Quimper municipality deploys eCLIQ access management

Challenge

The city of Quimper in Brittany, north-west France, has a diverse set of doors to secure — at multiple municipal sites including schools. City officials sought a safer solution to integrate with their public safety “Vigipirate” plan.

Lost mechanical master-keys were also creating significant costs and workload in lock replacement and the updating of their lock-chart.

Requirements for a new access control system included:

• Trusted electronic locking with easy management, to stop unauthorized intrusion to important premises
• The ability to harmonize access across all schools, removing disparate key sets from circulation
• A solution to a persistent “lost key problem” which creates insecurity at schools, in particular
• A wire-free lock technology to minimize the costs of retrofitting electronic access control to old buildings
• The possibility to require credentials be updated every 7 days, which further enhances site security

Solution

With the installation of eCLIQ cylinders at multiple municipal locations around Quimper, users benefit from carrying all their access rights on a single eCLIQ key. No one wastes time looking for the right key, nor do they have to hold bulky, inconvenient key bunches. With granular rights programmed on individual keys, city security administrators ensure everyone accesses only the precise doors or areas they need.

The eCLIQ cylinders were installed quickly and wire-free on all kinds of buildings. And because eCLIQ locks require no power at the door minimal on-site interventions are required for maintenance. All the power needed in an eCLIQ system comes from the long life battery in the smart key. The key-holder simply swaps the battery when it runs low, being a smart key system it will even give warning when the battery is coming up for replacement.

Each eCLIQ smart key also has RFID capability built-in, which enabled Quimper’s IT department to extend their use beyond eCLIQ locks. A key-holder’s eCLIQ smart key doubles as a programmable credential for opening cabinets, using printers, booking pool cars, unlocking alarms and more. It also works as an RFID badge for entering the Town Hall itself.

Quimper’s eCLIQ roll-out continues to grow: Through 2021, eCLIQ padlocks will be deployed on container storage where equipment for local sports and events is kept.