Access That Matches Your Working Day
Access control systems replace an uncontrolled key arrangement with defined permissions for staff, visitors and contractors. A reception door, stockroom and plant room may each need a different level of control. We start with how those spaces are used, including shift changes, deliveries and periods when the building is partly occupied.
A single controlled door can work as a standalone installation. A larger building may need networked controllers and central administration. The useful distinction is how you want to manage changes, not simply how many readers are fitted. The proposal should explain what happens when someone joins, changes role or leaves.
Choosing Readers, Credentials And Locks
Cards and fobs are familiar options, while mobile credentials may suit organisations with managed devices. Keypads can be useful in some settings but shared codes are difficult to attribute to individuals. A suitable credential should match the risk, the administration capacity and the experience expected at the door.
The lock must suit the leaf, frame, fire-door status and expected traffic. A magnetic lock, electric strike or motorised lock is not an interchangeable choice. Check door alignment, closing action and hinges before fitting electronics. A door that does not reliably close cannot provide reliable access control.
Emergency Escape Comes First
Access control must be considered alongside the building fire strategy and escape arrangements. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 places duties on the responsible person in relevant premises. Controlled doors on escape routes need particular review, including release arrangements and behaviour during loss of power.
The government evacuation guidance requires emergency doors to open easily. Agree the detailed arrangement with the relevant fire and door specialists. Do not assume every electronic lock should behave identically, or that connecting a lock to the fire alarm is the whole safety design.
A Survey Of Doors And People
The survey should record each opening, the people using it and the permission rules it needs. It should identify any shared landlord areas, delivery entrances, disabled access requirements and doors used by visitors who do not carry credentials. Cabling, controller locations and backup power also need a place in the plan.
We discuss existing systems before proposing an expansion. Some platforms support additional doors but require licences or software changes. Others have unsupported controllers that limit future options. Your organisation should receive a clear account of what will be retained, replaced and integrated, with dependencies on your IT network stated.
Installation, Testing And Administration
Installation should protect the operation and integrity of the door, including any fire-resisting construction. Work needs coordination where a landlord, door contractor or fire specialist controls part of the installation. Permissions should be tested using the actual access groups rather than only an administrator credential.
At handover, nominate who will manage users and issue replacements. Demonstrate a lost-fob cancellation, an unauthorised attempt and the agreed emergency release arrangements. The NSI access control guidance provides useful specification context, including its NCP 109 code. Ask the proposed installer to identify the applicable design standard in writing.
Costs And Long-Term Ownership
The number and type of doors are major cost factors, but door repairs, cable routes and integration can be just as important. Software subscriptions, mobile credentials and hosting may create ongoing costs. Compare the complete operating arrangement rather than the price of a reader alone.
Access logs may contain personal information, so agree who can use them and how long they will be kept. Keep an up-to-date record of administrative ownership and software support. For visitor conversations at the entrance, see our door entry systems. A combined design can reduce separate tasks for reception without giving visitors unrestricted access.
Your Questions Answered
Can Lost Access Fobs Be Cancelled?
Lost access fobs can usually be cancelled individually when the system records a separate credential for each user. The administrator should know how to remove a credential and confirm the change has reached the relevant controllers. Report losses promptly, and agree a process for temporary replacements so spare fobs do not become untracked access routes.
Will Access Control Work During A Power Cut?
Access control behaviour during a power cut depends on the lock arrangement, controller and backup supply. The design needs to address both security and safe escape for each opening. Ask for the intended behaviour to be documented and tested, including what happens when any backup power is exhausted and how authorised staff regain access afterwards.
Commercial Security Across Newcastle
We take enquiries for Newcastle and nearby commercial locations, including Gateshead, Longbenton, Wallsend and Cramlington. Tell us whether you need a new system, an extension or help with existing equipment.