ACCESS CONTROL
Flight risk : Access control to mitigate airport power outages
» AMIDST RECENT NEWS REPORTS OF power outages at a UK airport , Abloy UK is highlighting the need for effective access control solutions that maintain security even when the power supply is disrupted .
Steve Wintle , Head of Critical Infrastructure at Abloy UK , explains : “ We cannot stress enough the importance of building in security and safety resilience within national infrastructure , particularly when it comes to areas such as access control .
“ Even in cases where emergency back-up energy supplies are available via generators , the resultant power surges can cause not only chaos in the short term , but also long-term damage too .
“ When power is restored , singular or multiple surges can cause damage to the physical infrastructure , which can then require extensive repair by engineers to become operational again . “ However , there are solutions that remain operational even during these types of incidents . By combining the PROTEC2 CLIQ system and electric locks from Abloy UK , airport security and facilities managers can build resilience into transport hub operations - even in the event of a power cut .”
Door magnets , which require a continual power supply , are often used in airport environments as part of the access control solution due to their simplicity of installation , but a power surge can render them useless and leave areas unsecure . There are also fire risks associated with installing a magnet on a door which is used as a fire escape , as they require special arrangements to guarantee they are always fail-safe in the event of an emergency .
For example , some door magnets require an alarm or ‘ request to exit ’ mechanism to allow someone to exit , so there could be life-threatening delays for people needing swift egress in an emergency .
There are also a number of building regulation standards in place that relate to access control . It ’ s essential that these are adhered to , in order to ensure safety and security .
These include BS179 Emergency Escape ( for when the building occupants are aware of the building environment ), BS1125 Panic Escape ( for environments used by the general public ) and the new standard BS13637 Electronically Controlled Escape Systems ( for use on escape routes ). These standards state that even if a door is electronically controlled for access there must be a compliant mechanical means of escape in an emergency .
Electric locks therefore maintain security and safety without power , and without having to compromise security . If the PROTEC2 CLIQ solution is also installed as an override then facilities managers and airport security can maintain access control , as it requires no power and no infrastructure .
PROTEC2 CLIQ enables authorised timed access for staff and contractors , and the ability to enable and revoke key authorisation remotely and delete lost keys . This offers substantial time saved and operational efficiencies in key collection between airside and landside . The solution also provides full audit trail reports and can be integrated with permit to work systems , offering 100 % control of all keys , 100 % of the time .
Steve adds : “ Airports are a vital part of our critical infrastructure , and service resilience is crucial . The recent power outages at a UK airport and the subsequent disruption have highlighted the need for better standards in security and access control provisions .
“ With solutions available to mitigate risks and ensure continuation of services , now is the time to invest in effective reliable systems that are both scalable and flexible too .”
www . abloy . com
48
JULY 2024
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