We recently unveiled the fastest anti-barricade access on a mental health doorest.
Our new Symphony doorsets combines a collapsible anti-barricade doorstop, Swiftstop, with Primera’s Passport access card access control system, so clinical staff can now gain emergency access almost instantly, thereby keeping service users safer and making clinical staff’s work easier.
Philip Ross, one of our Co-founders, said: “Speed of access is a matter of life and death in mental health environments. We were concerned that existing hinged stops needed unlocking in multiple locations and weren’t intuitive – especially under the stress of emergency access. We used Passport because it’s easy to use, fast to operate and unlocks SWIFTstop’s concealed multipoint lock with a single swipe."
At the recent Design in Mental Health Network exhibition, conference delegates were invited to test the speed of access and were amazed at how simple and quick it was. They complimented the safer staff operation, which positions them out of the door opening path. The design of Swiftstop also prevents it from jamming under pressure caused by a service user ramming the door, unlike push button and some hinged stops.
Passport: 2-second access
Passport also operates Safehinge’s most recent Sureview vision panel with switchable glass. With no moving parts, Sureview is silent when operated, reducing undue disturbance during night time observations and creating a more peaceful ward environment. The use of the Passport access cards instead of keys eliminates the institutional sounds of large key chains – a common complaint from service users.
These additions create a unified, intuitive locking system on the Symphony doorset which helps staff to perform their jobs in stressful environments. A staff member only needs to carry one access card or key fob and can observe through the switchable glass vision panel and immediately operate the door lock or anti-barricade doorstop. Plus service users can also be given a key fob to operate the lock on their own door.
Ross said: “By unifying all locking mechanisms on a door, we make it easier and safer for staff to look after service users in challenging mental health wards. It’s also a lot more secure than a square drive key because a misplaced Passport access card can be quickly removed from the computer system.”
He added: “We take a holistic approach at Safehinge – considering all key stakeholders when developing products. Integrating the Passport lock empowers the service user to be able to lock and unlock their own door – setting new standards of service user privacy and dignity.
This development is the latest in a line of joint developments between Safehinge and Primera. Symphony doorsets can also be specified with Primera’s mechanical anti-tamper Lifeline key system.
