ACCESS CONTROL
How access control systems and door automation work together
» ACCESS CONTROL SYSTEMS AND door automation are perfect partners . Each enhances the other ’ s functions . Together , they make getting into and around buildings easier and more secure for everyone . Access control generally focuses on a door ’ s locks . These systems ensure that only authorised individuals can unlock a restricted door and gain access . Door automation is more about convenience . Automatic doors mean users don ’ t need to touch , push , pull , or slide doors to gain entry ; the door does it for them .
Why are access control and door automation good partners ?
For end users in places like office buildings , colleges , and healthcare institutions , there is a constant battle to find the right balance of security and convenience . Nobody wants it to take five minutes to get one person authorised and into the building . But at the same time , everybody wants to be confident that security levels are high and unauthorised people aren ’ t wandering around the premises . Combining access control and door automation helps find a happy middle ground .
Increasing security with access control
Access control systems enhance security by automating the authentication process that decides who to let in and who to keep out . The system keeps a database of valid users , and people must prove that they ’ re on that database to be granted entry . They prove this with some type of credential . A wide range of credential types exists , from traditional swipe cards and keypad codes through to high-tech biometrics like fingerprints and iris patterns .
By forcing users to prove their validity before entering , access control systems help to ensure that only authorised individuals can get into a restricted area . Users are therefore more confident in the security and safety of the site , as entry is limited and monitored .
Improving convenience with door automation
Automatic doors are all about making life easier . Doors opening by themselves is useful in a huge range of scenarios . Perhaps you ’ re a teacher in a school , and you ’ re carrying boxes of books around . Maybe you ’ re a porter in a hospital , pushing people in wheelchairs and beds through the building . Or you could be a security manager in an office building , dealing with a large influx of people all at once in the morning , and the same going the opposite direction in the evening .
44
MARCH 2024
locksmithjournal . co . uk Issue Takeover