ASSA, a division of ASSA ABLOY Security Solutions, has supplied security products for the first two UK schools to be formally certified under the Passivhaus Standard.

Continuing its involvement with energy-efficient public building projects, ASSA, working with West Midlands-based Architectural Ironmongers, Locks & Fittings, supplied modular Smartair systems, as well as tailored masterkey systems, to Oakmeadow and Bushbury Hills primary schools, both based in Wolverhampton.

The schools required their second fix, including electrics, plumbing, doors and architectural ironmongery, following their formal Passivhaus certification in January of this year. Founded in Germany, in 1990, the standard focuses on dramatically reducing the requirement for heating and cooling, whilst maintaining excellent indoor comfort levels. With a fabric-first approach to design, and high levels of insulation, the indoor environment is always light and fresh.

Tailored security from the ASSA Masterkey system balanced security requirements and ease of movement in both schools, while a Smartair access control system secured areas that demanded easier access, for example, communal areas or classrooms. Each person being issued with their own key or fob, personnel may only enter areas appropriate to their job function or authority, protecting the costly equipment or sensitive information kept inside. This door control can also help to maintain the high insulation levels, and therefore, the environmental credentials, of the build.
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ASSA Modular locks cases and aluminium lever handles, as well as DC500 door closers from the ASSA ABLOY range, completed the full security product specification.

Alan Carter, Marketing Co-ordinator for ASSA ABLOY, said: “It was great working alongside the architect again, Architype, and main contractor, Thomas Vale, providing products for two of the greenest schools in the country.

“The project signifies what is swiftly becoming a custom for ASSA, having already worked on a pathfinder school under the Building Schools for the Future programme. We are immensely proud of our environmental credentials, and we’re now able to work more and more with clients who are on the same page with green concerns.”

Mark Parry, at Locks & Fittings, said: “ASSA was the obvious choice for product specification. The schools are located just beyond its doorstep, in the heartland of British lock making, and sourcing locally made sense environmentally.

“Having worked together before, both Architype and ourselves were assured that they understood the pressures involved with educational specifications, and could deliver on time and on budget to live up to Wolverhampton Council’s strict proviso that the school should cost no more than an average school building.”