Assa Abloy: Wireless Access Control for Universities

Aperio, Assa Abloy’s wireless access control solution, can help universities manage their campus better by monitoring access all over the premises and granting individual access rights to different people working and studying there. The system is already implemented at several campuses across Europe, including universities in Germany and Sweden.

“Battery-powered electronic locks with inbuilt RFID readers are a cost-effective way to upgrade existing access control and bring it to more doors”, says Lars Angelin, Business Development Manager for Wireless Locks at Assa Abloy. “Our Aperio wireless locks integrate seamlessly with more than 100 different security systems. You don’t even need to change your smart-cards. They fit all kinds of doors. And because they are battery-powered and wire-free, they’re much more cost-effective to install and run than traditional electronic door security.”

Five universities in Europe have implemented Aperio into their campus security system:

At the University of Liverpool, a BREEAM sustainability rating of “Excellent” was rewarded to Vine Court, the campus accommodation, for its innovative architecture that combines aesthetics with environmental awareness. The sustainable features include rainwater harvesting, solar water heating – and battery-powered Aperio wireless electronic locks. Unlike wired access control, the wireless locks use little electricity. Catherine Anderson at the University of Liverpool called Vine Court “a new and exciting benchmark for the Student Accommodation Sector.”

At Lund University in Sweden, the Law Faculty wanted to replace their access system without asking 50,000 students and staff to return existing smart-cards for reprogramming. Aperio made the process barely noticeable from a user perspective. With the new wireless locks, security managers can block lost cards easily and a Pacom Unison security platform handles everything else.

In the refurbished Student Village at Aberdeen University in Scotland, Aperio online cylinders and certified security locks cover doors requiring different grades of security. Unlike standard wired access control that requires “always-on” mains electricity, Aperio wireless locks are powered by batteries. These typically last a couple of years.

A partnership between Siemens and Assa Abloy provides intelligent, transparent electronic access control at a new docklands hub for the HafenCity University in Hamburg, Germany. Aperio electronic cylinders filter access to the media centre, library, cafeteria, seminar rooms, staff rooms, laboratories and offices. Locking with the wireless RFID devices enables the university to remain an open, welcoming space without sacrificing staff and student safety.

Two new accommodation blocks at the University of Birmingham’s Vale Village complex also needed new locks to integrate seamlessly with a pre-existing campus security system, including Gallagher Command Centre software. Aperio locks now secure almost 1,800 doors with a low-cost solution that eases the key management workload for facilities staff. Everything is controlled from the Gallagher interface.

Universities and private users can find out more about the Aperio wireless digital locking systems and how it can be implemented on Assa Abloy’s website.