Electrical Connection Winter 2016

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58 E L EC TR I C AL CONNEC T I ON W I N T E R 20 1 6
LOCK IT IN, SPARKY
O ccasionally, electricians will
come across customers that
ask to have a lock installed on
their equipment, so only employees
of the distributor can gain access. This
is achieved through the use of
Victorian Power Industry Locks (VPILs),
which are overseen by the Service
and Installation Rules (SIR 2014).
Recently, the SIR Committee
sought an upgrade to the VPILs after
concerns were raised about the
ongoing security of the existing
system. The Committee turned to
ASSA ABLOY – the parent company
of Lockwood – to develop a new, more
secure solution.
On the next page is a breakdown of
the new keying system.
“Initially the SIR Committee alerted
ASSA ABLOY to concerns that the
security of its existing keying system
had been compromised. It was an
outdated keying platform that no
longer offered any legal protection
against key duplication and all control
over the distribution of master keys
had been lost over a period of time,”
explains ASSA ABLOY mechanical
keying product manager Stuart Smith.
“There was effectively no longer
any integrity to the security of the
old key system. So in conjunction
with the SIR Committee, ASSA ABLOY
was able to offer a new, exclusive
factory controlled key system using
the legally protected Lockwood
MT5+ keying platform.
“Using the Lockwood MT5+ keying
platform has given the power
distributors complete control over
master keys to the new system and
successfully reinstated a high degree
of security.”
ASSA ABLOY is the largest global
supplier of intelligent locks and
security solutions. Its products account
for more than one in every 10 of all lock
and security installations worldwide.
“The new VPI key system was
designed to allow our customers
easy access to both the locks and
information on the VPI key system.
New VPI locks and keys are now
available through any of our Victorian
distributors, which can be found on
the dedicated VPI Locks information
page -
They can also be purchased
through Middy’s, AWM and other
electrical wholesalers. (Note: Master
keys can only be accessed from a
power distributor.)
“Aspects of the locks and keys
that have been improved in the new
VPI locks include additional locking
points in the lock cylinders and a
symmetrical key with a moveable
element enabling a higher level of
security with a user friendly key,”
Stuart explains.
“For convenience, electricians can
see their local locksmith, who can set
up a keyed alike system (group of
locks on the one key code) for their
own projects, which they can revisit
and re-order on the same code using
the new authority system that includes
a code and card opposed to the use
of signature verification typically
used on restricted key systems.”
> ASSA ABLOY
Lockwood
CHANGES TO THE SERVICE AND
INSTALLATION RULES HAS LED TO
THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW
POWER INDUSTRY LOCKS FOR
LOCAL ELECTRICIANS. PAUL
SKELTON REPORTS.
New VPIL master keys are available to power distributors around the State.
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