London, May 2024 – Digitalization is reshaping the way we live and work. Buildings should be at the centre of this change, streamlining daily interactions with homes, offices and other workplaces, making movement into and around them seamless. Everyone who uses a site also needs confidence in its security and safety, not just its efficiency and usability.

In addition, connected digital access is a fundamental block in constructing more intelligent buildings. As analysts Omdia note, “access control equipment continues to play a crucial role in leading end users to consider a transition to interconnected smart building system architectures”.*

Switching mechanical for digital access, then, can be essential to a future-oriented strategy. It can help organizations of every size and type to work smarter, collaborate better and maximize the productivity of their existing assets. “The building has an increasingly digital future,” says David Moser, SVP and Head of Digital Access Solutions at ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions EMEIA. ”So it’s crucial for all kinds of organizations to make their access ready for what’s ahead.”

But which major factors should be incorporated into the decision-making process for a switch to digital? The following five are critical to ensure an organization lands on the best solution for them.

5 strategic factors impacting your switch to digital access
Security is sometimes considered a given. But in a world of emerging and evolving physical security threats, it should never be taken for granted. Building users and managers need the reassurance of a secure access system to go about their working day productively and with peace of mind. As security converges, moving beyond traditional physical access and cyber ‘siloes’, the right digital access solution enables building management teams to define exactly who goes where, and when, across their site or sites.
Reliability of any digital solution has both financial and security implications. Robust hardware and secure software ensure that access solutions require minimal maintenance, for example. At specification stage, purchasers should also inquire about third-party certifications, including for green building schemes, whether for digital locks, electronic door closing solutions or for access provision compliance at sensitive locations where additional national and supra-national regulations may apply.
Innovation in the choice of solution does not simply mean picking the access system with the widest range of features and functions. Choosing a digital solution manufacturer with a track record of innovation, however, gives organizations the confidence that their solution will always prepare them for what’s ahead – not just the ‘now’. Systems should embrace

digital openness and customizability – which in turn provide the flexibility which genuinely future-proofs access management.

Convenience is about much more than just small-scale savings in time and effort. When employees, contractors and temporary visitors can come-and-go with ease, operations for building and security managers are streamlined. Digitalizing access provides a concrete ROI that a business can turn into a competitive advantage. For this reason, the most recent Wireless Access Control Report found the #1 factor driving the switch to mobile digital access was convenience**.

Sustainability as an ethos should be embedded within any future-proof digital solution. Motives go beyond just altruism and corporate responsibility – though of course, these are important. Incorporating sustainability into an access strategy can also directly benefit the bottom line. Both the business and the environment benefit from reducing power consumption by using innovations such as energy-harvesting technology, for example.

The benefits of a digital access solution

“At a new corporate headquarters for Canal+ near Paris, midsized Clockwise co-working spaces in the UK and northern Europe, and medical facilities in Dubai and Turkey, digitaliziation of access has brought tangible everyday benefits,” adds David Moser. “There’s a proven digital solution suited to historic buildings, brand-new hotels, and education facilities of every size and type. Digital access comes with a real operations management ROI.”

“At one Danish school, Vejle Friskole, digitalizing access management reduced the time they were spending on it every week from 5 hours to just 5 minutes. The results can be instant… and quite dramatic!”^***

 Digitalizing access instantly puts powerful tools in the hands of a building manager: Cloud infrastructure enables remote management of users and access from one convenient location; integrating intelligent sensors can help manage energy more effectively; credentials stored on a smartphone simplify and accelerate the process of issuing, amending and revoking access.

Digital access for offices, universities, hospitals, hotels, homes and much more

A vast range of digital functionality can be tailored to all kinds of applications. With real-time management, facility managers create audit trails or instantly change access rights for any door or user. In schools, real-time, online control enables rapid lockdown in an emergency. In hospitals, digital access shows who had access to drug stores or equipment.

At the Flint Hotel in Austria, digital access software integrates with self-service kiosks: Guests check-in from home, enter reception with a PIN and receive their keycard at the kiosk. At Munich’s historic Hofbräuhaus, digital devices work out of sight, securing doors and managing access without damaging the heritage interior. Tenants at Becorp, multi-residential housing in Barcelona, access apartments and common areas with a key stored securely on their smartphone.

“Physical key management for any large development puts severe pressure on operational costs,” explains Becorp’s project engineer, Xavier Casals. “Choosing wireless locks and mobile management helps us to minimize them.”

 “ASSA ABLOY can help you digitalize and truly future-proof access at almost any kind of site or building,” adds David Moser. “Our vast range of innovative, reliable, convenient solutions showcase the value of the digital transition and can be tailored to meet individual business needs and goals.”

“We urge anyone thinking of making the switch from mechanical to digital access to speak to us first. We are happy to share our expertise to help you continue to thrive in a changing, digitalizing world.”

To learn more about Digital Access Solutions from ASSA ABLOY, download a free guide at www.assaabloy.com/group/emeia/campaigns/digitalwithconfidence 

London, May 2024 – It’s hard to overstate the importance of standards in mechanical security. Yet in a world of evolving threats and regulations, it can be difficult to keep track of the most relevant certifications, and to identify which apply in different industries and regions, and for various applications. With its unique scope of expertise in local and global markets, ASSA ABLOY is ideally placed to help keep customers informed.

Many leading mechanical locking manufacturers operate in-house laboratories with testing protocols. These are usually designed to push every device and component to discover its limit, long before it ever reaches the market. This process is critical to the development cycle of any security product.

However, stringent third-party testing of mechanical devices is even more important. A truly independent mark of quality and durability inspires consumer confidence in a solution they must trust to secure their workplace or home.

When specifying a new building or retrofitting an existing property to meet modern needs, compliance with security standards is a major component in local and regional building codes. Regulatory approval will depend on installing cylinders which meet or exceed agreed international and local industry standards.

Some certifications simply ensure that information is presented in a consistent, easily understandable way. Among these is DIN 18252. The German standard defines terminology, dimensions, requirements, test methods and marking – all to ensure that Euro profile cylinders are standardized and so interchangeable and replaceable.

Other standards, however, tell consumers more about the qualities of mechanical devices they are considering. These may assess the performance and durability of the cylinder itself, including when placed under stress or deliberate attack.

Defending the premises: locking strength and resistance

Two critical European standards require an independent assessment of a cylinder’s or padlock’s build quality and toughness: EN 1303 and EN 12320.

EN 1303 is a wide-ranging standard for mechanical security which covers both cylinders and their keys. It assures performance on criteria including strength, security, durability and corrosion resistance.

EN 1303 uses an 8-digit coding which reports on performance tests. Each digit refers to a product feature measured against the standard’s performance requirements (see figure, below). Compliance with EN 1303 doesn’t automatically indicate a high security standard. The precise grading is decisive. The highest a cylinder can achieve is 1-6-0-B-0-6-D and the lowest is 1-4-0-0-0-1-0.

EN 12320 applies to padlocks, padlock fittings and their keys. It specifies performance requirements and describes test methods for strength, endurance, safety and general operation.

EN 12320 establishes six grades for security – from grade 1 (low security) to 6 (maximum, only for rare cases) – based on performance tests for corrosion resistance, durability, key-related security and resistance to various forms of attack. To achieve any grade, all its criteria must be met or exceeded.

Attack resistance is assessed by two further certifications – particularly important for cylinders deployed in a high-security environment: TS 007 and SKG.

Administered by the UK’s Door & Hardware Federation, TS 007 (Technical Standard 007) specifies requirements for cylinders, door handles and other door hardware. It assesses locking cylinders’ vulnerability to any attacks which use skill and/or knowledge. A panel of independent locksmiths manually performs picking and bumping tests. EN 1303 attack resistance and key-related security (see above) are also considered.

TS 007 assesses high-security cylinders with 1 or 3 stars. TS 007***, the higher rating, also includes snapping attack resistance.

TS 007 is deployed in conjunction with the British Kitemark certification. The BSI Kitemark^TM confirms testing has been independent and repeated; manufacturing quality is also audited.

SKG ratings are certified by an independent Dutch testing institute and recognized Europe-wide. A cylinder’s SKG rating indicates resistance to various common forms of destructive attack and key-related security. It is similar to EN 1303 but covers additional types of manipulation.

The rating is easily identified on the cylinder itself, marked with 2 or 3 stars. SKG***, the top level, resembles the top EN 1303 grading. Many insurance providers in the Netherlands now make it compulsory for insured houses to have SKG-rated locks.

Why patent protection also matters

Often overlooked, further assurance is provided when manufacturers deploy an active patent strategy. Patent protection offers greater control over the distribution and duplication of keys, which adds another layer of security for building owners and users.

Key duplication can then be restricted to authorized locksmiths and security partners, which reduces the likelihood of unauthorized key copies in circulation – and hence of unauthorized access to a property.

If cylinder designs are generic or sold with expired patents, the risk that valid keys fall into the wrong hands grows. Patents help, both by outlawing key copying and making it technically difficult to produce key blanks.

“Leading ASSA ABLOY mechanical locking solutions – including CY100, CY110, CYS10 and CYS00 – offer certified mechanical security and have active patent protection stretching almost into the 2040s,” explains Kirsi Solehmainen, Product Manager Mechanical Locking Solutions at ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions EMEIA.

To learn more about the most important standards and certifications for your business, watch a short video at https://www.assaabloy.com/group/emeia/stories/access-stories/standards-and-patent-protection-for-mechanical-cylinders