Test requirements for testing access control systems

Nowadays, building skins, including doors and windows, are highly energy efficient constructions designed to minimize energy consumption. With the improvement of the thermal insulation properties of modern building skins, access systems (e.g., locks) have gained attention as a place where energy is lost and condensation occurs. Moisture from condensation is of particular concern for access systems relying on electronics. However, no standards as to the thermal efficiency and air and water tightness of such access systems exist as of today. Researchers at Bern University of Applied Sciences, while investigating the performance of existing access systems, had to develop a set of standards to be able to compare the performance of different products and settings. For this purpose, the researchers combined knowledge from existing standards for similar products and used new ideas to test access system performance.