5 Tips for Public Venue Installs: Security for Museums, Auditoriums, Stadiums, and More
- ProdataKey
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
When it comes to securing public venues, access control installers face a unique set of challenges–from working in active spaces to navigating complex compliance requirements.
Finding success in these environments requires not only technical expertise, but also preparation and professionalism. To help partners pursue their projects with confidence, ProdataKey (PDK) has compiled five pieces of advice from an access control professional. Explore the tips and tricks in this article to learn more about how you can take your public venue installs to the next level.
Communicate With Your Customers
Clear communication is the foundation of any successful project. When businesses reach out to an integrator, they want to trust that their integrator will be able to give them the best solution possible for them. Consistent and clear communication is the key to building this trust.
Ryan Finney of OpSec Pros, a Kentucky-based installer, highlights the importance of communication in the early stages of a project.
“There’s so much that happens before you actually go and do a physical install, and constantly communicating with your customer throughout that time is very important.”
Ryan Finney of OpSec Pros,
Before a single piece of hardware is installed, take the time to align with your client on expectations, timelines, budgets, and more.
To make communication even clearer, it’s beneficial to also rely on the right planning tools, like System Surveyor. “I use System Surveyor to plan all my installs,” Ryan adds, “and that planning is such a critical part of the process for any project.”
Through proactive planning and communication, you can pursue your install without any roadblocks while simultaneously keeping your customers in the loop the whole time.
Know Your Local Codes
Compliance with local building and fire codes is crucial, particularly in public venues where attendance and foot traffic are at an all-time high. In these spaces, emergency egress is critical.
“Knowing how to get people out of a building is an art in itself. When I pick up existing sites, that seems to be the one thing I’m always working on: getting exterior doors up to code.”
Building codes can differ based on location, so it’s important to understand what applies to your specific area. “Installing here in Kentucky, I need to keep really different codes in mind than I would if I was installing in California, for example,” Ryan explains. Understanding these regional codes can save you from failed inspections, costly reworks, or unsafe situations.
Don’t Compromise on Quality
Cutting corners on quality may save money in the short term, but public venues demand long-term durability. Because of this, it’s imperative that installers utilize hardware that is reliable and lasting. This is an important consideration both for new installs as well as projects that focus on revamping existing systems.
“Sometimes, I pick up jobs for spaces and come across hardware that is the cheapest possible stuff,” Ryan describes. “For public spaces, I think it’s important to stick with hardware that you know is reliable, and that you know will last. I’ve been using the same hardware for ten years now, because I know it well and I trust it.”
Ryan Finney - OpSec Pros
Whether it’s locks, readers, cabling, or more, the resources that go into securing public venues need to be able to stand the test of time. So rather than compromising on quality for the sake of temporary savings, prioritize using reliable, field-tested hardware that will save you from additional expenses and effort further down the road.
Look and Act Professional
Installing in a public venue often means working in full view of staff, guests, or customers. Ryan explains:
“Going into a public space, you’re very visible. You need to be aware of the presence you have in a space like that, because your level of professionalism reflects directly on the person who hired you.”
For Ryan and the team at OpSec Pros, professionalism takes many forms–from sending the appropriate number of installers to making sure that everyone is in uniform. Maintaining situational awareness is also essential, according to Ryan: “You also have to be mindful of the equipment. You’ve got tools, you’ve got ladders, you’ve got wires hanging around.”
Make sure your tools and cables are safely out of the way when not in use, and take the time to leave the space cleaner than you found it. Because when you pursue a project with care and professionalism, it reflects well upon your business and the venue as a whole.
Accommodate for Varying Levels of Access
Many public venues have areas that require different levels of access for different personnel. Ryan brings up the National Corvette Museum as an example, after his experience adding 30 new doors to their existing PDK system at the beginning of 2025. “When it comes to the new doors, we were expanding access control to spaces for both public and private access; areas like a DJ booth, perimeter doors to a bookable venue space, and private entrances to storage spaces.”
Within PDK.io, integrators can set up different Groups that provide shared access rules to selected users. This makes it easy to allow approved people (like museum staff) to access secured areas, while keeping out unapproved visitors. Additionally, installers can utilize PDK.io’s Auto Open feature to set up automatic door schedules, making it effortless to unlock doors to areas meant for public access on a daily basis.
Balancing Security and Public Venue Access
Public venues require more than just locks and readers–they demand thoughtful planning and precise execution. Whether you're communicating with clients, managing access levels, or working under the public eye, these tips will help you approach each install with clarity and professionalism.
