Q&A with Specification Manager at ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions EMEIA

The new capabilities of door and access technology make specification support more important than ever. Buildings can do more. As the smart capacities of the places we live and work continue to grow, we talk to Dikesh Pattni, Specification Manager at ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions EMEIA, Commercial Excellence Team about the importance of expert specification support in helping architects to get the most from their time – and owners to maximise their investment

Welcome, Dikesh. Perhaps you could first briefly explain the importance of specification support to a building design project?

In our experience, delivering accurate, transparent specifications makes a big difference to project costs and outcomes, which is why we partner with architects and developers, contractors and distributors in many different ways.

ASSA ABLOY specification teams bring expertise on local standards and certifications.

For customers who already have BIM experience or those who are digitalising the process for the first time, embedding ASSA ABLOY expertise streamlines project management.

When everyone is working from the same up-to-date model, delays are cut, correction loops minimised and completion times shortened.

What difficulties with security technologies do architects and non-specialist building specifiers often encounter?

Security and access control solutions can be technical. Unfortunately, these details may be crucial in realising the vision for a building.

Something as simple as a door opening on a different axis can affect light, accessibility compliance, security and so on.

Our expert teams are always on hand to make sure the implications of every design change are understood. This service they provide leaves architects to focus on the “big picture”.

When BIM consultants are involved, specification becomes integrated and efficient, rather than a bolt-on after creative work is complete.

With comprehensive data, architects can introduce security solutions into their designs early, so building aesthetics are not disrupted at the last minute.

ASSA ABLOY consultants also bring specific, independent safety expertise relevant to the geographical market. We often use Openings Studio software to coordinate knowledge transfer between stakeholders through the planning and construction life-cycle.

Tell us little more about Openings Studio and how it helps?

Openings Studio is a cloud-based, customisable configuration tool for the creation, visualisation, modification and management of door openings.

This unique application provides access to complete door information at all stages, from product concept to aftercare, on the desktop and via a new mobile app.

With Openings Studio, you no longer need to rely on paper or spreadsheets to manage doorset data. It’s all digitally managed in one place over the life of the building, which saves everyone’s time.

Can you explain a couple of concrete benefits which customers get from ASSA ABLOY specification support?

Securing every environment is different, but some challenges recur frequently across many projects and sectors.

The breadth of ASSA ABLOY’s door and access solutions portfolios, as well as decades of experience in the global market, give us a uniquely wide perspective on a building’s needs.

And not just that: Our product development track-record and engineering expertise have put ASSA ABLOY at the forefront of access and door innovation for smart buildings.

We can help project stakeholders to better understand what is possible when they choose the right solution. This is a major value of the collaborative process.

For example, at one recent data centre project in Hyderabad, India, we were able to specify both mechanical and digital solutions from our vast range of connected and complementary solutions.

ASSA ABLOY products deployed included fire-rated and standard mechanical locking and door hardware; door closers; ABLOY Electric Locks; Sargent electric hardware for gates; and an ABLOY mechanical master-key system.

In the healthcare sector, we have demonstrated how digital solutions can help security teams monitor and filter access to multiple types of sensitive zone like medication storage, confidential records rooms and restricted labs without running multiple security systems or protocols in parallel.

Our support also helps procurement teams to quickly address compliance and regulation issues, at both local and regional level. And so on. I could provide many more examples.

You mention data centres: This sector is booming in many different geographical locations. Can you explain why specification support can be important for these buildings in particular?

Yes, this is a fast-growing market. GlobalData, who track construction projects worldwide, identified particularly rapid demand growth in the Middle East.

Clearly, access is critical to data centre security. The threats posed by unprotected or insufficiently secured data include business disruption, damage to brand reputation and fines and penalties for non-compliance.

The design of such sites must therefore embed a security-first ethos from the start, with hybrid cyber–physical threats front-of-mind.

Every door requires individual control, monitoring and audit capabilities.

At the Hyderabad project I mentioned earlier, collaborating with ASSA ABLOY’s local BIM team helped them work faster to implement accurate, differentiated functionality for each door and hardware set time-efficiently and to optimise information flow between the client and multiple teams working on the project.

On top of this, data centres monitor their environmental impact carefully. Being able to identify savings – by specifying wireless rather than wired access solutions, for example – is valuable.

At Hyderabad, just as on many other projects, we supplied products with Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), helping the final building to achieve its desired LEED certification.

Finally, how is the landscape for Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) changing?

The situation is changing fast. In fact, new commercial buildings in many countries already require EPDs to document likely emissions and whole-life carbon.

Manufacturing, healthcare and data centres in particular target energy and carbon savings.

At ASSA ABLOY, we have just hit another milestone with the 60^th EPD in our rolling publication programme.

We take transparency and sustainability performance very seriously: ASSA ABLOY EPDs are verified by an independent expert prior to publication, so customers can rely on their information.

They are based on the ISO 14025 standard, recognised internationally, including by green building assessment methods like LEED and BREEAM.

A dedicated process is now in place to enable us to create, verify and issue product-specific EPDs even faster in the future. This is something many customers are going to find increasingly important.

To learn more about Openings Studio, click here.