ACCESS CONTROL
Abloy UK , Aspex and Johan Doors provide University of St Andrews with doors and access control for Younger Hall refurbishment
» ABLOY UK , ASPEX AND JOHAN Doors have worked in collaboration to provide the University of St Andrews with a compliant access control solution for the refurbishment of Younger Hall .
Younger Hall is the main venue for graduation ceremonies at the University , located in the centre of St Andrews . It is named after James and Annie Younger , local philanthropists and benefactors of the University .
It was designed by English architect Paul Waterhouse , built in the 1920s , and opened in 1929 by HM Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother . Its design combines aspects of Neo-Classical and Art Deco styles , and the hall was recently renovated as part of a £ 12 million project .
In recent years , the University of St Andrews had created a mandatory technical specification for access control and electric locking . It was quickly identified early on that electric magnetic locks and electric strikes were not secure methods of locking , and the Abloy EL560 was introduced to the University , and has been installed ever since .
The Abloy EL560 lock is first choice when it comes to single leaf doors ,
providing reliability , robustness , and security . However , there are many double leaf entrance doors to the University building . As most of these doors are on an escape route , it was clear that the escape facilities needed to be considered , so panic bars were also introduced .
Refurbishing Younger Hall
The project had several requirements , including matching the existing traditional doors with both non-fire and fire rated doors , along with compliant access control ironmongery .
The specification was challenging , as what might work from an ironmongery perspective and user functionality may not offer the best lifespan of the doors . Due to the historic nature and design of the building , the University was not able to use the standard Abloy EL560 locks normally specified on campus for the external doors .
The quality and design of the internal doors was to a very high standard , creating a challenge to install the cabling required for electric locks . There was also the added pressure that the heritage aesthetic needed to be retained , and there was no standard size of any internal or external door .
The external double leaf doors presented the most difficult part of the project , as they were extremely narrow , and the alternative options considered would not work on this particular application .
Aspex worked closely with Johan Doors and Abloy to offer compliant installation on double doors that had a narrow leaf , Abloy proposed the PE590 motor lock with a PBE002 panic bolt .
This configuration allows for the panic bar to be cut to suit the doors reduced width , providing a compliant and safe solution for these doors . The correct specification and finish Most of the doors in Younger Hall had been in place since the 1920 ’ s , and one side of the building was more exposed to sunlight . This had caused the doors on this side to drastically fade more than the other side , and the doors which sat centrally were a darker tone .
The ironmongery specified also needed to meet current building regulations and practicality for everyday use , while considering the heritage surroundings and volume of people visiting the building .
To get the correct finish , Johan Doors used solid walnut , and after several samples they found a stain to use on certain locations along with frames and detailed architrave . Johan Doors prepared the doors and supplied Abloy compliant satin brass levers to complement the walnut door finish , which were installed by Aspex along with the compliant Abloy locks .
34
JULY 2023
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