San Luis Obispo County Secures Historic Courthouse With Schlage Computer-Managed (CM) Locks
CM Locks Provide Benefits of Hardwired Systems – Without High Cost and Extra Care Required to Pull Network Cable in a Historic Facility
FORESTVILLE, CONN. – December 16, 2003 – IR Security & Safety today announced that San Luis Obispo County, located on California's Central Coast, is using Schlage “Locknetics on Board” Computer-Managed (CM) locksets to guard its historic courthouse, its new courthouse, and several high-security departments. CM locking systems offer many of the same benefits as a networked, hardwired system, without the higher cost and additional care associated with routing network cable when retrofitting an existing facility with electronic access control.
“When we looked into the available locking systems, we found that not only would it be a lot more expensive to hardwire our historic old courthouse, but they would have to go into the walls and that could damage the building,” says Theresa Stanton, Associate Capital Projects Coordinator for San Luis Obispo County. “We didn't want to mess with damaging our building at all. We chose the CM locks because, in terms of higher security, they really work for us.”
Computer-managed standalone locking systems, averaging around $1000 per door including installation costs, are the new workhorses of the lock industry, providing features found previously only with online, networked systems. Whatever the credential used, a single intuitive, user-friendly software programs all, including the locks, access trim, strikes and magnets, from a laptop or PDA. New users, access points and access privileges can be entered into the system in seconds.
The county is moving away from card readers and most of the CM locks are opened with an iButton (an electronic keyfob) credential used in tandem with a PIN code for higher security. The CM locks provide a date and time stamped audit trail, a feature that San Luis Obispo County officials have found very useful.
“The computer department wanted to manage who was going in and out because of really expensive equipment they had on their floor. They also wanted an audit trail,” Stanton says. “The department recently went through a re-organization and several employees were let go. Because a lot of people were leaving, they wanted to be able to lock them out without having to rekey the doors. The CM locks were quickly and easily reprogrammed to accomplish this task.”
Maintenance employees manage the locking system using LockLink software installed on their personal computers. Additionally, PDA’s are used to remotely tour the locks for programming and downloading of audits. When new departments order the CM locks, maintenance crews trained to install, program and manage the locks handle the requests.
CM locks are used in the old courthouse and will also be used on both interior and exterior doors at the new courthouse, which is currently under construction. They are also used to secure the Board of Supervisors' chambers, the District Attorney's and Assessor's offices, and several other county departments. A keyfob is also required to access the elevator after hours or to access the fourth floor.
So far, county employees have been happy with the locks, their ease of use, and the level of security they provide.
“There's a lot of flexibility in the system and that's why we like it,” Stanton reports. “As the needs increase, we'll have other high security departments that will be asking for them.”
About IR Security & Safety’s Electronic Access Control Division
Since 1969, IR Security & Safety’s Electronic Access Control Division (EACD) has provided premium electronic access control solutions, including electromagnetic locks, monitoring consoles, electromechanical locks and strikes, electrical and electronic exit devices, power supplies and controllers to security professionals and their customers. Leading brands such as Recognition Systems, Schlage, “Locknetics on Board” and Von Duprin comprise the Electronic Access Control Division of IR Security and Safety, which serves an international clientele from its headquarters in Forestville, Conn. Phone is 866-322-1237. The IR website is www.irco.com.
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