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Electro-mechanical evolution makes ongoing training for locksmiths more important than ever
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SURGE IN ELECTROmechanical hardware and integrated building systems means locksmiths need ongoing training in more areas than just the mechanics of the locks , says Allegion UK Commercial Leader , Pete Hancox .
In the UK , locksmiths come from all walks of life , taking a variety of routes to join the trade . Ask any locksmith about how he or she got started , and then go and ask another , and you will more than likely get two different answers – whether it was via supplier-led training courses , a locksmithing apprenticeship , being an understudy to a practising locksmith or through traditional employment .
Why is this ? Partly , it is because , until very recently , the locksmith profession lacked a nationally recognised qualification , which the Master Locksmiths Association ( MLA ) recognised .
Although MLA was the first to offer a recognised apprenticeship , it took a significant amount of time for the government to recognise locksmiths as a profession . As of June 2017 , details are still being finalised between the MLA and the government to re-develop a ‘ trailblazer apprenticeship ’.
This is in stark contrast to other professions where wellbeing is concerned . Take gas engineers , for instance . Gas engineers in the UK , according to leading jobs website reed . co . uk , must have relevant qualifications , usually an NVQ Level 3 in Gas Installation , and also be Gas Safe registered . Apprenticeship is a common route for attaining a gas engineer position , too .
This lack of regulation has given existing locksmiths a very diverse range of skillsets and experience . Of course , diversity is welcome , and diversity is known to bring outside-ofthe-box solutions . However , when we start comparing the two professions , we can start to see how gas engineers will be ‘ singing from the same hymn sheet ,’ whereas our locksmiths could be working from all manner of different pages .
For the future of locksmithing , this very diversity could potentially be harming our buildings and our occupants ’ wellbeing , as opposed to aiding them . We could be creating an environment where knowledge levels , procedures , best practices and the way building hardware solutions are selected are all different and varied .
While it could be years before we reach a standardised route similar to that of gas engineers , we should at least be encouraging our locksmiths to complete ongoing training , particularly to keep pace with daily developments .
THE ELECTRO-MECHANICAL GAME CHANGER
We are now coming to a stage in the door hardware industry where development is rapidly overtaking existing knowledge . Electro-mechanical ‘ smart ’ hardware means the ability to unlock doors from phones , control access to secure areas and remotely lockdown , are all feasible and affordable functions which are being sought after by building managers .
Fully integrated building solutions and biometrics are also becoming more commonplace , and forward-thinking estates managers and architects will be thinking about scalability for the future .
In the face of this surge in development , which by no means will saturate as technologies get ever more clever , locksmiths are now faced with a real problem . If they do not train in these new technologies and learn new skills , they face becoming dinosaurs that do not understand the complex natures of electronically controlled doorways and buildings .
Ultimately , without a proper understanding , it can impact health and safety as well as compliance .
A case in point happened as recently as 2016 , when a fire door in a hospital that was fitted with a self-closing device shut on an elderly patient , causing injury . Unfortunately , this injury contributed to that patient ’ s
LOCKSMITHJOURNAL . CO . UK | JUL / AUG 2017 Sponsored by SMP Security Solutions