The introduction of an IEC (International electro technical standard body) standard for access control later this year will be a step forward for an industry that currently relies on outdated and underused EU standards, say industry experts.
“IEC 60839-11-1: Alarm and electronic security systems” is currently being drafted by the IEC and will be voted on later this year. For many in the industry, its introduction can only be a good thing in a sector where end-users are looking for more convenience and convergence in a complex market.
Important framework
BSIA Technical Manager Dave Wilkinson says that, if passed, the new standard will give buyers of access control systems an important framework for specifying systems:
Here in the UK, regulation of access control systems and equipment are limited to regulatory requirements such as the CE marking and the Disability Discrimination & Equality Acts. While there is no legislative requirement for third-party certification of products in the UK, access control installers can be “approved” by one of the UKAS accredited inspectorates who offer certification schemes providing assurance that installed access control systems meet the inspectorates access control codes of practice.
The UK has published European standards (EN 50133 suite) providing requirements and recommendations for access control systems, however, these have not been widely adopted. They are also very much out of date.
Wilkinson adds that it is too early to say how effective this standard will be in harmonising the use of access control products across the world. But it is clear that with the access control credential landscape becoming ever more complex and crowded — some guidelines for purchasers and specifiers would be welcome.
Step forward
Details of what the standard will contain are scant at this stage and even those in the know say it is too early to comment. Full details of what the standard will contain will only be made public when voting takes place later this year.
Mike Sussman, engineering director at TDSi and chairman of the BSIA’s Access Control Section, says if it passes the voting stage, IEC 60839-11-1 will be an important step forward for the industry that is noticeably less regulated than the intruder and fire markets:
This standard is an important piece of legislation which will affect the manufacturing and interoperability of thousands of access control systems.
As with the video surveillance sector, as the technology available for access control applications becomes more complex, buyers are going to be looking for open systems and unified operating standards — after all, good access control should be about simplifying a process for end-users and not complicating it.
Let’s hope this standard goes some way to helping improve that experience.
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