The most common use for this type of mirror is so that an individual can quickly look up to the right or left to see if someone is approaching from behind or from an adjacent hallway.
Dome mirrors are cheap, easy to install, and do not require specific training to learn to use. Any indoor business space can benefit from dome security mirrors.
Security Dome
How A Business Can Improve Its Safety and Security
When a business is not safe, both the customers and the staff can fall victim to serious injuries. One of the elements that should be incorporated in a total security system of every business is to have a liability insurance policy. This will protect patrons and staff from any physical injuries that may occur from an accident that happens inside the business. Store security can also incorporate a highly trained security guard to remain on the premises, usually for an eight-hour shift. He can be either armed or unarmed, depending on how he is trained, and on the nature of a business. A bank, for example, would definitely have an armed guard on the premises during business hours, whereas a busy supermarket would usually have an unarmed on. An unarmed security guard is always on the alert for potential shoplifting incidents in a given place of retail business.
And by keeping in regular contact with the local police or sheriff’s office, a business can feel even more protected against any criminal element. A strip shopping center filled with a dozen or so retail shops may also institute a security guard who roams around the parking lot in his security vehicle. He normally would drive slowly, stopping often to investigate any suspicious activity. He would also be available to assist any shoppers who have got into trouble, such as having been locked out of their cars by losing their keys. Just by driving around the busy lot in a marked patrol car, this will help keep potential criminals away.
Another good way a business can safeguard itself is by having an armed car service come directly to it each day to take away its cash receipts. A very busy restaurant or grocery store can easily have thousands of dollars a day in cash. This would be a much safer method than having an employee directly carry the cash to a bank.
A few good uses for safety mirrors
The consideration for safety mirrors would be what type you need more than anything else. For one thing safety inspectors, and security guards such as those on military bases utilize them as screening tools to get a visual glimpse underneath cars and trucks getting access unto the bases. In this way it is used as something of a low-tech security camera to help them see underneath the vans and as a visual aid in determining if the vehicles and drivers are safe to enter.
Guests in some buildings can also find safety mirrors littered about buildings giving them a clear view of anything or anyone around certain corners. Companies that have high human and worker / equipment traffic use these in order to show clients and guests what is coming around the corner. For one thing their accident claims are cut sharply by the addition of mirrors that are strategically placed where people can see through them and use them to see what’s coming around the corner.
We are also starting to see them on street corners in some small towns to help at stop signs and they are a welcomed sight by the people there. Imagine you are coming to a stop sign and could see what’s coming around the corner and react to it faster.
How Security Mirrors Deter Crime
Convex mirrors deter crime as well. These are specially angled mirrors that enable the viewer/user to see in the distance with more precision. Sometimes objects in these mirrors appear as a different size than they actually are, and people or criminals can appear to be further away than they really are. They are the opposite of concave mirrors. Convex mirrors deter crime, and they can be used in alleyways, public restrooms, and in most any hidden place one can imagine. These mirrors have been around for many years. They are often used on automobiles as well, to be utilized when a driver is checking to see the cars, space, and people that are behind or to the side of him.
Crime can come in many forms. Criminals break into buildings, apartments, condos and private homes every day. The more useful devices that are utilized to deter this type of criminal activity the better off the property or residence will be in terms of safety. These mirrors can be used by nearly everybody. Sometimes they are hung high up on poles or against walls and buildings. Other times they hang from mounting brackets on interior ceilings and roofs. They are routinely used wherever there are strong possibilities of suspicious criminal activity. These mirrors are more common where crimes have been committed in the past; such neighborhoods are much more dangerous for people. There’s no question that without these mirrors the crime rates across the board would be skyrocketing. They are an amazing invention. It seems so simple. Just a slab of mirrored glass enclosed in a frame and with a mounting plate. But they are devastatingly effective.
security and safety mirrors
It’s only logical to want to protect your investments, security and safety mirrors will do just that. When scanning between the isles of a store, the entrances or exits of a building, or around corners surveillance becomes easy when security mirrors are mounted on the ceilings and walls. Spotting shoplifters is the first line of defense especially in a convenience store. Also mounted domed mirrors on the ceiling of a gas station can help keep an eye on customer using the outside gas pumps.
Many locations around loading areas and driveways have blind spots and corners that are a safety concern, being able to spot pedestrians or workers and traffic is definitely important for safety. Even a private driveway can be hazardous to back up a vehicle if shrubs or bushes block the view, so installing a safety mirror would eliminate the risk of backing into traffic or pedestrians.
There are almost unlimited areas to place safety and security mirrors such as, hospitals which have many hallways and corners and the outside the emergency room receiving areas which there is lots foot and vehicle traffic. In hallways and corners of busy office buildings and offices spaces where there are a lot of foot traffic to prevent people from walking into each other. Factories, warehouses, schools, restaurants and loading docks can benefit from these kinds of mirrors. The most popular safety and security mirrors are the convex style mirror; they give a much greater view of an area than a typical mirror. No matter the location or the need there are security and safety mirrors that will suite any locations.
Security Mirrors and Safety Mirrors Around Workplaces
There are many types of mirrors which can be used for security and safety. Concave, convex, and flat mirrors are three kinds which are available, and can be used indoors or outdoors.
The mirror can be made of glass or plastic, round convex mirrors, or rectangular mirrors.
Glass round convex mirrors are available in sizes ranging from 12” to 36” and can view any distance from 12’ to over 35’.
The mirrors are usually placed in corners and can be 90 degrees dome type, 180 degrees half dome, or a full 360 degrees type. The 360 degrees type of security mirror is more suitable for intersections in a warehouse or hospital or in an office where hallways cross.
Corner dome mounted security mirrors be mounted by using a flange mounting bracket, drop ceiling clip mount, or a spring mount. There is also a chain/wire type of mounting which allows the mirror to be suspended.
Security mirrors that are for use outdoors have sealed rubber molding, and special weather sealed backing. Acrylic mirrors are best used outdoors and are generally mounted on the corners of a building or near an overhead door.
The use of security mirrors is one way that companies are able to help their employees maintain a safe working environment, since they can be placed in almost any part of the building inside or out.
The mirrors help to see down isles that would otherwise be blind alleys until a person was in a position where they could look down the isle.
With the use of security mirrors on the outside of a building people walking near the corners.
There are also convex mirrors which can be mounted on vehicles such as large trucks, school buses, public transportation buses, that aid the driver in seeing if someone is in a blind spot near the vehicle.
Security Mirrors
Owning a business comes with many responsibilities. These responsibilities include providing security and safety to your assets as well as your employees to improve your chances of success. All smart businesses contain some sort of security system, whether it entails an intricate network of video cameras surveying the entire property, both internally and externally, or a system which comprises merely an entrance alert . If you rely solely on recording devices as your security, you will lose valuable productivity, both professionally and personally. What’s more, unless sitting by the camera constantly, you will only see what has been done in the past, versus preventing the crime in the first place. Thus, the only time that using cameras to ensure the security of your business makes sense is for apprehending the criminal after the fact when the crime is reported to the police. For every day practical purposes, security mirrors are simply more practical.
There is a plethora of security mirrors information available on the web that can provide you with accurate information on the benefits, styles and purposes of security mirrors. Primarily, a security mirror is extremely effective during business operations as it allows for the current staff to have increased visibility of the property. This holds true especially if there is an outdoor area of your business such as a dining patio or outdoor nursery-type area. If placed properly, a security allows the attendant to easily see what the consumer is doing while the attendant is not required to leave his post. This is extremely helpful if there is only one employee present, but more than one customer. Many gas stations, grocery stores, and other small businesses have implemented this effective strategy to aid in theft prevention.
These types of mirrors are often referred to as convex mirrors. A main purpose of a convex mirror is to make objects appear larger, allowing for a more detailed view of a covered area especially in areas with low or no visibility. Motor vehicles have these mirrors passenger side with the familiar saying “Caution: Objects in mirror are closer than they appear.” Due to the magnification of the objects, the mirrors cannot be used to scale.
Many business owners who have more than one employee present during business hours may also opt to install a security mirror behind the cash register or other area which may be vulnerable to theft, even by its own employees. This will help ensure that all potential crime areas are covered.
Due to the nature of this device, someone must be present for a security mirror to be effective. An unattended or unseen mirror will hardly ward off anyone. However, during normal business hours, their theft prevention benefits are innumerable.
Convex Security Mirrors
Major advances in technology have created an astounding number of choices for people wishing to advance the security of their home or business. Convex mirrors and other products are becoming increasingly more available, through lower prices and a variety of styles and sizes. Security, both personal and business, is no longer reserved for the rich and famous, but accessible to everyone. Although simple in design and function, a convex mirror is one of them most effective ways to prevent crime.
Basically, a convex mirror is a curved polished surface acting as a mirror that allows for the reflective surface to bulge toward the light source to which it is angled. Since these mirrors reflect light outwards due to its curved surface, they are not used to focus light and act like an old fashioned mirror which reflects exactly what is in front of the mirror. Convex mirrors form a type of “virtual image” since the light source reflecting the image is formed by the imaginary point created by the curvature of the surface.
A car passenger’s side mirror is an example of this type of distortion, but effectiveness. Although slightly distorted relative to distance between objects, the expanded viewing angle to the side allows for much more visibility reducing blind spots during traveling. One noticeable disadvantage is the fact that objects appear further away than they are in reality. Keep this in mind when using these types of mirrors in warehouses or loading docks where motor vehicle traffic may require a more precise reflection.
These same benefits and drawbacks apply to a convex mirror used for safety and security for homes and businesses. Convex mirrors are also used in some ATM machines as they are a simple and inexpensive security feature for both customers and employees alike. They allow the customer to see what is happening behind their backs, making them feel more comfortable, while employees at the drive through window have a wider viewing range to see all activity in the drive through. Some stores and large businesses that have security guards may use these mirrors to see around corners during patrols, helping prevent the guard form being ambushed during his walk. For these reasons and more, convex mirrors are a great theft prevention and safety device for many places.
Convex mirrors have many practical applications being used for both safety and security, so if you are thinking about purchasing one, check online for information such as available surfaces, sizes, styles, prices and installation guides. Also, if purchasing a security mirror from on online store, ensure that the store has a customer service center to answer any questions you may have once you receive your mirror.