FORESTVILLE, CONN. – February 20, 2007 – Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies today announced that Colorado’s Parker Fire District (PFD) has deployed Schlage wireless access control to provide increased, more convenient security at four of its fire stations. Previously, the doors were accessed via standard mechanical keys.

“Hardwiring would have been too lengthy and difficult,” reports Robert Krause, PFD director of technology. “We had inaccessible locations, issues with using surface mount conduit, grouted doors, difficult-to-reach head-ends and other problems that were easily overcome by using wireless access. As a result, wireless was less expensive and got our system up faster.”

Schlage wireless on-line locking systems are one of the fastest growing implementations in access control. These solutions seamlessly integrate into the access control panel, eliminating wire between the lock and the access control panel and providing a complete solution at each opening.

“Our firefighters work in 24-hour shifts,” Krause explains. “Coming or going, they carry all of their bunker gear, so their hands are full when coming into the station. They would have to put all their gear down and fumble around with their mechanical keys. We wanted them to be able to simply access the door through a proximity card kept in their wallets or with a proximity keyfob on their key chains. We also wanted to be able to rent out our community rooms but the problem of lost keys became costly and time-consuming. Using proximity cards solves that situation also. However, because of how our buildings were created, going electronic didn’t look easy.”

For instance, at several of the PFD buildings, the “Day Room” is on one side of the apparatus bays while the dormitory is on the other. To hardwire, PFD would have had to pull wire over the apparatus bays, through three different attics, to get from one side to another. The bays are 2-story and attic access is very difficult.

With wireless access control, it took only a week and a half to install the system into the four fire stations. Today, the PFD is enjoying the benefits.

“The firefighters love the proximity access, especially the keyfobs,” Krause notes. “We can also easily schedule access for our community rooms. For those with a yearly need, we can provide a card that can be used as long as they plan to use the room. We also have cards that need to be returned the next day. Most importantly, all cards can be deactivated should the card be lost or not returned whereas, before, we would have to rekey the mechanical locks and re-issue new keys to all of the groups that used the Community Rooms."

“We saved several thousand dollars in costs per station by using wireless, something our taxpayers ought to appreciate,” Krause continues. “Versus our previous system, our wireless locks notify us of their status. They have a polling feature in which information pops up on the management screen, telling us if a battery is low, a door is propped open or if there are other situations we need to resolve.”

About Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies

Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies is one of the world’s leading providers of security products, services and integrated solutions serving an international clientele of security professionals and their customers. Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies’ solutions range from biometric hand and fingerprint readers and employee time-and-attendance systems to electronic access controls, wireless locks and exit trims, electromechanical locks and strikes, electrical and electronic exit devices, power supplies, monitoring consoles and controllers, architectural hardware and mechanical locks.

From within the U.S., contact us at our toll free number 866-322-1237 or visit us on the web: www.irsecurityandsafety.com, or www.ir-swa.com.

Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies is a sector of Ingersoll Rand, a diversified industrial company serving transportation, manufacturing, construction, and agriculture industries. Ingersoll Rand brings to bear a 100-year-old heritage of technological innovation to help companies be more productive, efficient, and innovative. For more information on Ingersoll Rand, visit the company's web site at www.ingersollrand.com.

For a downloadable, high-resolution photograph of a Schlage wireless lock at the Parker Fire District, go to www.brighamscully.com and click Photographs/Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies.