DHI prepares for the future with EHC program.

ASILOOKED THROUGH THE MAY issue of Doors and Hardware, I reviewed the article showcasing the association's first class of EHCs and was filled with a deep sense of pride. Actually seeing it in print in the magazine clearly intensified this feeling. This class of 12 men and women represents the successful completion of a long-term project that numerous DHI members and devoted staff have dedicated countless hours towards. Those who were involved in its creation as well as those who have worked to attain this new certification all deserve our heartfelt congratulations.

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This new certification program is an important step forward for our industry. With advances in technology and the increasing demand for more secure openings, we're seeing more and more electrified hardware and access control systems used in buildings across the country. Electrified Hardware Consultants, or EHCs, will have specialized training that will give them the expertise necessary to interface electrified architectural hardware products into access control monitoring and fire alarm systems--all while maintaining compliance with fire, life safety, accessibility and building code requirements. The EHC certification provides a mechanism to communicate to the built environment that an individual has mastered this expertise--a powerful tool which differentiates one from their competition.

I still can recall the first couple of Forum for the Futures (in the late 90s) which were dedicated to the topic of access control. At that time, it was clear that our industry must take the lead in this area. One of the key strategies for our industry was growing the demand for existing education on this topic. One strategy identified was to develop a certification (I know Dan Heinz, DAHC, CDC, EHC, AOC--you told me so) supported by the existing education. Our industry has always embraced certifications and the EHC will be no exception.

As in everything we do in our industry, knowledge is the key. Who would have guessed that September 11th would take place and that our knowledge would move to the forefront as opposed to an afterthought by design professionals and the builders of the world. We have always been about life safety and security, but today the impact is far greater. The EHC certification timing was appropriate for our industry.

In the year 2020--I hope I am still hanging around (age 62)--it will be even more rewarding to see the impact of this work and the early pioneers. It is off to a great start.

This class of 12 is only the beginning though. In early June, an EHC school was held in Scottsdale, AZ and we had over 80 registrants! Among the most popular classes were those focused on electrified hardware. This growing trend illustrates that our industry continues to move forward to embrace the specification of and supply of high-end access control systems.

Additional EHC classes, as well as the EHC Exam Prep class, will be offered in September at the Annual Conference and Exposition in San Diego, so if you weren't able to attend the classes in June, we hope you'll join us September 11-16 in California. See pages 55-80 in this issue for more details and a registration brochure.

By Jerry S. Heppes, Sr, CAE