Retrofitted CM Locks Protect Older Buildings, Cut Key Replacement Costs

IR Security & Safety today announced that Morris Community High School District 101 in Illinois is using its Schlage Computer-Managed (CM) locking systems to secure doors on older campus buildings, restricting access to exterior doors and sensitive areas inside the facilities.

“Some of our buildings date back to 1949 and 1959. The exterior doors were in really bad shape,” reports Steve Lutz, Director of Building and Grounds for the district. “After Columbine and other similar school tragedies, we needed higher security and we also wanted to be able to better track who was coming in and out of the exterior doors.”

CM locks are ideal in situations where older doors or facilities need to be retrofitted with higher-security locks, as at Morris Community High School. 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.

Whatever the credential used, user-friendly LockLink software programs all, including the locks, access trim, and offline hard-wired controllers, which manage strikes and magnets. New users, access points and access privileges can be entered into the system – or deleted – in seconds from a laptop or PDA right at the lock. The locking systems also offer an audit trail capability for increased security.

“We have CM locks on all our exterior doors and we are phasing them in on interior doors as we replace doors or locks,” Lutz said. “We also put the locks on interior doors that require higher security, such as the door to the nurse’s office, where prescription drugs are stored for students who need them during the day.”

To access the locks, teachers, administrators and faculty use iButton credentials. Lutz uses LockLink Express software to program them. The locks are tied into the district’s intrusion detection system for added security. Lutz eventually plans to switch the district over to proximity cards that will also double as faculty identification cards.

“With the CM locks, it’s easy to delete a user, especially versus using mechanical keys,” he said. “They are very user friendly and easy to program. ”

District officials are very happy with the results over time. The CM locks have saved the district a considerable amount on maintaining and replacing mechanical locks and keys.

“We were constantly working to maintain the existing closers and doors and locks, and spending money on lost keys and rekeying doors,” Lutz said. “I like the robustness of the hardware. It looks like there was a lot of thought put into the locking mechanism itself as far as long-term maintenance issues are concerned. ”

Not only does Lutz like the system, but he said the response from users has been good as well. The locks have been easy to use and school employees feel better about the added security they provide.

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.