From the Editor
I’M
DREAMING
OF A SAFE
CHRISTMAS Simplifying the
specification
process with new
ironmongery guides
» BUYING AND
wrapping presents, filling
the cupboards with food
and booze, decking the
halls (inside and out) with
more light bulbs than
seems possible, seemingly
endless work parties,
school plays, family meals
and Christmas markets,
fresh and frosty early-
morning winter walks,
late night carolling, and
even midnight mass –
aside from these festive
traditions making anyone
want to curl up into a
snowball just thinking
about them; for locksmiths,
fire safety officers and
security specialists, it is
not just the lack of time
or enthusiasm for any of
these activities that gets
the stress levels rising…
Christmas truly is the
most wonderful time of
the year for us all, but for
burglars and opportunist
thieves it can be the gift that
keeps giving. Houses full of
expensive items and empty
for hours – even days – at
a time. Cars brimming with
goodies; left unlocked
after a long day. Long dark
nights provide the perfect
cover for criminals, and
with everyone so busy
with their own work and
family commitments, are
they being as mindful and
vigilant as usual? Perhaps
not.
That is not to mention all
the workplaces, schools,
office buildings and similar
that will shut down entirely
over the festive period; a » A NEW GUIDE ON
architectural ironmongery
and security has been
launched for locksmiths.
The Specifier’s Guide to
Ironmongery and Security
is one of five guides created
by the Guild of Architectural
Ironmongers (GAI) to ensure
that anyone involved in the
specification of architectural
ironmongery has access to the
latest, best practice advice. All
of the guides are available to
download for free from the
GAI website.
“We have produced
these guides to ensure that
all constructison industry
professionals have access to
comprehensive guidelines
and best practice covering
all aspects of architectural
ironmongery,” said Douglas
Masterson, technical manager
at the GAI. “We recognise
that specifying architectural
ironmongery can be complex,
so we’ve pulled together
all of the information a
specifier will need to ensure
the hardware is not only
compliant but also performs
as expected and suits the
environment it is being used
in.”
The Specifier’s Guide to
Ironmongery and Security
helps specifiers to navigate
security issues that they may
face relating to doors.
The guide covers mortice
locks, including a breakdown
of the main types of mortice
locks and where they can
be used. It also includes the
different shapes of cylinders
and how they work within
a master key system, and
4
selection box of expensive
equipment on display if not
secured properly.
So as some start to wind
down for the big C (as
much as one can when
there’s approximately
three to five social
commitments each day
of December) I’m sure
locksmiths are showing no
signs of stopping, keeping
everyone safe and secure.
Not-to-mention all the
people getting locked
in or out of buildings
and cars/losing keys/
forgetting access codes
as people seem to send
their common sense off to
the North Pole with their
list to Father Christmas
somewhere near the end
of November (and I can say
this because I’m definitely
one of them!)
But it’s not all doom and
gloom, after 12 months of
work, for those of us lucky
enough to get some time
off with family and friends,
how lovely to look back on
the year and start getting
excited for the year ahead?
In fact, you’ll see just that
throughout this issue of The
Locksmith Journal.
From my side, thank you
once again for a fantastic
year and I can’t wait to see
what you have in store for
me in 2020. And, from all
at The Locksmith Journal
and Clearview Group, we
wish you a very Merry
Christmas and a Happy
New Year.
Gemma, Editor
electronic locks that can be
used as part of an access
control system.
It provides an in-depth
look at PAS 24, Approved
Document Q, relevant British
and European Standards,
and industry certification
schemes. The guide has been
endorsed by Secured by
Design, the official UK Police
security initiative.
Kenny McHugh, Secured by
Design Senior Development
Officer, said:
“The GAI Specifier’s Guide
to Ironmongery and Security
is an excellent document
and will be an invaluable
‘go-to guide’ for Police Crime
Prevention and Designing out
Crime officers. These officers
play a crucial role, working
with architects, developers
and contractors to ensure
that appropriate guidance
is given around how the
correct specification of door
and window ironmongery
hardware can help in
respect of security issues in a
building.”
The other Specifier’s Guides
cover access control, fire and
escape doors, accessibility
and specialist applications.
All five guides can be
downloaded from the GAI
website.
www.gai.org.uk
NOV/DEC 2019
locksmithjournal.co.uk
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