ANTIROBBERY BUILDING DESIGN REPRESENTS ONE WAY TO REDUCE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THEFT AND LOSS OF LIFE. THE SECURING OF VAULTS ASSOCIATED WITH CENTRAL BANKS, COMMERCIAL BANKS, AND MINT ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVES TWO METHODS FOR PREVENTING ILLEGAL PENETRATION. A SECURE PERIMETER ENCLOSURE WITH A STRONG ROOM DOOR OF SUFFICIENT STRENGTH TO RESIST ATTACK FOR A PREDETERMINED PERIOD IS ONE METHOD. IN CONJUNCTION, SONIC DETECTORS THAT OPERATE ALARMS FROM SOUND WAVES GENERATED WITHIN A VAULT AREA AND AIR PRESSURE DETECTORS TO OPERATE ALARMS IF AIR PRESSURE IS REDUCED OR INCREASED WITHIN A VAULT AREA ARE EMPLOYED. THE CONSTRUCTION OF SECURITY VAULTS INVOLVES A MASS CONCRETE ENCLOSURE, GENERALLY SURROUNDED BY A PERIMETER. THE VAULT DOOR AND ESCAPE HATCH ARE CONSTRUCTED TO THE SECURITY STRENGTH REQUIRED BY BANK AUTHORITIES. ALL MECHANICAL SERVICES USED WITHIN A VAULT DURING WORKING HOURS, SUCH AS ELECTRICAL SERVICES, TELEPHONES, AND AIR CONDITIONING, ARE DISCONNECTED PRIOR TO CLOSING THE VAULT. PROPER DESIGN FOR ACCESS TO VAULT AREAS AND VEHICLE ENTRY POINTS OF SECURITY COMPLEXES ARE ESSENTIAL ASPECTS OF SECURITY. MEASURES FOR CONTROLLING ACCESS TO SECURE BUILDINGS AND PROCEDURES FOR THE HANDLING OF CASH ARE DISCUSSED, WITH SAFETY OF LIFE DURING ATTACK IDENTIFIED AS A SALIENT BUILDING DESIGN CONSIDERATION. (DEP)