DEFINITION

Access control is a very broad term that can be used for many different things, in fact Access Control can be considered anything from a simple mechanical key lock to sophisticated vera-print (thumb print)readers or retinal (eye) scans. Some of the most common use card readers and keypads. Most access control systems use a variety of electronic releasing methods, many times combined with latching systems. More commonly, when people refer to access control, they are referring to a system for controlling access. You will find this more commonly in the Automatic Gates development and parking lot control systems. This section is not going to be referring to any mechanical controlled means of access control. In this we are going to stick with the electronic access control.

STAND ALONE

One of the cheapest forms of access control is standalone units. These units are generally built into a lock set and may even have a mechanical key over ride. The simple units have gotten far more complex than their earliest versions, which were just mechanical pushbutton locks. The electronics in these units now can have card readers, veraprint or a keypad. Many of these systems also have auditing software.

AUDIT CONTROL

Audit control is the ability to go into the system and find out who comes in and at what time, using their personal identification information that is stored in the database. In a standalone unit, you must bring a handheld PDA or laptop to interface with the storage in the unit itself. Even though many of these systems are designed so that you could add and delete cards and codes at the standalone unit itself, without an interface. It is too time consuming just using the keypad.

HIGH SECURITY

One of the most common thought's of reason for Access control, is in government facilities where there is high security. These are the systems which generally require a higher level of identification. In some of these access control systems, you must add in numbers or use some personal identification method (like the veraprint reader, retinal scan or a personal code) in conjunction with your card or transponder. Some of these systems even require you to log out and they can track you from different locations inside the building in real time. Occasionally the systems will even be used for time and attendance. However, many times it’s just for verification purposes. The system has to be certified to able to be used for Time and Attendance. Many times these access control systems are integrated with your camera systems or CCTV. These systems can even watch you in real time as they are tracked from one zone to another through the building. Many of these are incorporated with Mag locks.

MAG LOCKS (ELECTROMAGNETIC)

These Mag locks can be used for entrances and for interior doors as well. When understanding how a Mag-lock works, it is basically a Electric magnet (electromagnet). When power is supplied to it you can have a holding force in the thousands of pound range. In these systems there has to be overrides for exits out of the building for life safety codes, especially if you are dealing with a public area. Many of the exit devices are referred to as requests to exit, these may come in either a button or censor form. You will even find some that are built-in to a panic bar style device that is really just a button to release the mag lock.

ELECTRIC RELEASE

Commonly referred to as a buzzer system, this form of release is the electric latch or electric release. These were among the first of the access control devices in use commonly by the retail community. Most commonly they are used to release the latch to let somebody in or out. Many times you'll see this used out on jewelry stores and Pawn shops where they have to worry about people leaving with their merchandise, or who's walking in through the door. You would use the same latch release for either application, but if you wanted to control some ones ingress, and not their egress, you could use a simple entrance lever. With an entrance lever either somebody must activate the latch to let you in, or you must have some means to enter, whether it is a key to override the lever or a code or card for entrance. Yet when somebody is leaving all they must do is turn the lever handle. You can definitely see the advantages of this type of system, especially if you use a entrance lever, at this point you are not interfering with any of the life safety or the ADA (American disabilities act) codes .

LIFE SAFETY CODES

Meanwhile the whole egress could be restricted as well by changing the type of lever to a institutional style, which must be operated by a key from either side. But you must be careful when implementing this checking with your AHJ (authority having jurisdiction) to ensure you are not in violation for your particular area. Always remember that the AHJ has the final say in how any particular fire, life safety or even the ADA codes are enforced. For more information on life safety or ADA requirements, you may read my section on this topic.

AUTOMATIC GATES

The most common forms of access control that you see every day are in developments for residential communities, they are most commonly used in gate systems for traffic control. These kind of access control systems are generally used with telephone entry and transponders mounted in cars, to open up the gate systems, as well as using remotes and barcode readers. There are very wide varities of automatic Gate systems for light duty traffic control all the way up to community access. Most commonly, the outside leading gates are generally activated by loop detectors. These loop detectors can feel the magnetic presence of the car when it drives over it. These loop detectors are used for more than one application, They can be used to open the gate or to stop the gate from closing as a safety loop. You will find safety is paramount in any of these systems. They must be put together up to UWL (otherwise known as Under Writer’s Laboratory) specifications. Underwriters laboratory uses specifications for safety testing as well as product durability testing.

Whether you need integrated access control systems or a standalone access control system, we can sell and install all your access control needs such as; Kerri systems, I E I, Novation wireless, Locknetics and much more. We even carry stand-alone and hybrid units, such as Kaba Simplex, Alarm lock, Simplex, Code lock, Detex and more. We have customer support systems in place for data entry and retrieval for automatic gate systems, Mag locks or electric strike units for common entry ways and pedestrian control gates around pools and restricted areas. If you have interest in acquiring a system and think that it sounds too expensive, click on access control. This will take you in so you can get read our article on budgeting access control.