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Special Feature: Smart Buildings & Access Control
The fact that 90 per cent of
respondents noted the importance
of integration across building
management functions is, while
large, hardly a surprise in an
increasingly interconnected world.
Budget concerns play a role, too.
Running systems in parallel,
rather than from one integrated
control panel, is more expensive
and increases errors in data entry
and analysis. A single system be-
comes a more reliable, authorita-
tive record -- and therefore makes
security auditing easier and more
accurate, states Russell Wagstaff,
and continues: "Yet despite this,
deeper integration of building
systems is still at the planning or
"to-do list" stage for many com-
panies. The desire for it remains
unfulfilled. Why?"
Shared standards better
future-proofed
Over a quarter of respondents
(27 per cent) to the same survey
suggest a lack of available solu-
tions developed to compatible
standards. "Standards are key
for the momentum behind the
shift towards system integration.
The migration from proprietary
or closed technology to open
architecture has likely come as a
response to the demand for flex-
ibility from end-users, consultants
and systems integrators," notes the
Report.
Russell Wagstaff emphasises,
as well as being more flexible,
solutions developed to shared
standards are better future-proofed.
Standards ensure investments may
be made today with confidence
that hardware and firmware can be
built on seamlessly in the future.
Compatible solutions offer greater
peace of mind than proprietary
solutions which `lock customers in'
for the long term.
"On top of this shortage of
integration-ready solutions, an-
other quarter of survey respondents
(26 per cent) highlighted a lack of
integration expertise in general.
Fortunately, both of these road-
blocks can be removed, with the
right choice of solution. Hardware
and software integration are two
different paths towards the same
goal. When end-users match the
application to the right integra-
tion strategy, the result is powerful
enhancement of building manage-
ment capability with minimal
disruption to their day-to-day
business", he says
Wire-free integration to
extend access control
The principal challenge of hard-
ware integration is to do it in a
way which enhances rather than
complicates the way building
systems and organisations work.
Russell Wagstaff stresses, for
almost any site, expanding cover-
age of traditional wired locks to
more doors can be expensive and
disruptive. Installing and integrat-
ing wireless locks instead is usually
much more cost-effective, because
no cabling or invasive building
work around the door is needed.
"A published API for rapid,
hassle-free integration should be
an essential element of any wireless
locking technology on the shortlist.
This way, businesses which already
have wired access control and want
to enhance their system can do so
easily while retaining their existing
RFID credential technologies. The
ideal wireless locks are sold ready
to integrate with security systems
from multiple OEMs worldwide.
Rather than increase the complex-
ity of security management, they
simplify it", Russell Wagstaff says.
Assa Abloy stresses that wireless,
battery-powered cylinders, escutch-
eons, handles and locks with built-
in RFID and mobile credential
readers can of course be fitted as
a new access control system. They
can also extend an existing installa-
tion by linking new doors, servers
or cupboards to the same security
system, without the hassle and
expense of electrical cabling.
Efficiency benefits of
hardware integration
Russell Wagstaff believes hardware
integration makes security man-
agement more efficient: When
staff use fewer interfaces, less
training is required. The job gets
done quicker, because systems are
familiar. Integration also enhances
the experience for building users.
" One credential can open
the car park, then the building
entrance, and perhaps unlock their
laptop, book a meeting room and
buy lunch in the café", he says.
At the Inholland University of
Applied Sciences, for example, a
"Deeper integration of access control technologies
will contribute to business success"
In a survey of industry professionals for the Wireless
Access Control Report 2021, over 90 per cent of re-
spondents noted the importance of integration across
building management functions.
"Interoperability is now essential for joined-up
security. Security and facility managers want systems
which work together seamlessly", says Russell Wag-
staff.
Effective integration extends the reach, power and flexibility of an access control system.
Russell Wagstaff, Global Platforms Director Assa Abloy Opening Solutions EMEA:
Open platform development dramati-
cally cuts a customer's dependence
on a single supplier, leaving them free to
choose the best device for the job. "
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