Student living gets smart with SALTO security system at The University of Lincoln

The University of Lincoln’s striking city centre campus provides a modern student-centred community, based on the picturesque Brayford Pool waterfront. One of the most important things for a new undergraduate, however, is safe and secure accommodation and Lincoln has a plentiful supply of this in the shape of modern purpose-built student accommodation, either on campus or a short distance distance away.

Among these are St Mark’s Accommodation, Viking House and Cygnet Wharf which are now using contactless smart access control from SALTO and installed by Aspex to provide flexible and effective 24/7 security for smart building management.

Background

Robust security that is reliable and dependable is key in a campus-housing environment, especially where many of the students are living away from home for the first time.

Aspex is a SALTO platinum-inspired business partner and is proud to have supplied and installed a SALTO hard-wired smart access control solution internally and externally, together with audio intercoms, DDA record automatic doors and an external car-parking gate across the University of Lincoln’s student accommodation sites.

Author's quote

SALTO are pioneer in advanced wire-free and wireless access solutions for education sector"

Stacey Metcalfe, SALTO National Channel Partner Manager, says, “SALTO are world pioneers in advanced wire-free and wireless access control solutions for the education sector. We have vast experience of working with universities and student accommodation providers so this Aspex project with the University of Lincoln has been a great order for us."  

She adds, “For most large construction projects but especially student accommodation, security needs to be robust and effective but unobtrusive. Choosing to go with a smart access solution enables building operators to balance security with accessibility, and advanced technology with affordability. Our smart access control platform is designed to give end users ultimate freedom of choice regarding system layout, type and number of access points as well as level of security. And with no costs from lock replacement due to lost keys thanks to the ability to cancel lost or stolen access cards immediately and remotely, it also saves valuable time and resources for building managers.”

Solution

Paul Ashberry, Director of Aspex, which carried out the installation comments “With a variety of doors to secure across three different buildings plus external facilities and storage sites the University needed a technologically modern locking solution that would meet all their needs as the operator plus be simple and reliable to use by both students and staff."

He adds, "As existing SALTO users already, the University had the experience of the ability to be able to grant access rights instantly and revoke them in real-time when required, and have an audit-trail overview of who accessed which door at which time. These benefits in a flexible, secure access solution were essential in the new student accommodation buildings, so the SALTO XS4 solution networked through the SALTO Virtual Network (SVN) was the perfect choice for the job.”

Result

New access control system installed with all doors secured by a mix of SALTO XS4 original

The new access control system is now installed with all doors secured by a mix of SALTO XS4 original and XS4 One handle sets, Neo electronic cylinders and wall readers. 

Products fitted include hard-wired access control for all apartment entrances and wire-free access control for student bedrooms. DDA record DFA127 automatic doors are installed on selected bedroom and shared kitchen automatic doors. 

Hard-wired access control

These are joined by hard-wired access control for reception and staff rooms, installed internally and externally to manage door entry. Hard-wired access control for laundry rooms, plant rooms, bin rooms and cycle sheds. There is an audio intercom telephone handset set up across flat corridors, and Videx audio intercoms fitted at external student entry points. Finally, there is an audio intercom panel and access control for the external car park gate at the Viking House accommodation.

Paul Ashberry concludes, “Now that the project has been completed and been handed over, the University of Lincoln has a proven, future-proof access control system that provides a secure and accessible student living environment for all its users.”