Security
Staff in care homes that are reliant on traditional methods of security may leave doors that are heavily used unlocked for long periods of time due to the inconvenience of opening and securing an area every time it is entered. However, this increases the risk of opportunistic threat and malicious damage to property.
Managing access
Sites with a steady flow of staff, visitors and other contractors are safer if access is managed using time limited ‘keys’, which can be revoked or revalidated when required, but what are the latest available solutions for those seeking a more sophisticated and intelligent approach to access control, which not only protects but also enhances the care home environment?
To meet this need, the latest access control solutions offer intelligent wireless locking technology. Mechanical locks can be wirelessly linked to a new or existing access control system without any need to modify the door. Indeed, in a recent report from security news outlet IFSEC Global,3
more than half of those
surveyed stated that easy integration with third party systems such as CCTV, alarms, time and attendance, lighting and HVAC would help persuade them to upgrade to wireless technology. Modern systems can offer real time control, with doors scheduled to automatically unlock at certain times of the day. This can be hugely beneficial to staff working in a care environment who might need to respond fast to
Case study
While not a care home, one healthcare environment that has benefited from wireless locking technology, and faces many of the same challenges that a care homes does, is Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in Liverpool. Providing general acute healthcare to 330,000 residents in North Merseyside and the surrounding areas, the hospital has undergone a £35 million refurbishment of its A&E department and other urgent care facilities. The facility required high performance security and access control to help improve day to day operations and expand public access to the building, while maintaining appropriate restrictions to sensitive areas where confidential patient documents are stored.
Escutcheons offered a cost effective and easy to install security solution for the hospital, delivering a straightforward alternative to a wired solution, without any need to modify the doors. This was particularly beneficial to the site, meaning the system could be installed quickly and efficiently without disrupting the day to day operation of the hospital.
ensure security measures can be implemented quickly.
Capabilities such as allowing a door to remain unlocked for a certain amount of time after it has been opened from the inside are also recommended as should an incident occur in one area, staff and residents can quickly return to wherever they have just come from. Importantly for care home environments from a compliance perspective, these systems can also provide an audit trail for any lock, key or system user at any time, making a proper investigation of any breach not just feasible, but straightforward.
Other benefits
As access rights on any lost access card can simply be revoked, there is no longer
a need for the expensive, time consuming process of changing the locks when someone loses a physical key. Audit trails can now be generated at the touch of a button providing another saving on the substantial cost – in terms of both staff time and money – of administering a mechanical master key system.
Another clear benefit of wireless access control technology is that no wiring or cabling is involved, meaning no electrician is required. Plus, the latest battery operated systems mean maintenance typically involves changing a standard lithium-ion battery once every two to three years.
Furthermore, wireless locks are cheaper to run. Unlike wired locks, wireless locks only activate when prompted by an individual with the relevant access control. They are not connected to the mains, and use no power when inactive. One wireless electronic lock uses approximately 0.001 kWh of energy per year compared to a standard wired lock and reader, which uses 55.2 kWh. For peace of mind, it is
recommended that access control technology meets BS EN 179 and BS EN 1125 standards.
Conclusion
Given the critical advantages wireless technology has over both mechanical locks and wired access control, many care homes are expected to introduce a wireless access control system in the future.
Information gathered by IFSEC Global3
The second biggest threat was that of intruders being able to access the building 24
confirms that the majority of end users recognise the effectiveness of wireless systems and the potential return on investment they can bring.
www.thecarehomeenvironment .com • May 2017
©santiago silver/Fotolia
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