Here you will get to know how and why you should install access control systems. After all, knowing your installation options is useful if you first understand the basics. Then you will get to know about the door hardware to establish an access control system. We offer a few hardware installation options depending on the doors you want to link to access control. We’ll then share your access reader alternatives with you. Many locksmith companies frequently surprise their customers with the variety of access control reader alternatives they provide. Mobile Locksmith San Francisco can be called anytime to help you in San Francisco, CA. As a result, researching and comprehending your options can help you in choosing the best equipment for your own property. Now, before diving into specific discussions of access control components, let’s start with an overview of access control.
Your Access Control Primer
Access control systems have grown in popularity over the last few years. This security method entails controlling access to your property with advanced lock devices. Electronic locking hardware is used by access control systems to operate certain doors within a business. Instead of a key, users approach a keypad or a reader and present either a code or a physical credential. We’ll go into the specifics about these alternatives later. After the scanner interacts with the door’s electronics to unlock it, users who present an approved credential will be allowed to open it. Business owners can designate each credential to access just certain doors at specific times, providing them complete control over who can and cannot open which doors and where.
Access control systems feature software that tracks access in addition to controlling access to specific doors! When an employee approaches an access door, a time-stamped event is created, which you may examine on a computer by entering into your access control system. This enables you to simply track staff activity within your company. It also allows you to see if somebody attempts to access doors in your business that they should not.
For example, if an employee attempts to enter a secure room without authorization, the system will both reject access and “tag” the event. You will then know which employee attempted to break. These systems’ protection and versatility make them an exceptionally valuable component of any commercial security plan. Now, let’s delve deeper into our access control installation options, beginning with the door hardware we’ll utilize to put this security in place.
A HES electric strike
When the right access control credentials are supplied, an electric strike, such as the HES model, electronically unlatches.
Door Hardware Options
Access control systems, as previously mentioned, use electronic gear that activates when prompted by a credential rather than a key. So, we must run wiring from a power supply to each door in order to power these systems. Then we connect the power to our door hardware. That final stage will be covered in the following section. We’ll go over the most common forms of lock hardware we use to unlock our access doors in this section. We frequently use exit devices (or “crash bars”) that have electronics incorporated right into them! This can be accomplished by obtaining a “new” crash bar with electric latch retraction. Furthermore, inside an existing crash bar, we may frequently install electronic retrofit kits. This lets us avoid changing high-quality lock equipment that is already in place.
We frequently install electric strikes, such as the one shown above, on doors with normal levers. When a user presents a valid code or physical credential, these devices electronically unlatch. Finally, for situations with double doors, we can add mag locks. The “mag” in this context stands for “magnet.” These devices use a heavy-duty magnet mounted on the top of the frame to keep the double doors shut. The magnet opens the doors, allowing the appropriate users to pass through. Furthermore, we must connect these doors to a property’s fire alarm as well as install other fire-safety devices to ensure that doors do not become stuck during a fire. As a result, mag locks are a more expensive alternative than electronic crash bars or electric strikes. Let’s look at our credentials, readers, and access control keypads now.
Selecting the Keypads, Credentials, and Readers that Work for You
When it comes to installing access control keypads and readers, we offer some variety as we do with door hardware. Furthermore, one of these devices, our proximity scanners, can read a variety of physical credentials. In this section, we’ll look at a few different forms of technologies that we can use to increase door security. We’ll begin with simple keypad-based access control. Following that, we’ll have a look at our proximity readers, which are our most popular access reader options. Finally, we’ll look at how installing biometric readers might increase security- as well as cost and potential issues! Let’s start with the most “simple” type of access control.
Keypad-Based Access Control
A keypad adds a basic amount of protection to a business. Installing a keypad restricts door access to individuals who know one of the user codes required to unlock the door. This level of simplicity does have certain drawbacks. After all, anyone with a building access code can go through a keypad. As a result, installing a keypad is less secure than installing one of our other reader alternatives.
A user entering a code on a linear keypad
Linear keypads, for example, allow users to enter a code to unlock access control doors.
However, keypad systems are less expensive than reader-based systems. Security companies can frequently install deadbolts or keypad locks without the need to connect them to a controller or add electronic features to an existing door. You can often buy a battery-powered keypad instead of installing additional electronic equipment. Both of these alternatives allow for the installation of keypads at a far lower cost than other methods of access control.
Standard Proximity Readers
Proximity readers get their name from the fact that they read a card or fob that enters the reader’s proximity. These are the most common types of access control readers that we install. Proximity readers like most business security options offer advantages and disadvantages. On the bright side, proximity readers provide an excellent balance of security and price. In contrast to keypads, proximity scanners demand a highly precise credential to open a door.
The most significant disadvantage of a proximity system is the usage of cards and fobs that can be lost or, in extreme situations, copied or “cloned.” If an employee misplaces a proximity device, there is a security risk until the credential is recovered or deleted from the system. The process of “cloning” a proximity card or fob is copying data from one device to another. A reader will not be able to tell the difference between the copied fob or card and the original credential in this situation. Not all cards can be copied, however the more secure the card, the more expensive it is. To mitigate this risk, many readers now support Bluetooth connectivity! Because people rarely lose their smartphones for extended periods of time, this function can give added security.