Access Control for District Heating – Secure Access to Substations and Cabinets
Digital access control for district heating companies. Replace lockboxes with traceable access to heat substations, exchanger stations, and technical rooms.
District heating companies often have thousands of access points spread across large areas – from customer substations to exchanger stations and production facilities.
With new compliance requirements from CER and NIS2, lockboxes and shared codes are no longer sufficient. You must be able to document who had access when.
The Problem with Lockboxes
Many district heating companies still use lockboxes for substations:
❌ Shared code – Anyone with the code has access ❌ No traceability – Who opened the cabinet? ❌ Codes get shared – Often to external parties ❌ Rare code changes – Security risk ❌ Compliance breach – Cannot document access
SnapKey: Replace Lockboxes with Traceable Access
QR + PIN Access
Unique QR code on each cabinet. Technician scans and enters personal PIN.
Individual Traceability
Every access is logged with who, what, and when. Full audit trail.
Time-limited Access
Give external contractors access only during the agreed time period.
Instant Revocation
Stop access with one click. PIN becomes invalid immediately.
Typical Locations
Customer Substations
Traditional: Lockbox with shared code With SnapKey: QR + personal PIN with full traceability
Exchanger Stations
Traditional: Physical key or code With SnapKey: Digital key with time-limited access for externals
Production Facilities
Traditional: Access card or key With SnapKey: eID/2FA for critical zones
Pump Stations
Traditional: Off-grid = no control With SnapKey: Offline access with battery-free iLOQ locks
How QR + PIN Works
Technician at substation:
1. Scans QR code on the cabinet
2. Enters personal PIN
3. Lock opens
4. Access logged with timestamp and person
5. Log syncs to SnapKey Cloud
Benefit: No app installation needed. Works on all smartphones.
NIS2 and CER Compliance
With SnapKey you automatically meet:
| Requirement | Traditional | SnapKey |
|---|---|---|
| Access documentation | Manual | Automatic |
| Individual traceability | No | Yes |
| Time-limited access | No | Yes |
| Audit reports | Manual work | One click |
| Risk assessment | Manual | Data-driven |
Case: District Heating Company with 3,000 Cabinets
Starting point:
- 3,000 substations with lockboxes
- 50 own technicians
- 20+ external companies annually
- No knowledge of who opened what
After SnapKey:
- QR code mounted on all cabinets
- Each technician has personal PIN
- Externals get time-limited access
- Full log of all access
- Compliance report ready for inspection
Result: From 0% to 100% traceability – without replacing locks.
Integration with Operations Systems
SnapKey can integrate with:
- Work order systems – Automatic access when assigned a task
- HR systems – Sync hires and departures
- GIS systems – Geographic overview of access
- SCADA – Link access data with operational data
FAQ
Do we need to replace all lockboxes?
No. SnapKey with QR + PIN can be implemented without touching the existing lock. The QR code is mounted on the outside, and the system manages access digitally.
What if a technician forgets their PIN?
Administrator can reset the PIN in the dashboard. Technician chooses a new PIN at next login.
Does it work offline?
QR + PIN requires internet connection for validation. For locations without internet, iLOQ locks can be used – they work fully offline.
Can we give a plumber access to one specific cabinet?
Yes. You choose exactly which locations, and set a time window. The plumber receives access via SMS and can only open the selected cabinets.
Get Started
Is your district heating company ready to replace lockboxes with traceable access?
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