XS4 electronic locks control access at Leeds Grammar School

(11/02/2008)

Two schools, Leeds Grammar and Leeds Girls’ High School, are currently being merged to create The Grammar School at Leeds. The merger involves one school moving to the other school’s site, where capacity will increase from 1400 to well over 2000. Set for completion in September 2008, the school is constructing several new buildings at its north Leeds site to accommodate additional pupils, making an overhaul of the existing security arrangements essential.

The Grammar School at Leeds has chosen SALTO Systems campus access control system to provide advanced security management. The school awarded the contract to security consultants Advanced Security Partners Ltd and SALTO Independent Business Partner Em-B Solutions Ltd.

Security design consultancy ASP specializes in working with schools to improve security and they conducted an intense two month security review across every inch of the school to ensure optimum security and peace of mind for both pupils and staff. To achieve this ASP mapped out a range of innovative and integrated solutions with architects and developers to be incorporated into the new structure.

“Having evaluated the access control offerings from two other manufacturers, the SALTO XS4 campus access solution stood out as being ideal for The Grammar School at Leeds," comments Richard Sumner, Director of ASP.

"Working in consultation with the school we looked at how existing security measures could be improved and new ones added. The existing buildings used a combination of mechanical locks, digi-pads and master keys. The problem with this arrangement was key control. If key security was breached due to the loss or theft of a key, the school was faced with the expense of having to change both the lock and key to ensure security was not compromised. To eliminate this we recommended moving to an electronic system and improving perimeter and access security, designing a highly secure and flexible access control system to meet all of their requirements.

The XS4 solution is an electronic lock system that makes key control problems a thing of the past. It can programme keys to allow access to specific rooms or areas for selected periods only with the doors locking at pre-specified times. This timed locking facility allows for automatic locking between lessons and the locks can also be linked to the Schools Information Management System (SIMS) database if required. And if key security is breached due to the loss or theft of a key, it can be instantly deleted from the system without the need or cost of changing any locks – saving the school time and money," Sumner continues.

“Over 500 doors at the school are controlled by the XS4 solution, including 5 connected on-line doors at main entrance points as well as off-line smart card access control to each classroom. Since the client wanted a keyless solution for the complete site, our ability to customise both the system hardware and software to the school’s exact requirements has given them the flexibility they need,” says Paul Carr, SALTO Area Sales Executive.

“Key elements to ASP recommending SALTO for this project were the flexibility of the system, its automatic locking ability, the stylish modern look of the handle sets, its use of Mifare technology – the school’s individual picture ID badges incorporating the operating smart card technology with pupils using 1K cards and teachers 4K cards- and the outstanding flexibility of control provided by our SALTO Virtual Network product – all for not much more in cost than a standard suited key and mechanical lock system."

"With future expansion plans for their new access control system to integrate the operation of cashless vending machines and time and attendance management, the flexible SALTO XS4 access control system combined with the SALTO Virtual Network (SNV) can easily grow to meet ongoing security requirements at The Grammar School at Leeds,” Carr concludes.

Related topics:  Building access control system   Door entry systems and locks   Locks and safes   Smart card 

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