The Locksmith Journal Sep-Oct 2017 - Issue 52 | Page 64

64 • HARDWARE & SECURITY
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THE CHANGING ROLE OF THE MODERN LOCKSMITH

No longer just locks and keys !
Nick Perkins
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NICK PERKINS , TRAINING OFFICER at the DHF , examines how today ’ s locksmiths have to keep pace with ongoing , numerous changes in what has become a fast-paced and increasingly technological industry .
There have been significant advancements in respect of gate automation through the years , particularly those appertaining to access control , and to reflect these changing times , dhf ’ s guidance and training has never been more crucial .
“ The problem for today ’ s locksmiths , is that locks are no longer just locks and keys !” says dhf ’ s training officer , Nick Perkins , “ Modern locksmiths are now expected to work on a wide range of technologies , with locks now being commonly electronic devices which use swipe cards , key fobs and keypads for access , collectively referred to as ‘ access control systems ’”.
As electrical systems produce a need for electrical safety , a locksmith is now required to understand the wiring regulations [ BS 7671 ]. Potential problems include damaging existing mains wiring , interference due to proximity to the mains wiring and providing mains supply to lock or access control systems .
UNDERSTANDING THE RISKS
“ Access control systems are also commonly used to send activation signals to automated doors , gates and barriers . Hence , a locksmith can now find himself unwittingly altering the control system of a machine ,” continues Nick . “ This machine might not be safe , or the locksmith may not completely understand the control implications of connecting to a particular command circuit on an automated system .
As the last person to work on the machine , the locksmith can very often be implicated when the automated door , gate or barrier turns out to be unsafe , injuring the user .” dhf guidance and training can help inform those working on access control systems that give command to an automated door , gate or barrier . The organisation has produced a document that can be downloaded from their website : Safety Warning Notice No 6 : Addition of Alarm , Intercom and Access Control Systems to Existing Powered Doors and Gates , which offers information and guidance on preventing potentially dangerous situations with regard to access control systems , and ensuring safety and legal compliance .
“ Today ’ s locksmiths are having to adapt to more modern techniques and practices ,” concludes Nick . “ Ultimately , undergoing the correct training and keeping abreast of regulation and compliance will result in better standards and most importantly , safety .” dhf is absolutely committed to raising standards , educating the public and increasing awareness across the industry . The message is continuing to spread , via its annual initiative , ‘ Gate Safety Week ’. And through its ongoing training programmes , technical specifications , information sharing and collaborative working , dhf has made a significant improvement in the quality of installations , as well as the knowledge of installers throughout the UK .
EXPERT INFORMATION IS EASY TO ACCESS
Since September 2013 , dhf has trained more than 1200 attendees on its Automated Gate Safety Diploma course , which is open to anyone working in the automated gate industry , including those who work on the access control systems element . In June 2016 , it launched the Technical Specification TS 011:2016 , the Code of Practice for the Design , Manufacture , Installation and Maintenance of Powered Gates and Traffic Barriers which provides a framework to ensure a gate is safe and , therefore , complies with the law . This document provides all the legislation and standards information required for anyone working on automated gates . Despite fully complementing the dhf Safety Diploma course , it is a stand-alone document which is freely available on the dhf website .
The new dhf website has a vast amount of information available for download that will help the modern locksmith , including the publications mentioned above , together with information on TS007 .
Safety Warning Notice No 6 : Addition of Alarm , Intercom and Access Control Systems to Existing Powered Doors and Gates - this can be downloaded here : http :// www . dhfonline . org . uk / publications / safety--security / 6 . htm
Further information on dhf training programmes can be accessed here : http :// www . dhfonline . org . uk / training / automated-gates-training / 26 . htm Further information on TS 011:2016 can be accessed here : http :// www . dhfonline . org . uk / publications / technicalspecifications / 1 . htm
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