ASSA ABLOY to showcase door security and access control solutions at the GSX 2021

30 Sep 2021

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ASSA ABLOY’s presence at the 2021 Global Security Exchange (GSX) will focus on helping attendees identify opportunities to improve the safety, security and health of their facilities. Visit Booth #1353 to see the latest innovations in comprehensive door security and access control.

“Amid the health, economic, natural, and social crises we’ve experienced in the past 18 months, the role that security plays in creating safe and healthy environments is more critical than ever,” said Sean McGrath, Head of US Commercial Sales and Marketing, ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions Americas. “Today’s dynamic environment requires creative approaches, innovative solutions, and ongoing collaboration to meet this challenge.”

Most frequent touchpoints

There are many examples of what can be done to upgrade the health, safety and security of a facility, including:

Mitigating the spread of germs by reducing touchpoints at the door - Brought to the forefront because of the COVID-19 pandemic, preventing the spread of germs in a facility has become the new standard for healthy spaces. With doors and door hardware being some of the most frequent touchpoints in a building, creating low-touch or touchless openings is an effective way to accomplish this goal. At GSX, ASSA ABLOY will highlight their full range of Safer2Open™ products that allow doors to operate in a hands-free or touchless manner, including the newest addition:
- Alarm Controls NTB battery-powered wave-to-open sensor: The NTB Series can be used to quickly upgrade existing applications to code compliant no-touch solutions using existing wiring, extending touchless access and egress in an easy and affordable way.

Wireless access control

Utilising wireless access control to efficiently manage spaces - Wireless technologies continue to be an important option for upgrading the security of a facility. The ability to add access control to doors at a fraction of the cost of traditional solutions makes it even more valuable at a time when security requirements are growing and budgets are limited. Facilities can use this expanded access control footprint to improve safety by managing the flow of people, limiting the number of people in a particular area, and quickly changing how a space is used. Some of the latest developments in wireless access control include:
- HES ES100 integrated electric strike and card reader: As the newest addition to the Aperio® family of real-time wireless solutions, the HES ES100 combines a concealed electric strike with a surface-mounted wireless reader to provide yet another easy, affordable retrofit solution for remote control and monitoring.
- Adams Rite DL100 wireless deadlatch: Coming soon to the Aperio line of real-time wireless solutions, the DL100 offers cost-effective retrofit access control capabilities utilising the industry-standard Adams Rite MS® Door Prep for Deadlocks & Deadlatches for single or double narrow stile aluminium mechanical and automatic door applications.

Future-proof environments

Providing flexibility to adapt to changing requirements - Whether this means upgrading to the latest, high-security credentials or taking the necessary precautions to protect against cybersecurity risks, flexibility is key to creating resilient, future-proof environments. ASSA ABLOY offers many solutions that support this growing need, including one of the newest products that will be featured at GSX:
- SN Series: Available from ASSA ABLOY Group brands Corbin Russwin and SARGENT, the SN Series offers the latest in security and versatility with a choice of Wiegand communication protocol or Open Supervised Device Protocol (OSDP) that allows for secure channel, serial communication between the reader and Physical Access Control System (PACS). Featuring Signo™ reader technology from HID Global®, the SN Series is ideal for mixed credential environments and enables easy migration to higher security credentials and mobile access.

Door opening solutions

ASSA ABLOY Booth #1353 will feature a new product showcase with all of these new products

ASSA ABLOY Booth #1353 will feature a new product showcase with all of these new products, as well as the award-winning Medeco 4 (M4) high-security key system that offers the highest level of protection against physical attack and unauthorised key duplication.

It will also feature the latest complete door opening solutions, such as the multi-solution blast and hurricane opening that is designed to provide extra protection against explosions and hurricane-force winds and the RITE Slide integrated barn sliding door system that combines a sleek profile with an STC 34 rating for maximum privacy.

Vertical market solutions

In addition, the booth will showcase vertical market solutions and a new virtual 360° tour that helps universities visualise how door security solutions can be used to address everyday challenges on campus.

The Global Security Exchange (GSX) 2021 will take place September 27-29 in-person at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL and online via the GSX digital platform. ASSA ABLOY’s sister companies will also be onsite, including Ameristar (booth #1363), LifeSafety® Power (booth #1463), and Traka (booth #1147).

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Sean McGrath ASSA ABLOY Door Security Solutions

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Sensor data fusion for more reliable intrusion alarm systems

Intrusion alarm systems are currently facing a growing number of potential error sources in the environment. At the same time, alarm systems must comply with increasingly demanding legal requirements for sensors and motion detectors. As a future-proof solution, detectors equipped with Sensor Data Fusion technology raise the level of security while reducing the risk of cost- and time-intensive false alarms. This article provides a comprehensive overview of Sensor Data Fusion technology. Anti-masking alarms A cultural heritage museum in the South of Germany for decades, the installed intrusion alarm system has provided reliable protection on the premises. But suddenly, the detectors trigger false alarms every night after the museum closes. The system integrators are puzzled and conduct extensive tests of the entire system. When they finally identify the culprit, it’s unexpected: As it turns out, the recently installed LED lighting system in the museum’s exhibition spaces radiates at a wavelength that triggers anti-masking alarms in the detectors. Not an easy fix situation, since a new lighting system would prove far too costly. Ultimately, the integrators need to perform extensive detector firmware updates and switch to different sensor architecture to eliminate the error source. This scenario is by no means an isolated incident, but part of a growing trend. Need for reliable detector technology Legal requirements for anti-masking technology are becoming stringent in response to tactics by criminals The number of potential triggers for erroneous alarms in the environment is on the rise. From the perspective of system operators and integrators, it’s a concerning development because every false alarm lowers the credibility of an intrusion alarm system. Not to mention steep costs: Every false call to the authorities comes with a price +$200 tag. Aside from error sources in the environment, legal requirements for anti-masking technology are becoming more stringent in response to ever more resourceful tactics employed by criminals to sidestep detectors. What’s more, today’s detectors need to be fortified against service outages and provide reliable, around-the-clock operability to catch intruders in a timely and reliable fashion. Sensor Data Fusion Technology In light of these demands, one particular approach has emerged as a future-proof solution over the past few years: Sensor Data Fusion technology, the combination of several types of sensors within one detector – designed to cross-check and verify alarm sources via intelligent algorithms – holds the keys to minimising false alarms and responding appropriately to actual alarm events. This generation of detectors combines passive infrared (PIR) and microwave Doppler radar capabilities with artificial intelligence (AI) to eliminate false alarm sources without sacrificing catch performance. Motion detectors equipped with Sensor Data Fusion technology present a fail-proof solution for building security “It’s not about packing as many sensors as possible into a detector. But it’s about including the most relevant sensors with checks and balances through an intelligent algorithm that verifies the data for a highly reliable level of security. The result is the highest-possible catch performance at the minimum risk for erroneous alarms,” said Michael Reimer, Senior Product Manager at Bosch Security Systems. Motion detectors with sensor data fusion Looking ahead into the future, motion detectors equipped with Sensor Data Fusion technology not only present a fail-proof solution for building security. The comprehensive data collected by these sensors also unlock value beyond security: Constant real-time information on temperature and humidity can be used by intelligent systems and devices in building automation. Integrated into building management systems, the sensors provide efficiency improvements and lowering energy costs Integrated into building management systems, the sensors provide the foundation for efficiency improvements and lowering energy costs in HVAC systems. Companies such as Bosch support these network synergies by constantly developing and optimising intelligent sensors. On that note, installers must be familiar with the latest generation of sensor technology to upgrade their systems accordingly, starting with a comprehensive overview of error sources in the environment. Prominent false alarm triggers in intrusion alarm systems The following factors emerge as frequent triggers of false alarms in conventional detectors: Strong temperature fluctuations can be interpreted by sensors as indicators of a person inside the building. Triggers range from floor heating sources to strong sunlight. In this context, room temperatures above 86°F (30°C) have proven particularly problematic. Dust contamination of optical detectors lowers the detection performance while raising susceptibility to false alarms. Draft air from air conditioning systems or open windows can trigger motion sensors, especially when curtains, plants, or signage attached to the ceilings (e.g. in grocery stores) are put in motion. Strong light exposure directly on the sensor surface, e.g. caused by headlights from passing vehicles, floodlights, reflected or direct sunlight – all of which sensors may interpret as a flashlight from an intruder. 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Beyond providing immunity from false alarm triggers, the new generation of sensors also needs to comply with the current legislature. These guidelines include the latest EN50131-grade 3, and German VdS class C standards with clear requirements regarding anti-masking technology for detecting sabotage attempts. This is exactly where Sensor Data Fusion technology provides long-term security. Evolution of intrusion detector technology Initially, motion detectors designed for intrusion alarm systems were merely equipped with a single type of sensor; namely passive infrared technology (PIR). Upon their introduction, these sensors raised the overall level of building security tremendously in automated security systems. But over time, these sensors proved limited in their catch performance. As a result, manufacturers began implementing microwave Doppler radar capabilities to cover additional sources of intrusion alarms. First step detection technology In Bosch sensors, engineers added First Step detection to trigger instant alarms upon persons entering a room Over the next few years, sensors were also equipped with sensors detecting visible light to catch flashlights used by burglars, as well as temperature sensors. In Bosch sensors, engineers added proprietary technologies such as First Step detection to trigger instant alarms upon persons entering a room. But experience in the field soon proved, especially due to error sources such as rats and other animals, that comprehensive intrusion detection demands a synergetic approach: A combination of sensors aligned to cross-check one another for a proactive response to incoming signals. At the same time, the aforementioned bandwidth expansion in Wi-Fi routers and LED lighting systems required detectors to implement the latest circuit technology to avoid serving as ‘antennas’ for undesired signals. Sensor data fusion approach At its very core, Sensor Data Fusion technology relies on the centralised collection of all data captured by the variety of different sensors included in a single detector. These data streams are directed to a microprocessor capable of analysing the signals in real-time via a complex algorithm. This algorithm is the key to Sensor Data Fusion. It enables the detector to balance active sensors and adjust sensitivities as needed, to make truly intelligent decisions regarding whether or not the data indicates a valid alarm condition – and if so, trigger an alarm. Advanced verification mechanisms The current generation of Sensor Data Fusion detectors, for instance from Bosch, feature advanced verification mechanisms, including Microwave Noise Adaptive Processing to easily differentiate humans from false alarm sources (e.g. ceiling fans or hanging signs). 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At the UNESCO-protected Terracotta Warriors Museum site, one hundred TriTech motion detectors from Bosch with PIR and microwave Doppler radar technology safeguard the invaluable treasures against intruders. To provide comprehensive protection amid the specific demands of the museum site, the detectors have been installed on walls and ceilings to safeguard the 16,300-square-meter museum site. To ensure an optimal visitor experience without interference from glass walls and other barriers, many detectors are mounted at a height of 4.5 meters (15 feet) above ground under the ceiling. Despite their height, the detectors provide accurate data around the clock while exceeding the performance limits of conventional motion detectors, which clock out at a mere 2 meters (6 feet) catchment area. Integrated video systems The site also presents additional error sources such as large amounts of dust that can contaminate the sensors, as well as visitors accidentally dropping their cameras or mobile phones next to museum exhibits. To distinguish these events from actual criminal activity, the intrusion alarm system is integrated with the museum’s video security system. This allows for verifying alarm triggers with real-time video footage at a fast pace: In the case of an actual alarm event, the system alerts the on-site security personnel in the control room in less than two seconds. Added value beyond security Sensor Data Fusion technology provides a viable solution for the rising number of error sources in the environment As of today, Sensor Data Fusion technology already provides a viable solution for the rising number of error sources in the environment while providing legally compliant building security against intruders. 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How to build smarter, more secure cities from the ground up

Today, we live in a technology-obsessed age. Whichever way you look, it’s hard to avoid the increasing number applications, products and solutions that continue to redefine the boundaries of what we previously thought possible. From autonomous vehicles and edge computing to 5G and the Internet of Things, all facets of our lives are continuing to evolve, thanks to an endless stream of differentiated innovations. In this article, we’ll be focusing on the latter of these - the Internet of Things (IoT). Deployment of IoT technologies Smart homes, smart utilities, smart retail, smart farming, smart supply chains and many of the other ‘smart’ versions of sectors that we’re already familiar with, are all called as such because of the implications of IoT. Indeed, it is a technology that has manifested itself in billions of devices, which today underpin the truly transformational levels of connectivity that we see across industries of all shapes and sizes. The statistics speak for themselves. 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Need for open standards Equally, open standards can accelerate time-to-market, reduce costs and ensure products are usable, with a variety of manufacturers’ processors and radios, with a steam of publicly available protocol stacks, design information and reference implementations available that can help build and future-proof secure products. Indeed, large-scale corporate IoT networks alongside smart cities, smart utilities, and other key smart infrastructure will only continue to evolve, in the coming years. With the immense threats of attackers in mind, these systems must prioritise security-by-design, both now and in the future.