The bench test 1: Tough, neat and stylish

What the manufacturer says ...

Miwa’s electronic ADB (Auto Dead Bolt) lock is designed for use in the hotel and commercial security markets.

It is the first to use an electro-magnetic actuation mechanism (instead of mechanical actuation) to automatically deploy a 27mm single throw hardened steel deadbolt in addition to a 23mm latch bolt every time a door is shut, without having to turn the usual thumb lever on the inside escutcheon.

This removes the need to remember to throw the deadbolt every time a room is entered or vacated, providing an extra layer of protection to ensure users are safe and secure.

Developed by Miwa engineers, the ADB’s patented electro-magnetic actuation mechanism throws the auto deadbolt 27mm into the doorframe – ensuring the door and frame cannot be spread to affect an illegal entry.

The major advantage with the ADB is that a room is always secure – both when it is occupied and when it is vacant.

The lock combines magstripe and smart card technologies into one lock, and the lock will only unlock when pre-set data in it is identical to that contained within the key data in the card being inserted.

An anti-panic mechanism enables a door to be unlocked by a single turn of the handle – simultaneously releasing the double lock. ADB features lock reporting for audit trail purposes, logging the latest 600 unlocking card uses and the latest 40 card rejections from improper cards.

An integrated buzzer within the lock can be activated in addition to the LED status display, to give an audible indication of accepted or rejected card verifications and low battery warning.

The lock meets ANSI/BHMA standard A156.13 Grade One for operational and security uses, meets BS EN 1634-1-2000 for fire resistance and is supplied with a three-year warranty as standard.

What our experts say …

Helping hotel guests to feel safer and more secure was the intention of Miwa, which has upgraded the security of its door locks by including an automatic deadbolt. This is released by a permanent magnet, sited in the doorframe, each time the door is closed. This feature, along with the solid feel of the lock in operation and the ability to exclude all types of card (except an emergency card), should achieve that goal!

We were supplied with an AL5H series lock kit comprising: inside and outside escutcheons, ADB lock, securing screws, supply batteries and construction cards for checking operation on completion of installation. In operation, when a card is pushed into the reader slot to gain entry, the ADB lock is switched from its standby state to a fully powered condition. If the card is removed within five seconds and the card data matches the set data in the card lock (reader/controller), then the lock is released for five seconds — indicated by the tricolour LED showing green.

Depressing the outside handle withdraws both the deadbolt and the latch-bolt. The deadbolt is then held back until the door is eventually fully closed. If the card data does not match or the privacy switch on the inside is closed then the LED shows red and the door remains locked. If the card is left in the slot for more than five seconds, then the LED shows red and the door cannot be opened. The room can be exited at any time by depressing the inside handle. The LED yellow responds only when a certain type of card is used – not the construction card – and so, not likely to appear when the lock is tested after installation.

The ADB lock is a standalone unit with its power supply in the inside escutcheon. This consists of four AA sized non-rechargeable alkaline batteries connected in a series/parallel configuration to give an output of 3v.

The current drain on the battery pack is approximately 60mA when the lock is operating, falling to around 0.2mA in the standby state. Battery life is reckoned around 1.5 years assuming ten operations per day. Low battery condition is signalled by the LED, and an optional buzzer when a master/sub-master card is used.

In the event of battery failure, external power can be supplied via an unobtrusive socket at the bottom of the outside escutcheon. Socket polarity is not indicated so it is a good idea to use the Miwa additional supply unit. To give some idea of the versatility of management control of the ADB lock: we counted a total of 14 different types of card listed (10 IC and four magnetic), covering guests, management, house-keeping and maintenance requirements. Card lock programming is carried out using the Data Transfer Unit (DTU) – a portable terminal used to write and confirm the set data, also to read the recorded history of card uses with the lock. Communication is via an IrDA (Infrared Device Association) standard link. It is worth noting that while the card lock data is held in flash memory (non-volatile), the internal clock is supported for five minutes only, to allow for battery changing.

The AL5H ADB lock escutcheons are tough, neat and stylish. They have an inner 1.5mm steel shell with an outer 1mm stainless steel or brass cover. Polished or satin finish is available. Black plastic end covers complete the overall effect.

The outside escutcheon has openings for the card reader, LED and infrared elements, which are all contained in the card lock. The card lock (reader /controller) is housed in a 1mm thick steel frame, 50 mm (H) x 65 (W) x 55 (D), which provides good protection and is stoutly supported by the inner escutcheon shell. The card lock protrudes 45 mm into/through the host door, so that when fitted to a door of minimum specified thickness (35mm) the end of the unit and connectors take up residence in the inside escutcheon.

Card lock design is very neat and it is soundly constructed – the unit should last for seven years or more than 300,000 card passes. The inside escutcheon has the power supply battery holder clipped to the lower plastic end cover. The battery holder slides up into the escutcheon and is held in place by the lower (one of two) ‘Y’ slotted security screw. The lock is a piece of sound engineering with openings for the inside and outside door handle spindles and the privacy switch spindle. Latchbolt and deadbolt action is very smooth.

Before beginning installation it is advisable to check that the lock is correctly set for the particular door. Changing the handle direction is quite straightforward but changing the bevel of the bolts is a bit more involved.

We installed the ADB lock in a timber door, following the ‘door preparation’ and ‘fitting the lock’ sections in the Installation Instructions and with the aid of the two marking out templates provided. The two main openings required are the lock mortice and the rectangular hole through the door to accommodate the card lock. The drill sizes required for spindle, dowel and securing post holes are all shown on the marking out templates.

The card lock hole overlaps the lock mortice, which is handy for threading the lock cable to the card lock; but cutting the lock mortice first, as recommended, does mean that you are not cutting into a full door thickness along the bottom edge of the card lock opening, so that care is needed to avoid splitting the sides of the lock mortice and further weakening the door. We used a coping saw, starting with the bottom edge first, without any problems.

Provision has been made for adjusting the angle between the fore end plate and the lock body; this is useful for ensuring neat fitting and smooth lock operation in each door. The door strike and its accompanying box must be installed with the magnet at the bottom, otherwise the deadbolt will not be released when the door is closed.

Assembly is straightforward, making sure that the lock and supply connectors are firmly pushed into their sockets in the card lock.

Reader Service No 100 (or go to www.security-installer.co.uk/enquiries and key in 100)