Product Overview

Summary: This Remote Access Locks Installation Safe Operating Procedure provides a clear, step-by-step method for safely installing and commissioning electronic and networked locking systems. It helps Australian businesses control site access, manage electrical and cybersecurity risks, and demonstrate due diligence under WHS and security obligations.

Remote access locks are increasingly used across Australian workplaces to control who enters buildings, secure restricted areas, and support flexible work arrangements. However, poorly planned or incorrectly installed systems can create serious safety, security, and compliance risks – from electric shock and fire hazards through to unauthorised access, data breaches, and lock failures during emergencies. This Remote Access Locks Installation SOP provides a structured, defensible approach to installing and integrating electronic locks, readers, controllers, and network components in a way that prioritises worker safety, system reliability, and legal compliance.

The procedure guides your team from pre-installation planning and risk assessment through to isolation of electrical supplies, physical installation, wiring, configuration, functional testing, and handover. It embeds WHS principles, lock-out/tag-out practices, and clear coordination with IT and fire safety systems, ensuring that remote access locks fail-safe in emergencies and do not obstruct egress routes. By adopting this SOP, organisations can standardise installation quality across contractors and sites, reduce rework and call-backs, and provide clear evidence that security hardware has been installed in line with Australian standards, manufacturer requirements, and workplace safety laws.

Key Benefits

• Ensure remote access lock installations are completed safely, consistently, and in line with Australian WHS obligations.
• Reduce the risk of electric shock, fire, and lock malfunction through structured pre-work checks, isolation, and verification steps.
• Strengthen physical security and access control by standardising how doors, readers, controllers, and networks are configured and tested.
• Streamline coordination between security, electrical, IT, and fire services contractors to avoid conflicts with egress and emergency systems.
• Provide clear documentation and evidence of compliant installation for audits, incident investigations, and client handovers.

Who is this for?

• Security System Installers
• Electricians
• Facilities Managers
• IT and Network Administrators
• WHS Managers
• Property and Asset Managers
• Construction Project Managers
• Maintenance Supervisors

Hazards Addressed

• Electric shock from live circuits and power supplies feeding locks, strikes, and controllers
• Fire risk from incorrect wiring, overloading, or non-compliant power supplies
• Entrapment or blocked emergency egress due to incorrectly configured fail-safe/fail-secure locks
• Falls from ladders or working at height when installing locks, readers, and cabling
• Manual handling injuries from handling heavy door hardware, doors, and frames
• Damage to fire doors, smoke doors, or fire-isolated exits compromising fire safety performance
• Unauthorised access or security breaches due to misconfigured devices or unsecured network connections
• Eye and hand injuries from drilling, cutting, and fixing hardware to doors and frames

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and System Overview
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities
• 4.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and Codes of Practice
• 5.0 Pre-Installation Planning and Risk Assessment
• 6.0 Required Tools, Equipment and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• 7.0 Electrical Safety, Isolation and Lock-Out/Tag-Out Requirements
• 8.0 Door, Frame and Hardware Assessment (Including Fire and Egress Requirements)
• 9.0 Installation Procedure for Locks, Strikes, Readers and Controllers
• 10.0 Cabling, Power Supply and Network Connection Requirements
• 11.0 System Configuration, Access Levels and Fail-Safe/Fail-Secure Settings
• 12.0 Testing, Commissioning and Integration with Fire and Security Systems
• 13.0 Documentation, Labelling and Handover to Client
• 14.0 Housekeeping, Waste Management and Environmental Considerations
• 15.0 Training, Induction and Change Management
• 16.0 Inspection, Maintenance and Periodic Re-Verification
• 17.0 Incident Reporting, Non-Conformance and Corrective Actions
• 18.0 Review and Continuous Improvement of the SOP

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and corresponding state and territory WHS Acts and Regulations
• Safe Work Australia – Managing Electrical Risks in the Workplace: Code of Practice
• AS/NZS 3000:2018 Electrical installations (Wiring Rules)
• AS 2201.1: Intruder alarm systems – Client's premises – Design, installation, commissioning and maintenance
• AS 4145 series: Locksets and hardware for doors and windows
• AS 1905.1: Components for the protection of openings in fire-resistant walls – Fire-resistant doorsets
• AS 1428.1: Design for access and mobility – General requirements for access – New building work
• National Construction Code (NCC) – provisions relating to egress, fire doors, and exit hardware
• AS ISO/IEC 27001: Information security management systems (for network-connected locking systems)