Security professionals must consider accessibility, flow and safety in modern learning environments, argues David Hodgkiss, National Sales Manager of ASSA ABLOY Access Control, a UK division of ASSA ABLOY, the door and physical security product company.
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 offence, 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.
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 systems
The education sector is also looking for solutions that help cut energy costs, reduce maintenance and can be easily integrated with existing security measures.
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. It is also not uncommon for larger education sites, such as secondary schools and universities, to leave doors unlocked for long periods of time. This, however, increases the possibility of opportunistic theft and malicious damage.
To meet this need, we have 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.
Aperio in action
It is estimated that a third of the UK’s university population becomes a victim of crime, mainly theft or burglary. Owners of laptops and bicycles are popular targets, particularly during freshers week, with an estimated about 20 per cent of theft incidents occurring in the first six weeks of the academic year. With this in mind, the University of East Anglia (UEA) required access control for its new student accommodation. Gallagher, ASSA ABLOY Access Control’s OEM’s partner, helped specify for the Norwich-based university.
The university’s Crome Court 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.
Jason Boyce, Sales Manager at Gallagher, says: “Unlike other systems, Aperio provides audit trails online, allowing for real-time monitoring. 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.”
Flexibility is another key benefit, with Aperio offering the capability for more doors to be integrated when required.
