Ahead of The Security Event (TSE) 2026, Pip Courcoux, Technical and Product Director at Abloy UK outlines how integrated access control solutions are evolving to meet modern security and compliance demands.
Access control has become a core part of modern building operations, with research from security, facilities and IT professionals showing digital systems are now the industry standard.
For the first time in over a decade, fully or partially wireless systems have overtaken traditional wired solutions, with adoption continuing to grow.
Today, 42% of organisations use wireless locks (up from 39% in 2023), while fully mobile credential environments have more than tripled in two years, rising from 5% to 17%.
Meanwhile, 91% of respondents see biometrics as a useful access or authentication technology, with over half already using it in some form.
Security’s importance within organisations is also increasing, with 84% now viewing it as a core business function.
Together, these trends show that access control is no longer just about hardware, but a strategic infrastructure decision shaped by digital transformation, sustainability and compliance.
With this in mind, Abloy UK is set to showcase a complete range of solutions at TSE 2026, including electric locking, escape door solutions, wireless access control, digital key systems, intelligent door entry and specialist data centre security, with a strong focus on regulatory alignment, including NCP 109.
As access control systems advance, regulations are becoming stricter, particularly where electronic locks are fitted to fire doors and escape routes. In these cases, life safety must always come first.
NCP 109, the National Security Inspectorate (NSI) Code of Practice for electronic access control systems, sets out how electronically controlled doors should be specified and integrated.
Aligned with standards such as BS 7273-4, it ensures doors release safely and reliably in emergencies.
With UK Fire and Rescue Services attending over 140,000 fires each year, a non-compliant electronically locked door is not just a technical issue, but a potential life safety risk.
NCP 109 provides a clear benchmark for installers, consultants and facilities managers, ensuring systems follow fail-safe principles, integrate correctly with fire alarms and are maintained to consistent standards.
At Abloy UK, compliance informs product development, system design and ongoing training through the Abloy Academy, helping industry professionals deliver secure and compliant solutions.
Electric locking is key to access control in high-security and high-traffic environments.
At TSE, we will showcase a comprehensive range of electric locks and Escape Door Solutions engineered for demanding applications.
In sectors such as healthcare, education, commercial offices and critical infrastructure, doors must provide security and durability while guaranteeing immediate egress in an emergency.
The challenge is to maintain controlled access without compromising safe escape.
Abloy’s electric locking and escape door systems are designed to integrate with fire alarm interfaces to meet BS 7273-4 requirements.
When specified and installed in line with NCP 109, they help ensure doors release under alarm conditions while maintaining security during everyday operation.
For specifiers and installers, this integrated approach reduces risk and increases confidence that life safety obligations are fully supported.
Retrofitting access control in existing buildings can be challenging, as installing wiring is often disruptive, particularly in heritage sites, healthcare environments and multi-tenant buildings. Wireless technology offers a flexible alternative.
At TSE, we will highlight Aperio and SMARTair, showing how wireless devices can extend access control to internal doors without extensive cabling.
Aperio allows wireless cylinders, escutcheons and handles to integrate with existing access control systems, while SMARTair can operate standalone or networked, making it suitable for sites ranging from small buildings to complex estates.
Together, these systems provide real-time updates, audit trails and flexible access management, reducing reliance on mechanical keys; where used on fire doors, however, installations must still comply with NCP 109 and relevant fire safety standards, ensuring innovation and compliance go hand in hand.
While electronic access control continues to expand, mechanical locking remains critical across many sectors, but traditional keys present management challenges in large or distributed estates.
Abloy UK’s digital key portfolio, including eCLIQ, PULSE and CUMULUS, bridges the gap between mechanical strength and electronic intelligence.
eCLIQ allows programmable access rights within both key and cylinder, enabling lost keys to be cancelled without replacing hardware and providing audit capability.
PULSE generates energy from the key itself, removing the need for batteries or wiring while retaining electronic control.
CUMULUS adds cloud-based management, supporting distributed estates and critical infrastructure sites with centralised oversight.
These systems offer resilience, accountability and flexibility, but as with all locking on escape routes, must be specified with compliance in mind.
Modern buildings increasingly need entry solutions that balance security and convenience.
DoorBird IP video door stations combine video intercoms with smart connectivity, allowing occupants to communicate with visitors via internal stations or mobile devices.
Suitable for residential, commercial and mixed-use developments, they improve visibility at entry points and when integrated with compliant locking hardware, support a secure and convenient access strategy.
Data centres and critical infrastructure are among the most security-sensitive environments, where physical breaches can have serious operational and reputational consequences.
Abloy UK’s solutions cover perimeter protection, high-security electric locking, cabinet-level control and digital key management, supporting a layered approach from boundary to server rack.
In these environments, strict access control must also work alongside reliable emergency escape functionality, making integrated and compliant system design essential.
As buildings become smarter and expectations continue to grow, access control needs to be both reliable and adaptable.
Systems must work smoothly day to day while performing exactly as they should in an emergency.
To learn more, visit us at The Security Event on Stand 5/F50.
For further information on products and services available from Abloy, visit https://bit.ly/4b1PwcY, call 01902 364 500, or email [email protected].
https://www.abloy.com/gb/en/stories/access-story/wac-report-202
This article was originally published in the April edition of Security Journal UK. To read your FREE digital edition, click here.
