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ACCESSCONTROL • 39
Electromechanical evolution
Jeffrey Bennett , Commercial Leader for Allegion in the Middle East , Africa and Turkey , discusses why we are seeing a convergence of electronics into mechanical door hardware .
»»‘ ELECTROMECHANICAL ’ is still quite a new term in the door hardware industry , and the convergence of electronics and mechanical hardware that has given rise to this word ’ s popularity in the industry has only recently truly taken off .
What we are seeing now is security , facilities and buildings managers valuing this technology , customising their door access controls so it is unique to their buildings and operations , and making it a necessary addition to the safety and security of buildings and occupants .
But why has this perception changed ? And exactly what has happened to cause this change in the way of thinking about these products ?
The first reason is that technology is becoming more relevant to the vertical markets it is targeting and , as such , an evolution with these products is taking place – in quite a rapid fashion , too .
When electronics first burst onto the scene of mainstream door access and control , they were viewed more as gadgets as opposed to something that offered real substance . The consensus around the market was that it made your building look and feel more aesthetically pleasing if your occupants could swipe through a door with a keycard or transponder , but realistically , mechanical lock and key would essentially do the same job . Mechanical locks also seemed like more affordable options , due to the high outlay of wiring and ‘ first systems ’ costs .
Cycle forward to today ’ s world , however , and things are much different .
The constant development of electronics married to the take-off of the Internet of
Things ( IoT ) has led to real and tangible benefits and solutions , while costs have gone down . Wireless solutions are in abundance , battery life is ever improving and easy retrofitting is the name of the game currently . Return on investment has never been higher – not just in monetary terms , but in security and safety terms , too .
Take for example the SimonsVoss access control systems : They have been developed to give door access at the tap of a button from our web app , timed access scheduling plus remote door lockdown . You can immediately see how electromechanical has gone way beyond just aesthetics and focused more on how to help raise security and control .
The internet and wireless technology has , of course , created new possibilities and that is the second reason why the trend of electromechanical convergence has taken place – there is much greater control and scope for development . Whether access is scheduled or in real time , information can be tracked and security can be reviewed to improve processes . In the event of a breach , that breach can be addressed immediately .
In areas like the Middle East , where security is an everyday concern and buildings ( particularly new commercial , public and hospitality buildings ) are of high value , it is even more imperative that door hardware intelligently delivers building security .
Access points and panic exit points , such as staff-only entrances , are particularly vulnerable given the number of people that can be cycling through these areas every day . That ’ s why products like the Briton 571 EL , which brings the two functions of access control and panic exiting together , have been born .
The world is getting more complex , so we at Allegion will continue to lead in electromechanical convergence and innovation . Dave Petratis , Chairman , President and CEO of Allegion puts it quite succinctly :
“ Electromechanical convergence doesn ’ t mean we ’ re asking customers to completely convert to electronic security products – we ’ re encouraging them to use electronic solutions to complement their mechanical . We ’ re discussing both mechanical and electronic to balance the physical security needs with unique applications that are secure , cost-effective and convenient to use .”
LOCKSMITHJOURNAL . CO . UK | MAR / APR 2017 Sponsored by Insafe International