Integrated Access Panels
Innovation by JOD Engineering
Easi-Lok Chamber Access Covers
What makes the integrated access panels innovative?
The single-handed integrated locking mechanism has been designed by users, for users.
Easi-Lok is a range of integrated access panels developed by JOD Engineering after years of experiencing frustration in the field.
As contracted mechanical engineers, the JOD team were visiting water utility sites and getting frustrated by how difficult it was to gain access to the chambers.
Gaining access was frustrating
With emergency work taking place at all hours, in all weathers, gaining fast access to chambers is critical. Unlocking covers was taking several minutes and engineers were kneeling in the cold, fumbling with a padlock they couldn’t see, scratching their hands on the rough steel units.
Security was compromised
Engineers found themselves placing the padlock on the ground once removed, risking contamination and compromising security. The access covers did not place the user at the heart of the design and the process was unnecessarily difficult.
Building a solution – Integrated access panels
JOD took the problem back to the workshop and developed a secure access cover with two integrated padlocks, which can be opened in seconds. Easi-Lok was born.
Easi-Lok has maintained the level 4 security grade required and improved safety and security by bypassing the need for an external padlock.
After years of frustration, Easi-Lok secure access covers provide a simple solution. The integrated access panels provide safe, secure access which has been LPCB level 4 approved.
Easi-Lok is secured by Abloy
Early trials of the Easi-Lok access covers confirmed that users found the locking system fit for purpose and extremely easy to use. Encouraged by this, JOD contacted Abloy, the leading supplier of locks and key systems to the water utilities industry.
Abloy appreciated the enhanced operational and security benefits offered by the Easi-Lok access covers and began working with JOD. The locking mechanism has been tailored to accommodate the Abloy PL340 range of padlocks.
Abloy developed a padlock variant to integrate seamlessly with the Easi-Lock. In May 2024, product approval 1589a/05 was granted by BRE to standard LPS 1175 Issue 8 with security rating D10 (SR4).