CARMEL, IND. - September
30, 2008 - Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies today announced that the Bellevue
(WA) School District has centralized its access control by combining electronics
and high-security keys to improve security while also making it easier to manage
and control access at several levels. Although a security system was in place,
the District recently undertook steps to finalize an upgrade of the system by
putting all schools on a centralized electronic network and changing to a patented,
restricted keyway that provides better key control and prevents unauthorized
key duplication. Building perimeters, as well as some interior doors, are being
secured by proximity card readers and electrified door hardware. Depending on
the opening, either Von Duprin EL98 exit devices or electric strikes are used
on the doors.
"On our new schools,
all of the exterior doors and some of the interior doors are on the electronic
lock system" explains Locksmith R. Dale Hicks. "They are on our network
so they can be programmed to unlock in the morning and lock back up after the
students arrive."
In addition, he notes, each
school has a "panic button" that can be used to lock down the entire
school and prevent anyone from getting in, even if they have someone's access
card. "One concern we have is that someone could lose a card and another
person could try to gain access with it," he adds.
To access the controlled
openings, the district issues proximity cards that also serve as ID badges.
This makes it fast and easy to add or delete individuals while also ensuring
that they carry their cards with them.
"Our badges used to
have the name of the site along with the teacher's name, which made it too easy
for someone to use a lost badge," Hicks notes. "Now we just list their
name and the school district. Anyone who finds a badge would have to try a lot
of doors at different schools and would probably think the badge didn't work."
In addition, it can be invalidated as soon as it is reported as lost.
As new schools were being
built, the district was running out of bittings with the old key system. Although
the district had been using a high-security key system, it had reached the end
of its patent protection, so it became necessary to upgrade in order to maintain
security. In addition, there was a need to minimize the number of GGM (Great
Grand Master) keys in circulation and improve control. Building keys are only
issued to building administrators, custodians and the central facility maintenance
staff.
The old system had run out
of combinations and had no room left for re-keys, even using all seven available
keyways. To solve the problem, Hicks worked with James F. Bergman, a key system
consultant (KSC) with Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies, to determine how
all the keys in the upgraded system would operate throughout the school district.
A schematic was developed to illustrate how the new system would work.
The Schlage Everest Primus
Level 9Z removable core key system was selected as the new district standard.
It offers a legally backed guarantee of geographic exclusivity. The Bellevue
School District is the only user in the Pacific Time zone that can get the particular
key blanks it uses. The Everest Primus dual-locking mechanism provides superior
pick resistance. The keys feature precision side-bit milling and a large key
for easier handling and room for stamping identification. The new key system
also has enough capacity to set up two bitting lists for each school, giving
him a main list and a backup.
"Schlage requires a
Facesheet to be filled out in blue to prevent forgery of the authorized signature,"
Hicks adds. "It is one of the most user-friendly, quick-learning locks,
and it's virtually impossible to pick. It's expanded enough for us to get all
our schools on one GGM key, which is only issued to a few people."
Hicks likes the stronger
construction and larger key bow of the new system. He says that the key blanks
are thicker and have a lifetime warranty against key breakage. They have eliminated
the previous problem of key breakage when key holders pulled the reverse-bevel
doors open with their keys.
To further extend key control
throughout the district, teachers' storage cabinets are equipped with Olympus
Cabinet Locks, which accept the same large format interchangeable Schlage Everest
Primus cores used on classroom doors. This eliminates the need to issue separate
cabinet keys to the teachers.
For added personal safety,
the district has specified the Schlage "classroom security" lock as
the standard for new projects. This lock allows the teacher or anyone carrying
a key under the building master to lock the outside trim of a classroom door
from inside the classroom and represents a paradigm shift that all educational
facilities should embrace. The old classroom function with a closed lever made
it necessary to open the door and lock it from the outside with a 360 degree
key rotation, which is a dangerous activity during a security threat. The new
security classroom function eliminates that risk and allows the occupants control
of the opening from both sides of the door.
District policies also play
a role in maintaining security. All keys are stamped with an ID number, which
can be traced back to the individual to whom they were issued. If someone loses
a key, a letter goes into that person's file. This creates higher incentive
not to lose keys and improves security. It also minimizes the need for costly
re-keying. Hicks uses Sitemaster 200 to track the keys.
About the Bellevue School District
The Bellevue School District serves more than 16,000 students in Bellevue, located
10 miles east of Seattle, as well as those from several smaller outlying communities.
It includes 16 elementary schools, five regular schools and two alternative
middle schools, as well as four regular and two alternative high schools.