Jason Boyce

When a leading English university sought electronic locks for its newest student accommodation block, it turned to Aperio to extend its installed Gallagher Command Centre access control system. The University of East Anglia (UEA) has relied on Gallagher access control for a decade. To extend their Gallagher Command Centre system to Crome Court—a student residence with 231 en suite rooms separated into flats for between 8 and 13 postgraduates—they needed the right wireless solution. Wireless Locking Technology Aperio wireless locks are battery powered, and so use much less energyUEA’s needs included more than just security, stylish component design and affordability. Crome Court was specifically designed to minimise environmental impact, including CO2 emissions. Any access control system was expected to contribute to that goal. The university chose Aperio wireless locking technology from ASSA ABLOY. Aperio wireless locks are battery powered, and so use much less energy than wired magnetic security locks. They only “wake up” when a credential is presented to the reader. On Campus Training “We decided to offer Aperio to upgrade and extend our system at UEA because of its outstanding reputation within the security industry,” explains Jason Boyce, sales manager at Gallagher. “Having worked with us for 6 years, Gallagher knew we would deliver,” adds David Hodgkiss, national sales manager at ASSA ABLOY UK. Installation was quick and easy, aided by training delivered on campus by specialist ASSA ABLOY technicians. “We found ASSA ABLOY’s service faultless,” says Wayne Dyble, installation and support manager at Check Your Security, UEA’s service provider. Environmentally Advanced Profile There’s no need for expensive and time-consuming work changing the locks Crome Court’s secure doors are fitted with Aperio E100 online escutcheons. Students open them with programmable RFID smart cards, instead of cumbersome mechanical keys. If a keycard is lost, it is straightforward for UEA facilities staff to cancel it and issue a replacement—using a simple web-based interface or mobile phone. There’s no need for expensive and time-consuming work changing the locks. UEA also aimed to build Crome Court with an environmentally advanced profile. Here, too, Aperio delivered. Wireless locks are battery-operated and emit much less CO2 than wired magnetic locks. In fact, in carbon terms, Aperio locks emit 0.16 percent of the total emissions produced by standard wired locks. Flexibility is another Aperio asset: additional doors can be brought into the same integrated Gallagher system whenever needed. “We hope to roll out Aperio across all new and existing residential estate,” says Christine Beveridge, head of campus services at UEA.

Gallagher Security has extended the range of video management systems (VMS) which can integrate into its ubiquitous access and control solution. EyeLynx Limited has developed a plugin to integrate its SharpView network video recorder with the Gallagher Command Centre. This integration allows security managers operating a Gallagher Command Centre for site control to view the high-end recording capabilities of SharpView all in one place. HD Recording And Remote Monitoring Security operators can respond swiftly and appropriately to any security threats through real-time display of outputs from complementary security and site management solutions defined uniquely for their site. SharpView specifically offers full-resolution recording and remote monitoring from an unlimited number of HD CCTV cameras.  It is in use at high-security water, utilities and education sites, bringing praise from The Metropolitan Police for its video evidence that is sharp enough even at night for full facial recognition. Jason Boyce, Strategic Business Development Manager at Gallagher, said: “This integration offers a razor-sharp full HD recording capability to site managers with Command Centre.” SharpView Features SharpView can record alarms from other security devices, such as intruder, fire and automatic license plate recognition sensors – while EyeLynx also offers a radar that can identify predatory vehicles up to 700m away. EyeLynx CEO Jay Patel said: “We’re excited to have integrated SharpView into the Gallagher environment and look forward to collaborating on sites where our solutions are both specified. Collectively, we’re looking to put site managers in total command of security threats and help cut costs, increase efficiency and simplify the process.”

Creating the right level of accessibility and an efficient flow through a building for staff and children is now a key priority for those working in the education sector; however, this must be balanced with the need to provide a safe learning environment. Architects and contractors must consider the need to install access control solutions to meet this requirement in today’s modern learning environment, argues David Hodgkiss, National Sales Manager of ASSA ABLOY Access Control, a UK division of ASSA ABLOY, a provider of door opening solutions. Security: A Growing Concern Security within the education sector is a growing concern. A Freedom of Information request by the BBC revealed that of the 30,394 crimes reported in 2014, theft, burglary or robbery was the most common offense, with 13,003 incidents taking place. Meanwhile, a survey led by the Association of Teachers & Lecturers discovered that over a quarter of education staff said they had faced aggression from a student’s parents or carers. Learners have the right to a safe environment in which to be educated, while staff should be able to work without fear of being threatened or harassed. While it can be difficult to acknowledge, the fact is that schools, colleges and universities must now take precautions to protect staff and children from these types of incidents. Securing gates and access points around the site, plus ensuring any visitors register when entering, are just two basic but effective methods of creating a safe learning environment for staff and children. But what are the latest available solutions for those seeking a more sophisticated and intelligent approach to access control, which not only protects but also enhances the learning environment? Enhancing Existing Security Systems In addition to assuring the safety and security of students and staff, the education sector is also looking for solutions that help cut energy costs, reduce maintenance and can be easily integrated with existing security measures. UEA required a system that offered assured electronic locks, built to serve the unique demands of student accommodation while ensuring the occupants safety and security Common problems with traditional security systems include lost or stolen keys. It can be inconvenient, time-consuming and expensive to change these locks, and the re-issuing of keys can be considerable. There is also the risk of stolen keys being copied, which compromises security even further. It is also not uncommon for larger education sites, such as secondary schools and universities, to leave doors unlocked for long periods of time because of the inconvenience and hassle of opening and securing the room every time it’s entered. This, however, increases the possibility of opportunistic theft and malicious damage. Aperio® Real Time Control To meet this need, ASSA ABLOY introduced Aperio®, an innovative, battery-operated wireless locking technology. This enables mechanical locks to be wirelessly linked to a new or existing access control system, without any need to modify the door. Meeting BS EN 179 and BS EN 1125 standards, Aperio® offers real time control, and doors can be scheduled to unlock in line with room booking systems or classes. Once a class has finished, doors automatically lock, leaving the room secured. The system’s ability to update who is able to access a room online and in real-time is hugely advantageous to education sites, who might need to respond fast to ensure security measures are implemented quickly. Its escape and return configuration is ideal for the education sector, allowing a door to remain unlocked for a certain amount of time after the door has been opened from the inside. Should an incident take place outside a classroom, staff and students can quickly return to the safety of this classroom. Aperio® In Action It is estimated that a third of the UK’s university population becomes a victim of crime, predominantly either theft or burglary. Owners of expensive laptops and bikes are popular targets, particularly during fresher’s week, with approximately 20 per cent of theft incidents occurring in the first six weeks of the academic year. Crome Court’s doors are fitted with Aperio® E100 online escutcheons, with installation training provided on campus by ASSA ABLOY With this in mind, the University of East Anglia (UEA) required a trusted access control solution for its new student accommodation. Established in 1963, the university is internationally renowned, having been rated as one of the best universities for student experience in the Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey 2016, based in a campus that provides top quality academic, social and cultural facilities to more than 15,000 students. The university sought a locking system for its newest on-site residence, Crome Court, comprising of 231 en-suite rooms rented to post-graduate students. The building was specifically designed by UEA to help reduce its environmental impact, and it was important to the university that the selected access control solution would contribute to this objective. UEA required a system that offered assured electronic locks, built to serve the unique demands of student accommodation while ensuring the occupants safety and security. A stylish and affordable component design was important, which also fitted the environmentally advanced profile of the new accommodation. Student Residence Smart Cards Gallagher, ASSA ABLOY Access Control’s OEM’s partner, helped specify the best security solution for the university. Jason Boyce, Sales Manager at Gallagher, said: “We decided to offer Aperio® to UEA because of its outstanding reputation.” Crome Court’s doors are fitted with Aperio® E100 online escutcheons, with installation training provided on campus by ASSA ABLOY. Students open doors with smart cards instead of keys, with the battery-operated Aperio® locks emitting significantly fewer CO2 emissions than wired locks. UEA staff can also control doors from a web-based interface or mobile phone. “Unlike other systems, Aperio® provides audit trails online, allowing for real-time monitoring,” adds Jason. “The fact that Gallagher and Aperio® devices can operate with the same data on the card has allowed for tighter integration, which saves the customer money.” Reliable And Flexible Access Control Flexibility is another key benefit to the system, with Aperio® offering the capability for additional doors to be integrated into UEA’s Gallagher system whenever required. Christine Beveridge, Head of Campus Services at UEA, said: “ASSA ABLOY Access Control have extensive experience within the education sector. We are pleased to be piloting the scheme in our student accommodation and hope to roll out Aperio® across all residential estate.” An intelligent access control solution is one of the most effective means of balancing this need for the right level of accessibility with creating a secure learning environment. UEA is just one of the sites that has benefited from a sophisticated access control solution, with many more looking set to follow its example. When designing modern buildings and facilities for the education sector, the need to implement a reliable access control solution looks set to become a top priority.

ASSA ABLOY demonstrated its journey from mechanical to digital security at IFSEC 2016 ASSA ABLOY generated a ‘buzz’ at IFSEC 2016 through exhibiting its journey from mechanical to digital security. Range Of Brands ASSA ABLOY’s stand was the busiest to date, with its leading brands, including, Yale, ASSA ABLOY, Abloy and Traka, showcasing their product breadth that comes from years of expertise in the industry. The group’s pioneering, innovative and digital solutions were showcased, including Yale’s Smart Living range for the residential market that included a variety of standalone security products, such as smart locks. Journey From Mechanical To Digital Chris Bone, Vice President of Digital Access Solutions EMEA at ASSA ABLOY, said: “The ASSA ABLOY stand created a real buzz at IFSEC 2016. Our product innovation demonstrated how ASSA ABLOY has successfully navigated the journey from mechanical to digital security to create a connected future. “Visitors to our stand were really enthusiastic about how ASSA ABLOY is helping to drive the digital revolution that the security industry is experiencing. We took the opportunity to almost double the amount of leads from last year’s IFSEC. Since the show, many visitors have expressed enthusiasm about our digital offering, particularly our Smart Living range. “The emergence of connected living and smart homes as part of the Internet of Things development has been a major catalyst for the creation of smart door locks and accompanying products. At ASSA ABLOY we believe a smart home should always start with a smart door and are excited to continue our journey from mechanical to digital security.” Close Partnerships Jason Boyce, Strategic Business Development Manager at Gallagher Security, said: “We thoroughly enjoyed exhibiting alongside ASSA ABLOY at IFSEC 2016 and were able to demonstrate how the Aperio® access control solution benefits us. We are committed to a close, working partnership with ASSA ABLOY as an OEM partner, enjoying trust, transparency and shared growth. This close relationship helps us to adapt and innovate in the midst of the digital revolution the security industry is currently experiencing.”