Access Control

In physical security, the term access control refers to the practice of restricting entrance to a property, a building, or a room to authorised persons. Physical access control can be achieved by a human (a guard, bouncer, or receptionist), through mechanical means such as locks and keys, or through technological means such as access control systems, which control electronic or mechanical locks.

The most commonly used access control devices are

1) Push-Button Keypad Systems:

Typing in the correct code will allow the lock to open. A Keypad Lock works Mechanical and/or electronic latch release. This Lock Solution usually more suitable for heavy traffic ina Commercial environment.

Take a look at these popular Push-Button Combination Lock Solutions:

1. The Oracode High-Traffic Push-Button Lock

   

2. The AlarmLock with Key Bypass

   

3. Kaba-Unican 1000 Series - Indoor & Outdoor use

   

2) Fob / Token Reader Systems:

Holding a small Fob or Token up against the reader plate will send an electric impulse to the door lock to release. The fob readers can be tailored so that the door would release simply by sensing the presence of the fob your pocket or handbag. A fob-reader works in conjunction with an electronic door release or an electronically operated lock. This solution usually looks nice and is suitable for heavy traffic.

3) Card Swipe Systems

Swiping the card through the reader will send an electric impulse to the door lock to release. A swipecard reader works in conjunction with an electronic door release or an electronically operated lock. This solution usually looks nice and is suitable for heavy traffic.

4) Biometric Finger Readers:

The only commercially widely available form is the fingerprint reader. Upon installation the prints of 1 or 2 fingers per user are programmed into the reader. Presenting the correct fingertip to the reader plate will send an electric impulse to the door lock to open up. A biometric reader works in conjunction with an electronic door release or an electronically operated lock. This solution usually looks nice and is suitable for heavy traffic.

The headway this product makes is slow, mainly because solutions 1, 2 and 3 work quite satisfactorily.

5) Access control with computer feedback

If within your organisation you control more than just a few Fob or Card-Readers, then it may be suitable to have them administered centrally by wiring all readers to feed back to a central computer. This will make it very easy to add or delete fobs/cards or, for example, to set them up to work at certain times on certain readers only. While the installation and cabling tend to be involved, the end-result is usually incredibly well received.