Fire & Security Protection and Controlled Restroom Access Support Daily Operations and After-Hours Events
The Challenge
East Providence High School is a large, multi-floor facility that requires flexible solutions to support daily school operations, emergency preparedness, and after-hours events. Administrators needed ways to:
- Increase campus safety during lockdowns and drills
- Control movement between floors and corridors
- Manage restroom access between class periods
- Reduce time spent responding to incidents and maintenance issues
- Provide secure access during events such as basketball games, performances, and dances
The solution also needed to meet fire code and ADA requirements without permanently altering the building or reducing accessibility
The Solution
Fire & Security Corridor Protection with Won-Door SteelGuard™
In 2021, East Providence High School installed 33 Won-Door SteelGuard™ systems throughout the building to support both fire protection and security needs. The doors are positioned strategically in corridors, stairwells, and shared spaces to allow staff to quickly section off areas when needed.
The systems are tested multiple times each year during drills and are used regularly during school events and maintenance activities. Dan Carpenter, Head of Facilities for the school district explained,
“We did have one incident in 2023 with two students getting into an altercation where we deployed the doors. Police were called, and the doors provided a level of security that helped us catch the individuals and keep them contained to a small area of the building.”
Beyond emergency response, staff use the doors daily to manage building flow.
“If we have a basketball game, we close off the auditorium area so people stay where the event is and aren’t roaming other floors. At night, if custodians are cleaning floors, we close the doors so nobody is walking through. We really use them all the time.”
The presence of Won-Door SteelGuard™ contributes to a greater sense of safety among administrators, staff, and students, while giving the facilities team flexible control over a large campus.
All systems are inspected annually by the Won-Door team. The most recent inspection confirmed that the doors continue to perform as intended and meet expectations.
Won-Door SteelGuard™ doors at stairwells to second, third and fourth floors are used to contain fire and manage directional movement during security events.
Collaboration rooms are in the center of a school hallway with Won-Door installed on both sides.
Doors can be open, partially deployed, or fully closed depending on conditions.
Restroom Access Management with Won-Door SteelGuard™
In February 2026, the Facilities team returned to Won-Door to address another challenge: restroom misuse and rising maintenance costs.
Incidents occurred intermittently and without clear accountability, placing a heavy burden on staff responsible for covering four floors and monitoring sixteen restrooms during short class breaks. The school needed a solution that would:
- Control access between class periods
- Improve accountability without limiting accessibility
- Integrate with existing hall-pass procedures
- Meet ADA and building code requirements
East Providence High School installed 10 Won-Door SteelGuard™ systems at restroom entrances.
The SteelGuard doors are programmed on timers, remaining closed between class periods and opening between classes. Between class sessions, students access restrooms using approved hall passes and key fobs. The system works in conjunction with the school’s Minga hall pass platform, allowing staff to monitor restroom usage and respond more efficiently when issues occur.
“When only three deans are covering four floors and sixteen bathrooms in an eight-to-ten-minute window, this system really helps reduce response time and improve oversight.”
Administrators and staff responded positively to the new process almost immediately.
“We explored several options, including swing and sliding doors, but we needed something that met code and ADA requirements without reducing the opening size. We also needed doors that operate on timers and open automatically. Won-Door checked all the boxes.”
Won-Door SteelGuard™ doors help control restroom access, installed February 2026.
Results & Impact
Since installing Won-Door SteelGuard™ doors, East Providence High School has seen measurable operational benefits:
- Improved lockdown and incident containment
- Reduced time spent reviewing security footage
- Greater accountability in restroom usage
- More efficient use of staff time
- Flexible control during after-hours events
- Positive feedback from administrators and facilities staff
“Before, you might spend eight hours reviewing camera footage. Now, you can pinpoint activity within fifteen minutes. It takes a lot off people’s plates and makes everyone’s life easier.”
A Trusted Security Partner
Based on the success of both installations, East Providence High School continues to view Won-Door as a trusted partner in campus safety and facility management. Dan Carpenter commented,
I would absolutely recommend Won-Door for added security in commercial facilities. From a security standpoint, they help with containment and overall safety in the building.
One System, Multiple Applications
East Providence High School’s use of Won-Door solutions demonstrate how a single system can serve multiple roles within a K-12 environment. Won-Door SteelGuard™ doors can provide essential corridor separation, containment and introduce controlled access and accountability in high-use areas like restrooms.
The door solution allows the school to respond to evolving safety, security, and maintenance needs without requiring permanent construction or compromising ADA accessibility.
