Classy project

Schools around the country have taken advantage of the Government's National Grid for Learning funds to buy much-needed computers for its pupils. At the same time, these schools have needed to become much more security conscious, providing installers with the ideal opportunity to work with them to provide a range of solutions, in particular access control.

Typically, most schools have low budgets for security (recently announced Government funds are aimed at larger projects) but with new combined readers/controllers on the market specifically for single doors, access control can be an affordable alternative to traditional keys or mechanical digital locks.

High cost of lost keys
The obvious disadvantages of the more traditional security measures are the loss of keys. This would require the lock to be changed so as not to compromise security and even with a digital code system, no-one is ever sure of how many people know the code number. Strictly speaking, the code should be changed every month or so, but this rarely happens, if ever.

The cost of a mechanical digital lock is in the region of £150-£180 (+VAT) and if there is a high traffic flow through the door, the lock can wear out fairly quickly.

Low-cost access control systems are now available that can do the job much more effectively and for not much more money.

When Arden Primary School in Cheshire needed to safeguard a number of expensive computers in its newly installed IT suite, such an all-in-one access control door entry unit provided the ideal solution.

The headteacher, John Murray, had never encountered proximity (contact-less) electronic access control until I installed one to restrict access to the new facility.

The popular school in Bredbury, near Stockport, has 420 pupils on its roll aged from 3 to 11 years old in a building dating from the 1950s. The crime rate in the area is low, although the school occasionally suffers from vandalism.

Like many schools, it has a range of security devices in place such as keypads on external doors, reinforced glass and a burglar alarm system. But John Murray is now an enthusiastic convert to the benefits and convenience of proximity access control.

Electronic key
There are similar products on the market, which all have their own advantages and disadvantages, but the unit I used in this instance was the KeyPAC Solo from PAC International. It combines a conventional electronic door access controller and proximity token reader into one compact, easy-to-use model. At Arden School I sited the unit adjacent to the door to the new IT suite. Only authorised personnel presenting a KeyPAC token (keyfob-style 'electronic key') to the discreet device can gain entry.

Fifteen teaching staff, eight teaching assistants and the site manager each have their own token containing a unique ID code which is programmed into the unit. The tokens, which cannot be duplicated, can be deleted or new ones easily added to its memory when necessary.

It also has a built-in sounder that issues an alarm should the door be forced or left open and it can also be used as a 'switch' to turn on and off other alarm equipment.

The advantages of such all-in-one devices is that the installation is very quick and straightforward, particularly so with this model. The only problem at Arden was the structure of the door, which is made of steel and mounted within a steel frame. This combined with the old brickwork proved to be a difficult task! The installation of the power supply unit was also straightforward because there was a handy mains supply nearby.

Down to tricky stuff
All the 'tricky stuff' concerned the locking arrangement. A mortice fitting was impossible due to the thickness of the steel frame and a standard magnetic lock was not possible due to the frame above the door. Therefore, an aluminium housing was installed, secured through the frame and into the brickwork above.

However, just to test me further, the door itself was warped! To compensate, the housing was angled by a few degrees and the armature left slightly loose.

The end result was worth the effort, with a happy headteacher and staff who no longer have to rely on finding the right key. (Prior to the new system being introduced, entry to the suite was by traditional lock and key with three keys held by the headteacher).

Mr Murray found it inconvenient to be constantly interrupted to issue a key, difficult to monitor and not particularly the most secure way of controlling who gained access to the IT suite.

The PAC unit installed comes complete with two master ID cards for programming, and ten cards or tokens and has a reading range of up to 200mm.

Tokens programmed
Mr Murray programmed in the tokens and the staff have had no problems using the system.

The school had spent around £1,000 in total on security for the new IT room, such as bars at the windows, blinds, break glass and alarms, but Mr Murray was most pleased with the access control system, which cost £300. More units around the school will probably be installed when funds become available.

The PAC unit is a recent launch and its low cost opens up access control to a greater number of end users like Arden Primary School who may not have considered it before due to cost or suitability for single-door monitoring.

I am confident many schools would be interested in this type of product to replace digital mechanical locks.