While Australian schools and educational institutions all understand their safety and security responsibilities, most want to avoid turning themselves into fortresses when acting upon them. These products are designed to help them do exactly that.

At the time or writing, several well-known Australian retailers were in the midst of dealing with revelations, made by consumer magazine Choice, that they had begun using facial recognition in some of their stores.

While all claimed that their only intention in introducing the technology, which is more commonly used by law enforcement and intelligence agencies, was to ensure the safety of their staff and reduce incidence of shop lifting and fraud, the revelation garnered significant attention. For many, the actions of the retailers went too far; they crossed the line between legitimate security concerns and invasion of civil liberties.

It's not only retailers who have to be aware of (and work around) this ill-defined line. It is pertinent to all types of organisations, including educational institutions. Wherever they may be, and whichever communities they serve, schools and universities must strike a balance between safety and security, on the one hand, and becoming excessively heavy-handed on the other.

While it would be hard to find anybody in Australia seeking to emulate the more extreme security measures found in some US high schools, at the same time, most recognise the legitimate need to keep students and property safe.

With this in mind, here follows a selection of the latest security and access control products, which are suitable for use in educational settings. All represent the latest on the market, and as we shall see, all are designed to do their job in as unobtrusive and reasonable a way as possible.

Assa Abloy SL500 Intrusion protection door system

The Assa Abloy SL500 Intrusion protection door system is designed to provide protection against intrusion, burglary and vandalism. Particularly suited to applications in the tertiary sector, the system features Assaultguard – a glass material that includes an interlayer that retains its integrity and continues to act as a barrier after suffering repeated blows from heavy objects like bricks and so forth – as standard.

On top of that, it features an advanced tri-locking mechanism, including a bolstered tracking system on the bottom with door frame inserts, a strengthened electromechanical locking system at the top of the door, and interlocking profiles on the leading edges and door locating pins in the middle edges of the door.

This three-pronged system is designed to make it more difficult to push the door in, lever it open, or force entry by any other means.

In terms of user safety, the Assa Abloy SL500 Intrusion protection door system also includes an integrated activation and safety presence detection system which can detect people or objects in the doorway, and therefore prevent the door from closing prematurely. This same system is also capable of detecting intruders when the building is closed (late at night and so forth) and activating relevant alarm systems.

In addition, the system is suitable for integration with building management systems. The supplier’s security interface board can provide monitoring of position and status as well as various security-based alerts, including detection of forced entry by monitoring door position, lock status, and more.

In terms of finish, the Assa Abloy SL500 Intrusion protection door system is made of Anodized aluminium in a choice of colours, although powder coating is available.

Crimsafe iQ

As specified in educational institutions across Australia, including the manual arts block at Trinity Beach State High School, Crimsafe iQ is the strongest stainless-steel security screen door in Australia to incorporate smart technology.

In the Trinity Beach example, the security doors were chosen for their ability to secure high-value carpentry and manual arts equipment.

The doors, which are available in both electronic and mechanical options, are designed to provide premises with the flexibility to tailor their own access options, while always maintaining the strength with which the Crimsafe brand has become synonymous.

The iQ-e (electronic) screen features three lock modules, providing six-point locking, and electronic access options including PIN code keypad, Bluetooth, and key fob. Controlled via a mobile app, users are able to program the door to lock automatically on closing and detect their presence via Bluetooth or key fob and unlock the door in advance. Meanwhile, the iQ-m screen features five individual lock modules, providing ten-point locking, and a mechanical key lock.

Crimsafe iQ has passed the rigorous European RC2 Test and features patented Screw-Clamp technology including superior locking solutions, anti-jemmy heavy-duty hinges and a wider, stronger frame, making it highly resistant to real-world attack.

The smooth profile and good looks of Crimsafe Ultimate’s framing system complement any structure and provide unrestricted views (as well as natural light and airflow), while protecting occupants from solar heat gain, UV rays and unwanted intruders.

Crimsafe iQ combines all the design benefits of Crimsafe Ultimate with cutting-edge security hardware technology. These include anti-jemmy heavy duty hinges, day/night programming to nominate whether the door should lock automatically on closing (iQ-e series), emergency release from the inside (iQ-e series), and a thicker (and wider) frame with patented anti-jemmy features.

In addition, the system’s multiple access options including a choice of manual key lock, PIN code keypad, Bluetooth or key fob, access to programming features via mobile app, individually programmable PIN codes, patented U-groove profile design to withstand jemmy attack, and patented Crimsafe Ultimate framing system with patented Screw-Clamp technology and a clip-on protective cover.

Salto Space

Salto Space is a fully integrated, stand-alone wire-free smart-locking platform and web-based software management system designed to facilitate seamless access to every door in any building, including those in educational settings, in an efficient, flexible, and secure way.

Given that this electronic access control system is available with wireless smart locks, it doesn’t require the expensive cabling of traditional hard-wired systems to operate, although these products are offered as well. This flexibility ensures quick and simple installation, which can be expanded in stages, as and when budgets allow, and a system that is able to be retrofitted (in most cases, without the need for extra drilling).

Salto Space requires an on-premises server for operation. Its features include advanced access management functionality, which ensures access can be granted or revoked quickly and remotely, and credentials can take a variety of convenient forms such as cards, fobs, and smartphones; the capacity to cover every access point, including doors that are beyond the range of wireless internet are still able to function; and advanced access visibility and reporting.

In addition, Salto Space provides automation and per-door status updates. It is capable of specifying when doors lock or open and for whom, and of reporting on doors that have been left open for a period of time or forced open.

Suitable for comprehensive integrations with existing systems (e.g. CCTV or alarm systems), Salto Space can facilitate lockdowns and improve emergency egress. It can enact real-time responses to incidents; and give control to individual teachers to lock their rooms, or alternatively provide a manager with the capacity to instigate a campus-wide lockdown from a central control point.

Speedlane Open optical turnstiles

Available from Boon Edam and used in educational settings like Chicago’s Columbia College, the Lifeline Speedlane Open is a sleek open optical turnstile with smart sensors that is designed to combine unobtrusive security detection with fast thoroughfare.

Unlike alternatives the turnstile is barrier-free, which means it is able to secure an area without creating the impression of exclusion. Its compact cabinet design and flexible lane configuration capability helps optimise use of floor space and its capacity for integration with time management (clock-in/clock-out) systems means it can also be used to keep track of who is (and isn’t) in a given building at any given time.

The turnstiles’ use at Columbia College, in the new five-storey Student Centre, illustrates how they typically operate. The campus is closed, which means those seeking access to any building require either a student ID, a staff ID, or a valid appointment.

As mentioned, the system features no door wings or barriers, which means it requires a manned security guard to be always on hand. Where they stand, the turnstiles serve as a visual and physical indicator of where the public area ends. The guards watch as people pass through them to ensure that everyone is scanning their IDs and that the IDs are valid, in which case the turnstile shows a green light. Then, in situations where a red light shows and the turnstile alarms, the guard will check the person’s credentials and can try to troubleshoot the ID card.

Tailgating is not possible and the whole setup is intuitive, simple, and hassle free. The turnstiles free the security guards from the need to personally ask for and check IDs, and the whole system has been designed to integrate with the existing décor and furnishings.

Fiffy Solutions

A key consideration in specifying security and access control solutions like Speedlane Open optical turnstiles, and indeed all the above-mentioned products and systems, is minimising disruption. Access and traffic flow are important considerations, particularly in tertiary settings.

In this vein, beyond their security concerns, universities and others are beginning to seek ways to better understand the ways students and staff use their various buildings and learning spaces. In this way, they can optimise the use of these spaces and plan for alterations and future investments.

Fiffy Solution a company founded to help a range of organisations, including those in the education sector, better manage their infrastructure, is a leader in this field. Specifically, Fiffy specialises in infrared technology that can count people accurately without invading privacy rights.

Its products include the F1 hard-wired device, which is powered over Ethernet (802.3 af PoE) and able to transmit data via 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi; as well as the F2 wireless people counter, which is powered by a lithium-ion battery and lasts up to six months. Featuring a USB-C port, which makes recharging easy, the F2 connects to standard Wi-Fi.

Both counters employ thermal sensors to capture the body heat of those who enter the relevant space. Through heat changes in thermal images, the technology can track directions and count people. The data is anonymous at source, and both accuracy and privacy are guaranteed.

Data collected by these devices is sent to a cloud-based dashboard, enabling users to access the occupancy of the monitored space in real-time. In turn, this data can be utilised to inform a range of management decisions, including things like staff rostering, space planning, future investment options, validated evacuation time, and importantly given the current environment, COVID planning and social distancing arrangements.

Suppliers:

Assa Abloy Entrance Solutions

Image: Salto Systems

Mathew MacDonald

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