University of Edinburgh (UoE) is teaming up with security provider ASSA Abloy in a major project.

The university also owns and maintains over 600 buildings around Scotland, from heritage properties to contemporary architecture.

As part of a drive for quality and standardization across this estates portfolio, the university wanted to replace their existing Door Closers.

These had been supplied piecemeal over the years by a range of manufacturers.

The university sought uniformity in the quality and functionality of door closers for many different applications.

Criteria for choosing the right solution included product cost-effectiveness – examined from a “whole-life” cost-of-ownership perspective, rather than just the initial price.

They needed door controls with high efficiency and low opening forces with full certification coverage (EN 1154 / 1155), from a supplier who could be trusted for ongoing service and specification support.

“ASSA ABLOY was chosen because we have confidence in the brand, there’s full test coverage, and transparency in the supply chain,” says Cameron Duncanson, Maintenance Coordinator at University of Edinburgh Estates Department.

The university already had experience with ASSA ABLOY’s products and ongoing service: “AA Door Closers have been used here for 7 years without a single fault,” he adds.

Estates managers were able to choose an appropriate ASSA ABLOY Cam-Motion solution for every opening – more than 1500 in total spread across multiple buildings.

The low-profile product design of ASSA ABLOY Cam-Motion Door Closers suits their diverse estates portfolio: Buildings equipped range from refurbished historic properties to the Nucleus, a major new student and staff hub whose first phase will be complete later this year.

Cam-Motion technology is built for demanding environments like universities. Doors shut tight, for security, thermal efficiency and fire protection. Models across the range meet the university’s certification demands and provide effective fire compartmentation.

Cam-Motion Door Closers’ symmetric cam design allows each model to be fitted to door or frame, push or pull side, making installation hassle-free.

In-house staff and contractors can individually adjust latch and closing speed via the easily accessible front-facing valves. The height-adjustable arm system enables later adjustment without cost or time delays.

“As part of the support package, ASSA ABLOY experts trained staff to install the new Door Closers, which even joiners with decades of experience found valuable,” says Barry Harris, Regional Specification Development Manager at ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions.

“The university can continue to rely on ASSA ABLOY Door Closers over their extended lifetime.”

About the university

The University of Edinburgh is the sixth oldest university in the UK

It has the distinction of being the oldest civic foundation in the English-speaking world.

Today, the university is home to over 45,000 students spread across its five campuses around the city. These campuses also house some of the world’s most important collections, including art, musical instruments, natural history, geology, anatomy, rare books and manuscripts.

Around 90% of the university’s research was recently deemed world leading or internationally excellent and they have been awarded the prestigious Queen’s Anniversary Prize five times. As well as this, its commercial service has helped launch more than 500 companies since 1967.

Some 19 Nobel Prize winners are either alumni of the University of Edinburgh or have been members of academic staff there.

The university is ranked 19th in the world’s most international universities according to a respected lo Times Higher Education: The World’s Most International Universities 2020.
It is also rated as one of the top five sporting universities in the UK (British Universities and Colleges Sport 2018/19)
More than 320 student societies covering sport, politics, social and community support, and the arts.
Oldest student newspaper and oldest purpose-built student union in the world.