Modern key control that respects historic buildings
Listed buildings, palaces and award-winning architecture leave no room for new cable runs or visible equipment. ecos systems are designed to fit in without altering the building.
No drilling into history: we plan placement with your buildings team during a site survey. Cabinets can be installed without drilling into historic walls or floors, as at the Château de Fontainebleau, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
No network cabling: a built-in 4G/5G modem connects each cabinet, independent of your IT network. No new cables through walls, floors or ceilings. At the Natural History Museum in London, every cabinet in the Grade I listed building runs on the mobile network.
Blends into the space: custom RAL colours, solid or transparent doors and your logo on the screen. At the Musée du quai Branly, cabinets were painted to match the interior.
Keeps working when the network doesn't: cabinets operate offline and store up to 500,000 events locally. A backup battery lasts more than 24 hours.
Fully reversible: cabinets and lockers can be moved or removed later, which simplifies approval for works in protected buildings.
No disruption to visitors: installation can be scheduled on your weekly closing day, out of sight of public areas.
Smarter key and equipment management across your whole site
Collection stores and display case keys
Protect the keys that matter most for your collection.
Four-eyes principle: sensitive keys are released only after two authorised people identify themselves, for example a curator and a security officer.
Know who holds every key: see who has the key to a display case or store, since when, and whether it has been returned.
Historic and oversized keys: keys too large or valuable for a key tag are stored in RFID-tracked lockers with the same audit trail.
Discreet key IDs: keys are identified by tag, never labelled with the room they open.
Security control room and master keys
Open on time, every day, without queues at the control room.
Key retrieval in under 5 seconds: no queue at opening time or shift change.
Master key alerts: get notified immediately if a master key isn't returned at closing.
Doorbell and video intercom: staff can call the control room from any cabinet.
Emergency release: release store keys remotely from the dashboard during an evacuation, with a mechanical emergency override that needs no tools.
Contractors and temporary exhibitions
Give exhibition builders, art handlers, cleaners and maintenance teams only the access they need.
Time-limited access: permissions valid only for a set time slot or exhibition period.
Codes by email: contractors receive a personal code that works only during their booking.
Full accountability: every key removal is logged by name.
Radios, badges and visitor devices
Keep shared equipment charged and accounted for.
Radio lockers with charging: the most charged radio is issued first.
Badge drawers: store contractor and visitor badges, as at the Musée du quai Branly.
Multimedia guides and tablets: RFID detection recognises up to 4 items per locker.
One step at shift start: collect keys, radio and badge in a single transaction.
Keys for every department, managed in a single dashboard.
Cabinets range from 5 to 360 keys and expand up to 1,440 keys. Start with the security control room, then add departments to a single cabinet, or multiple cabinets at your own pace.
Indicative. Every setup is confirmed during a site survey.
Department
What they store
Typical setup
Security control room
Master keys, gallery keys, keys for entrance doors, radios
Large key cabinet with extension + radio lockers
Curatorial and registrars
Collection store and display case keys
Small key cabinet with four-eyes release
Conservation studio
Workshop and working store keys
Small key cabinet
Facilities
Plant rooms, roofs, contractor keys
Mid-size key cabinet
Exhibitions and visitor services
Temporary spaces, contractor and visitor badges
Small key cabinet + badge drawers
Grounds and estate
Gates, outbuildings, vehicles
Mid-size key cabinet + fleet management
Why museums and heritage sites choose ecos
Protect your collection
Tamper-proof audit trail: who, what, when, where and how, for every key.
Investigations in minutes, not days: one-click reports for audits, insurers or police.
Authentication options: existing staff badge (multi-RFDI-reader, PIN or biometrics).
Certified security: ISO 27001, ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.
Fits your IT policy
Your choice of hosting: cloud with no servers to maintain, or on-premise on your own server.
Works offline: cabinets keep running during network outages.
No accessible USB ports on the cabinet.
Integrates with access control: Microsoft EntraID, Nedap AEOS, Genetec, Lenel OnGuard, Gallagher and others.
Works alongside electronic locks
Complements electronic key systems: if you already use electronic keys or cylinders, they still need to be handed out and returned. ecos tracks who holds each one, when it left and when it came back.
Grows with you
Start small: begin with the control room, then add departments.
Pay only for the slots you need: activate more key slots later with a licence code, no technician visit.
Unlimited users: staff, volunteers and contractors.
24/7 support and a mobile app to check key status from anywhere.
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