CLIQ - ASSA ABLOY Electronic Door Locks & Locking Devices

In part one of this feature, we introduced the shotbolt – a solenoid actuator – as the workhorse at the heart of most straightforward electric locking systems. Shotbolts remain at the core of most sophisticated electric locking solutions as well. But they are supplemented by materials and technologies that provide characteristics suited to specialist security applications. Here we look at some more demanding electric locking applications and contemporary solutions. Preventing forced entry Where the end of the shotbolt is accessible, the electric holding force can be overcome by physical force. That’s why anti-jacking technology is now a frequent feature of contemporary electric solenoid lock actuators. Anti-jacking, dead-locking or ‘bloc’ technology (the latter patented by MSL) is inherent to the way the locking assembly is designed to suit the requirements of the end application. The patented bloc anti-jacking system is highly effective and incorporated into many MSL shotbolts deployed in electric locking applications. The bloc technology uses a ring of steel balls in a shaped internal housing to physically jam the actuated bolt in place. A range of marine locks is widely used on Superyachts for rapid lockdown security from the helm Real life applications for MSL anti-jacking and bloc-equipped shotbolts include installation in the back of supermarket trucks to secure the roller shutter. Once locked from the cab, or remotely using radio technology, these shutters cannot be forced open by anyone with ‘undesirable intentions’ armed with a jemmy. A range of marine locks is widely used on Superyachts for rapid lockdown security from the helm. While anti-jacking features are an option on these shotbolts, consideration was given to the construction materials to provide durability in saltwater environments. Marine locks use corrosion-proof stainless steel, which is also highly polished to be aesthetically pleasing to suit the prestigious nature of the vessel while hiding the innovative technology that prevents the lock being forced open by intruders who may board the craft. Rotary and proportional solenoids sound unlikely but are now common A less obvious example of integrated technology to prevent forced override is a floor lock. This lock assembly is mounted beneath the floor with round-top stainless-steel bolts that project upwards when actuated. They are designed to lock all-glass doors and are arguably the only discreet and attractive way to lock glass doors securely. In a prestigious installation at a historic entranceway in Edinburgh University, the floor locks are remotely controlled from an emergency button behind the reception desk. They act on twin sets of glass doors to quickly allow the doors to close and then lock them closed with another set of subfloor locks. No amount of stamping on or hitting the 15mm protruding bolt pin will cause it to yield, thus preventing intruders from entering. Or leaving! Explosion proofing In many environments, electric locking technology must be ATEX certified to mitigate any risk of explosion. For example, remote electric locking is used widely on oil and gas rigs for stringent access control, general security and for emergency shutter release in the event of fire. It’s also used across many industrial sectors where explosion risks exist, including flour milling, In many environments, electric locking technology must be ATEX certified to mitigate any risk of explosionpowder producers, paint manufacture, etc. This adds a new dimension to the actuator design, demanding not only intrinsically safe electrical circuits and solenoid coils, but the careful selection of metals and materials to eliminate the chance of sparks arising from moving parts. Resilience under pressure The technology boundaries of solenoids are always being pushed. Rotary and proportional solenoids sound unlikely but are now common. More recently, while not directly related to security in the traditional sense, proportional solenoid valves for accurately controlling the flow of hydrogen and gases now exist. Magnet Schultz has an extensive and somewhat innovative new range of hydrogen valves proving popular in the energy and automotive sectors (Fig. 2-6). There’s a different kind of security risk at play here when dealing with hydrogen under pressures of up to 1050 bar. Bio security Less an issue for the complexity of locking technology but more an imperative for the effectiveness of an electric lock is the frequent use of shotbolts in the bio research sector. Remote electric locking is commonplace in many bioreactor applications. Cultures being grown inside bioreactors can be undesirable agents, making 100% dependable locking of bioreactor lids essential to prevent untimely access or the unwanted escape of organisms. Again, that has proven to be topical in the current climate of recurring coronavirus outbreaks around the world. More than meets the eye In part one, I started by headlining that there’s more to electric lock actuation in all manner of security applications than meets the eye and pointed out that while electric locking is among the most ubiquitous examples of everyday security, the complexity often involved and the advanced technologies deployed typically go unnoticed.Integrating the simplest linear actuator into a complex system is rarely simple For end users, that’s a very good thing. But for electro-mechanical engineers designing a system, it can present a challenge. Our goal at Magnet Schultz is to provide a clearer insight into today’s electric locking industry sector and the wide range of locking solutions available – from the straightforward to the specialised and sophisticated. Integrating the simplest linear actuator into a complex system is rarely simple. There’s no substitute for expertise and experience, and that’s what MSL offers as an outsource service to designers. One benefit afforded to those of us in the actuator industry with a very narrow but intense focus is not just understanding the advantages and limitations of solenoid technology, but the visibility of, and participation in, emerging developments in the science of electric locking. Knowing what’s achievable is invaluable in every project development phase.

A defibrillator can save the life of a person suffering from cardiac arrest – but it is most effective when used in the first few minutes of the patient collapsing. Studies have shown that a shock given within the first three minutes provides the best chance of survival and even one minute of further delay can substantially lower the chances of recovering. Public Access Defibrillators (PADs) were created to allow untrained members of the public to deliver life-saving treatment in those precious minutes before an ambulance arrives. There are currently over 10,000 in the UK, located in parks, offices, high streets and sporting venues, and they are especially popular in rural communities, where ambulance response times are longer. Every second counts Over the years there has been a long-running debate as to whether PADs should be kept openly accessible or locked. Leaving them open could lead to theft, vandalism or misuse. Leaving them locked could mean that precious moments are lost waiting for a local guardian to arrive – and could even cost a life. To save as many lives as possible, it’s clear that PADs need to be available 24/7, fully operational and easily accessible to users and local guardians. But there is a solution that can meet all these conditions – a lock that can protect against vandalism while providing convenient instant access when required. Life-saving solutions Over the years there has been a long-running debate as to whether PADs should be kept openly accessible or lockedDigital locks are ideal for securing PADs because they don’t require a key, and anyone can be given access over the phone. In the case of a cardiac arrest, the user calls 999 and the ambulance controller provides them with a simple, easy-to-remember code. The ambulance controller can then advise them, step by step, what to do. Local guardians, who have responsibility for the PAD, can be provided with an override key to enable them to monitor and maintain the defibrillator. The PAD cabinets built by Duchy Defibrillators show exactly how this works in practice. Based in rural Cornwall, Duchy Defibrillators manufactures, supplies and installs monitored PAD cabinets. To provide public access to the defibrillators, it needed a lock that could keep its cabinets secure, make them easily accessible and withstand the stormy Cornish weather. Codelocks recommended a digital electronic lock that could operate on a standalone battery, making it especially suitable for remote areas. As well as offering flexible access, digital locks come with a range of varying options and functions to suit different applications. As Duchy Defibrillator cabinets are installed in a wide variety of locations and sometimes need to withstand outdoor exposure, it opted for a robust electronic digital lock that is both affordable and easy to set up. A digital-access revolution Using smart locks in combination with a dedicated app or portal allows operators to send time-sensitive codes to end-users The example of Duchy Defibrillators shows how digital locks can be used to keep defibrillator cabinets secure while affording instant access to users when they are needed. But the flexibility of digital locks also makes them suitable for securing property and equipment in a wide variety of situations, especially for shared and public facilities. This is why you’ll increasingly see digital locks used to secure restricted areas in hospitals, schools and offices, as well as shared facilities like hotel and gym lockers, public restrooms and more. Digital locks are available for a number of specific applications, including doors, lockers and cabinets. They can range from simple mechanical locks through to more sophisticated electronic locks and state-of-the-art smart locks. Using smart locks in combination with a dedicated app or portal allows operators to send time-sensitive codes to end users – making them very popular for contactless entry and with facilities managers that need to manage access to buildings and campuses. One thing is certain – whatever your access control requirements are, there’s a keyless lock solution to suit. The digital access revolution is here.

The experience of the COVID-19 pandemic has made us all more conscious of who is coming and going from our property. Whether it is a family home, business premises or public building, property owners want full control over access for protection and peace of mind. As a provider of access control technologies, we are seeing a growing demand for automated gates with a variety of access control systems. There are a number of considerations that buyers need to make when investing. And as an installer, there is advice that you can offer to help your clients make the right choice for their property. Here are some of the key considerations you’ll need to make and discuss with your client. Whomever you buy from, you should be offered more than a simple instruction manual. Electronic locks, magnetic locks and code security In the first instance, you’ll need to advise on the type of lock and access control available. Electronic locks release on the operation of the automation system to allow the gates to open. Locks are required for all non-locking (also known as reversible) operators and are recommended for any gate on a multi-user site or any gate over 2.5m. Apply the same logic to an automated gate as you would to a domestic door – for example, you wouldn’t fit your front door with a lock on the same side as the hinges or a drop bolt at the hinge end of a manual gate so why dispense with this logic when the gate is automated? Electronic locks release on the operation of the automation system to allow the gates to open There are a number of locks on the market including magnetic locks, drop locks that “shoot” a bolt into the ground and side latching locks. These are all designed for external use. While the gate itself will provide physical security, the customer will want to feel in control of who enters their property, when and for what purpose. Consider access for post and deliveries, waste disposal and visitors arriving on foot etc. There is a range of options available. Intercom systems will allow the user to vet visitors, keypad entry can allow remote access for visitors with a specific code, remote controls allow an oncoming driver to open the gates without getting out of the vehicle, and a timer control can be used to open or close the gates at certain times of the day. Vehicle detection loops can be installed discreetly under the tarmac allowing the presence of vehicles to exit the gates and prevent closing whilst obstructed. Sliding gates versus swinging gates There are a number of locks on the market including magnetic locks, drop locks that “shoot” a bolt into the ground and side latching locks Gates can be automated to either swing or to slide open and in the case of swinging gates, the opener may be concealed underground or gate mounted. The most suitable opener for your installation will depend on the space available and the type of gate selected. Concealed underground automation is ideal for highly ornate gates. However, where gates are fully infilled (typical of many timber designs), gate mounted openers are concealed from the front of the gate by the gate leaf and present a cost-effective option. The choice between slide and swing is largely down to space - swing gates require a clear space for their opening arc whilst sliding gates require space to one or both sides of the gate. Sliding gates are perhaps the best choice where the drive slopes or when drive space is limited, as they use the least space when opening. Voltage Most swing gate and sliding systems are available in 24v or 230v. The 24v systems still need 230v mains power – there is a transformer built into the 24v control panels. Deciding which voltage to use can include a combination of factors such as the material of the gates, the location of the system and the safety features you want. Concealed underground automation is ideal for highly ornate gates With wrought iron gates, the wind can pass through them whereas with fully boarded wooden gates (popular because they give full privacy) the wind has nowhere to go, so they act like sails. For commercial or industrial applications with larger entrances and a heavy gate, you may need 3 Phase 400v power (sliding gates only). Installing gate motors in confined spaces The environment in which you are fitting may well influence which gate and motor you recommend. Will it be in an exposed area which is subject to the elements? Will it be positioned on a slope? Sliding gates are perhaps the best choice where the drive slopes or when drive space is limited Installers have always faced the challenge of installing gate motors in confined spaces. When fitting a pedestrian gate, there is often limited space in which to work – potentially making an installation time consuming and technically demanding. If this is the case for you, consider a gate operator which is designed specifically for installations with limited space for manoeuvre. An example of this is the E5 compact gate operator. The operator is not only small but has an optional slide lever attachment designed for installations where there is extremely limited space, meaning that just 8cm of the pillar is needed for installation. What’s more, improved fixing points and a simple ‘hook and fasten’ process means assembly is safe, quick and straight forward. Ultimately, you’ll be looking for a good quality, reliable product with good service. Work with a supplier that offers more than just a manual. If they are happy to offer training, their time and advice when you buy, the chances are you’ll get their support long term.

Size can be a major factor for any security project. The bigger the scale, the greater the challenge. With hundreds of doors and a 3km perimeter, the Flanders Expo is larger than most buildings. They sought a modern replacement for mechanical locking — which was ‘time-consuming and not practical for users,’ according to Bart Serraes, Operations Supervisor for the Easyfairs Group. Choosing electronic security made sense: it saves security staff wasting time travelling physically around a big site. Wireless door devices were also important because laying a projected 10km of cabling would be expensive and impractical. Electronic locking technology Locking technology would need to serve both interior and exterior doors; Flanders Expo has many of both. Insurance requirements demanded electronic locking technology which could also activate deadbolts. Key-operated CLIQ® electromechanical locking ticked all the boxes: “CLIQ intelligent key technology provides the familiar security of traditional locking alongside the powerful features of electronic access control,” says Stephan Schulz, CLIQ Product Manager at ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions EMEA. CLIQ has a unique combination of high-end mechanical and electronic protection. A range of key-operated electromechanical cylinders and padlocks maximise physical attack resistance. CLIQ technology layers encrypted, user-friendly electronic security on top — adding control and convenience without adding wires: all CLIQ devices are wireless. Power to operate lock microelectronics comes from a standard battery inside every CLIQ key, with a lifetime of up to 10 years. More flexible system The electronics inside every lock are activated when a battery-powered CLIQ key is inserted And because it is key-based, CLIQ offers a simple step up from mechanical security. “As a company, we needed a more flexible system. That's how we chose CLIQ,” adds Bart Serraes. Programmable CLIQ electromechanical locks now secure over 200 interior doors at the exhibition hall, as well as 100-plus openings around the building’s perimeter. Because CLIQ’s programmable keys can operate the deadbolt — not just the latch-bolt — door security meets standards set by Easyfairs’ insurers. The electronics inside every lock are activated when a battery-powered CLIQ key is inserted, meaning no door wiring was needed. With their mechanical system, “The chance of losing keys was high, the process to get new keys not user-friendly,” says Bart Serraes. Web manager software Now they can program keys to allow access for different types of user, using the intuitive CLIQ Web Manager software. They flexibly grant or deny access to both internal users and external partners and suppliers — and revoke rights in any lost key without needing to change the locks. CLIQ is a “Flexible system for determining access rights,” says Bart Serraes. Flanders Expo became the first Easyfairs site to install CLIQ access control. A second venue has already followed. Partnering with a pioneer, with a long history of innovation and service provision, gives Easyfairs a system that is reliably supported and can evolve over time. Perimeter and interior security now have the flexibility they need: CLIQ locks can be installed and integrated into their access control system anytime.

ASSA ABLOY announces that Medeco Security locks has been recertified for ISO 27001 compliance by Intertek, an independent, multi-national testing and certification firm. ISO 27001 certification affirms that Medeco’s Salem, Va. operation adheres to internationally recognised standards for Information Security Management Systems (ISMS) in the production and sale of the Intelligent Key (electronic locking) systems XT and CLIQ. ISO 27001 certification provides requirements for setting up and maintaining an ISMS in order to keep information assets secure. Medeco’s ISMS is comprehensive, including internal information technology (IT) systems, technical and process controls, policies, procedures, data (Personally Identifiable Information and Intellectual Property) and personnel related to their Intelligent Key product lines. Information security management Continuing to adhere to and maintain ISO 27001 certification is an extremely high priority at Medeco" “Continuing to adhere to and maintain ISO 27001 certification is an extremely high priority at Medeco,” said General Manager Joseph Kingma. “The recertification validates Medeco’s ISMS that was already in place, and has improved upon the framework of policies and procedures that include all legal, physical and technical controls involved in our information security management processes.” ISO 27001 certification assures customers that information being stored on servers or cloud-based systems is handled in a secure manner, minimising the risk of the exploitation and takeover of data. Information assets can include financial information, intellectual property, employee information and details, and any information supplied by third parties, including vendors and end users. Continuous monitoring and improvement “Medeco’s ISO 27001 certification is of critical importance to our customers,” added Kingma. “They deserve the highest level of integrity from Medeco and, along with delivering the best products and services available in the industry, we must continue to fully protect the information and infrastructure that makes those products secure.”  Medeco’s ISO 27001 certification is valid for three years. Medeco maintains the integrity of its Information Security Management System through continuous monitoring and improvement.

In a recent ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions research survey, respondents identified a need for access control beyond the door — at ‘non-door’ points such as gates, cabinets, lockers and machinery. Now eCLIQ’s vast range of wireless cylinders fills these important security gaps, ensuring diverse assets and the people who use them are kept as safe as possible. An eCLIQ cylinder can extend access control far beyond the door. Filtering authorised access The broad eCLIQ cylinder range brings almost any opening into an electronic access system, helping filter authorised access to assets just as it does with doors. When one switches mechanical locks for eCLIQ cylinders, access to all areas and assets is managed from the same interface. Security managers no longer waste time running electronic and mechanical systems in parallel. Fully electronic, intelligent eCLIQ cylinders can lock many more kinds of opening than just doors. They can protect lifts, server racks, furniture, sliding doors, mailboxes, cabinets and more — with the same level of control as sensitive doors. Certified and available in multiple sizes and formats, eCLIQ cylinders maintain compliance with local and regional regulations. And because eCLIQ keys are powered by standard batteries, they can take electronic access control anywhere — far beyond the reach of standard wired locks. Administration software solutions AES encryption, rapid processing and efficient energy management are built into the chip Cylinders are available with an optional dust and rain protection cap for weather resistance; they operate safely between –25°C and 85°C. Padlocks are deployed outdoors in almost every environment, however harsh. Attack-resistant locks with encrypted electronics work together with durable, reversible, compact, and waterproof (IP67) keys to make every eCLIQ installation thoroughly secure. Keys are easy to reprogram using one of multiple administration software solutions from the ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions portfolio, such as the CLIQ Web Manager or CLIQ Local Manager. It is simple to set temporary or time-restricted access permissions for every employee or contractor. AES encryption, rapid processing and efficient energy management are built into the chip. When a key’s battery runs out, the key-holder can quickly replace it without tools. Electronic access control system Managing eCLIQ locks for doors and ‘non-doors’ together is straightforward. Administrators program access permissions with the intuitive software and load keys instantly with the desktop programmer. Key-holders on the move update or revalidate their access rights using a portable programmer, wall-mounted programmer or via Bluetooth with the CLIQ Connect smartphone app. Plus eCLIQ is a modular system. One can gradually replace mechanical locks with eCLIQ cylinders as budgets allow, steadily extending the reach and usefulness of an electronic access control system. Managing mechanical locks alongside an electronic access system eats up administration time. With eCLIQ key-operated electronic cylinders, users enjoy the convenience of handling one programmable key, not multiple mechanical keys. A single access system controls every key-operated lock — intelligently and electronically. With eCLIQ, nobody wastes time hunting for the right key. It’s already in their pocket.