Abloy UK’s Regional Specification Manager, Rory Grant is a security industry professional with over 30 years’ experience. He is a qualified Architectural Ironmonger with the GAI (Guild of Architectural Ironmongers), who educates professionals on compliance and specifies solutions to meet industry standards and to improve the operations within a building.
“Leaving school in 1987, I became an employee of a small independent Ironmongery store in Dundee called William Robertson and Company. From here I learnt the basics of working behind the trade counter, picking orders and dealing with contractors. It’s from this role, I found a passion for ironmongery and the security industry and new opportunities to progress presented themselves.
“During my progression I became GAI qualified, which gave me the basis to succeed within the industry. The opportunity came to move to the ASSA ABLOY group in 2004 and I felt the history of the brand and working with the highest quality of architectural ironmongery made it an obvious move for me. Within this role, I worked closely with Universities, Colleges and Hospitals to provide secure locking solutions.
“Finally, in 2011 a move from Assa to Abloy UK was presented. The challenge of combining my mechanical experience with electro-mechanical solutions, introduced me to technologies such as Electric Strikes, Electric Locks and digital locking solutions.”
Area Specification Manager
“Put simply, my role is to be a problem solver in finding an electronic or mechanical locking solution for a building. Access control has a wide range of applications and products far greater than a mechanical lock. I specify components to create a ‘fit for purpose’ security system that can control ingress and egress via door automation, a key system or a key fob. I look at how the door needs to function and consider how the system needs to react in emergency situations, in a dynamic lockdown situation for example.
“Access control can also be applied to improving procedures, and utilising audit trails to collect data when a key enters a cylinder, or a sensor opens a door. There is an intricacy involved in integrating these components to create a compliant system that also provides an ease of use for the end-user.
“I enjoy my job as every project is different with a specific set of needs, and there is so much variety within my customer base. One day I will be in a hospital setting, the next I’ll be educating professionals in a Historic Building and then I will be creating a master key system for a University!
“However, the clientele will always fall within two key areas; education and specification.”
Educating the industry
“From the education perspective, if there is a solution I’ve specified previously that has proven successful, I take the time to contact other professionals within the same sector that could benefit. Also, the security industry is always adapting to new regulations, ever evolving technology and needs that an end-user and installer needs to be informed on.
“For example, the introduction of BS EN13637 has changed how emergency doors can be specified and the desire for hands-free access control has risen due to the current conditions.
“I also invite professionals to CPD training that Abloy offers to Architects, M & E consultants and Estate Officers, where I’ll discuss the compliance standards and the additional operational improvements a sector can benefit from.
“Another key area of my role stems from being regularly asked to survey doors where I offer my advice on whether they are compliant. For example, I can look at fire doors and escape doors in-depth to see whether they meet BS EN179 and BS EN1125 standards. This gives me a great opportunity to provide valuable information on how they can improve the safety of their building and its occupants.”
“The educational element of the role will always stress the importance of compliance. I know it’s a huge topic, after so many recent high-profile issues with non-compliant products failing. By raising the awareness, we can ensure that the solution will not fail when it is called upon.”
Specification
“When I’m asked by a customer to specify, I will arrive at the premises and evaluate their current solution. It’s very important to have an understanding of the needs of the building, such as how often rooms are accessed? Are there high-risk areas that require increased security? What are the challenges the client faces?
“The starting point for every specification is compliance. How will the solution fit in with the building compliance as a whole? What is the function of the door? Does the solution help the inclusivity of the building? Compliance in its truest form isn’t just ensuring the standards are met, it’s requires a holistic approach considering the security requirements, balanced with the flow of the building and management of building users.
“I use my past experiences and close contact with my clients to understand their specific needs. For example, I have many Healthcare clients that have similar challenges, but you need understand the inner workings of each individual hospital, as it’s not going to be a one size fits all solution.”
Recent projects - AItnagelvin Hospital – Derry/Londonderry
“After several presentations and multiple discussions to explore solutions for storing controlled drugs, Western Health & Social Care Trust in Northern Ireland have now started to roll out Abloy Protec2 CLIQ, which is the electro-mechanical cylinder platform of CLIQ®.
“A main concern of a hospital is securing and auditing controlled drugs and Protec2 CLIQ system offered Altnagelvin hospital a platform to do this. Within the A & E department we included euro cylinders on controlled drug cabinets, cam locks on trolleys and padlocks on fridges to ensure the highest level of security. Furniture locks were also installed to secure the lower-level medicines.
“We also installed a Traka 21 key management system to store CLIQ® keys. Each nurse enters their unique code into the unit to draw a key to use throughout their shift. Keys were programmed for an allocated time of 14 hours. If a nurse forgets to place the key back after their shift, the access rights are denied preventing any unauthorised access of the drug cabinets, increasing security further.
“The installation of Protec2 CLIQ proved an immediate success, the amount of data the CLIQ® web manager produced confirmed the effectiveness of the system and in-turn has improved the hospitals cost efficiency reducing the time it takes staff looking for keys.”
NHS Highland - Raigmore Hospital
“I was invited to improve the sites key control which the current mechanical master key system couldn’t achieve. After several visits the preferred option was eCLIQ, a mechatronic key system.
“The reason for the choice is that they could replace a variety of cylinders that locked plant rooms, low voltage rooms which were euro-profile cylinders, UK oval cylinders and rim cylinders. eCLIQ is a versatile solution that allows Raigmore to control every area within the estate, including padlocks for roof hatches.
“When a key is entered into the lock whether someone has access or not, it records the event. It also has the function of having time schedules, so if someone doesn’t work at the weekend, the key won’t access at that particular time. It also has the benefit that if a key is lost or stolen, it can easily be deleted from the system, eliminating the risk from lost or stolen keys and providing complete key control.”
Fife Council: Inverkeithing High School
“Following an introduction from one of Abloy’s partners to educate on compliance, Fife’s local authority embraced our compliance message. After multiple CPD’s - “Electrically Controlled Escape Solutions’ and Foundation Courses, we embarked on a number of projects with Fife Council.
“I was invited to Inverkeithing High School to assess their current building and I noted a number of doors that weren’t complying to BS EN1125 or BS EN179. The first objective was getting the doors up-to-standard. After numerous meetings the school’s specific needs were agreed; they had to be adaptable if door automation is introduced and the doors needed a mechanical key over-ride as well as timed access for lunch and break-time to allow free passage.
“Following the launch of BS EN13637, we can now offer a specification that complies to doors on escape routes’ where you need to electronically controlled egress. The particular requirement at Inverkeithing High School was to delay the release of the doors via the ‘Escape Door terminal’ by 15 seconds which allowed staff to attend to the area in question. As soon as the illuminated button is pressed, the alarm is sounded. This meant that if a child who was deemed a ‘flight risk’ tried to leave the building without consent they couldn’t, as egress was controlled.”
Bamburgh Castle – Northumberland
“Security on-site at Bamburgh Castle were interested in a lasting solution. After exploring a range of options the decision was made to use Protec2, which can lock off external gates and containers, and due to its coastal and exposed location it was the ideal choice.
“Protec 2 is a disc mechanism rather than a pin mechanism and the client felt this may be more durable and having a such a large variety of padlocks, cylinders, cam locks and furniture locks within the range, this patented system ticked every box.
“We also introduced the Traka 21 key management system, a simple ‘plug and play’ key box which offered an audit trail recording who has taken which key and when. This effectively replaced the old signing in and signing out logbook which was how it was done previously.”
