Blogs and Keys

Gone are the days of carrying bunch of keys for opening doors. Gone are the days of keeping separate keys for separate locks. Now you would be able to unlock all the doors and cases without the help of any key. The idea is not new and has been in use for quite some time but slowly and steadily it is becoming popular and coming in people’s eye. Right! We are talking about biometric door locks.

Biometric locks provide an entirely new level of interface with extreme ease & security. The most noticeable benefit is getting rid of carrying cumbersome keys. It also mitigates a range of problems associated with PIN, standard key, RFID, magnetic stripe cards, etc., while providing new levels of ease. Biometric door locks identify the authorized people on the basis of their biometric properties, already fed earlier into the system. The unique biometric characteristics of individuals allow only correct users to enter the system.

For quite some time the use of biometric access systems, particularly biometric door locks have been plagued by two flaws. First one has been the high cost of these devices in order to achieve accurate performance that put them out of the general consumer range. The second problem has been the visual design characteristics. But in recent years biometric device manufacturers have been able to sort out both these flaws. You can now find a range of biometric access devices in the market at an affordable rate.

Types of Biometric Technology

A number of identification technologies have been used by the biometric door locks manufacturers, such as fingerprint recognition technology, face recognition technology, voice recognition technology, iris recognition technology, etc. Each of these technologies work on some type of unique and individual biometric properties that we inherit. In this way one can’t copy or duplicate one’s unique identification like the password and access card, ultimately enhancing the security.

Unlocking Doors with Eyes

Now open doors with your eyes! You might have seen it many times in sci-fi movies. But the fiction has been changed to reality. Researchers from Queensland University of Technology’s faculty of Built Environment and Engineering, has achieved sorting out one of the final obstacles to the everyday application of iris scanning technology. Already being used, this technology will become the part of our daily life in coming decade.

Like fingerprint every individual iris is unique and even the iris pattern of the left and right eye of the same person differs from each other. The iris pattern is fixed throughout a person’s lifetime. Iris recognition confirms the identity of a person based on who the person is instead of what the person possesses, such as an ID card or password.

Cylindrical locks are an affordable lock solution for many commercial applications. Installation is less labor-intensive than installing a mortise lock. In addition, the locks are easily re-keyed or replaced when necessary, usually without needing to call a locksmith. Commercial cylindrical locks are available in a variety of finishes and in standard duty, medium duty and heavy duty construction.

Construction and reliability are the main considerations when choosing cylindrical locks. Schlage and Falcon are two of the best known lock manufacturers. Consumers can always expect to get the finest quality locks when purchasing from one of these companies. In fact, it was Walter Schlage who invented the cylindrical lock in 1909.

Look for the following specifications when shopping for cylindrical locks:

ANSI and/or BHMA certifications UL listed 5-pin or 6-pin tumblers Concealed mounting screws Options for electrical locking and unlocking

Quality locks have been tested to last a long time. For example, the Schlage D-series and Falcon T-series meet or exceed the 800,000 cycle ANSI Grade 1 requirements. These locks are also constructed of either brass or cold formed steel and treated to withstand corrosion. Heavy duty steel springs in the mechanism add to the durability of the locks.

The different construction specifications meet varying commercial building needs. Standard duty commercial locks are suitable for heavy duty residential use or light to medium duty commercial use, such as interior office doors. Medium duty locks are designed for use in commercial exterior applications that don’t require rigorous security and for interior doors of medical offices, hotels, retail stores, public facilities, churches and apartment buildings. Heavy duty cylindrical locks provide security in exterior and interior applications for industrial facilities, schools, hospitals, offices, retail stores, government/public office buildings and factories.

Cylindrical locks are usually available in both lever or knob designs. Lever locks should meet ADA requirements. Additional options include special finishes to help users identify by touch that the lock leads to a space containing hazardous materials. The best locks include a feature that allows the exterior knob or lever to move freely even when locked; this helps prevent intruders from breaking the lock. When purchasing locks for fire doors, make sure the lock is rated for use on a fire door.

For commercial installations, always purchase commercial cylindrical locks from well-known companies such as Schlage and Falcon. The light duty locks often available from home improvement super centers won’t offer the security or durability required in commercial applications.

It takes one good name to have one brand make a hit in the market. In order to have that good name, though, you need one man to start it all. The leading name in door hardware, Von Duprin was first introduced by Carl Prinzler. Here’s the story how it all came about…

In 1903, Carl Prinzler, an Indianapolis hardware salesman, failed a scheduled visit to Chicago’s Iroquois Theatre, thus avoiding a tragedy of a burning “fireproof” theater that killed 594 people. Haunted with the needless loss of lives, Mr. Prinzler was determined to solve the problem of public buildings that often turned into death traps when doors were locked to keep gate crashers out. Mr. Prinzler partnered with his neighbor, Henry DuPont, an architectural engineer, who created the first working device. The initial model, featured in 1908, was commercialized by Vonnegut Hardware Company under the name Von Duprin, a contraction of Vonnegut, DuPont and Prinzler.

Banking on the slogan for protecting life safety while providing security, Von Duprin introduced the first panic release bar in 1908. It was also the same year that the company began and its aim for panic release bar which still serves as the purpose of the firm till this day. The popular 88 Series crossbar exit devices still manufactured by Von Duprin have similar appearance characteristics to the original design, although significant engineering changes have been made.

These days, Von Duprin produces the widest range of exit devices and outside trim oprations, including rim-type and mortise lock, surface and concealed vertical rod, fire-rated and several electrical options. Security-related products include a full line of electromagnetic locks, electric strikes, card readers, and keypad-type access control systems.

To have a better look on what Von Duprin products really have to offer, let’s talk about its flagship Von Duprin 98 Panic Bar. Now enhanced by the latest technology available, Von Duprin 98 Panic Bar is coming out of the market stronger and more reliable than ever.

Introducing The Quiet One, the 98 Series from Von Duprin also provide a smooth mechanism case. The Quiet One is a fluid damper that slows the push pad on its return stroke, eliminating the noise associated with panic bar operation.

The 98 Series Von Duprin panic bar is a best-selling option for standard flush or panel doors, as well as single or double doors with or without a mullion. They are also UL Listed for accident hazard installations with some models UL Listed for A, B, C, D & E fire labeled installations. The 98 Series hardware meets ANSI A156.3 – Grade 1 – 1984 standards and is available in a variety of architectural finishes. They are also furnished with a fluid dampener which slows down the push pad on its return stroke.