WHAT IS ACCESS CONTROL?

People sometimes think that a locksmith just fits new locks and repairs broken doors after burglaries.
 

Last month I told you what a master locksmith is and that I am personally a member of the Master Locksmiths Association (MLA).  Over the next few months, I thought it might be useful to explain some of the other services I provide in more detail. 

In the last few weeks I have been working on some drawings for security grilles for example. Once I have drawn them, they are made and I then install them. They are often used when residents are more vulnerable. More about that in another blog post however, as I am going to explain what access control is in this particular blog post.

Access control allows you to control who can enter your building. While most of us use locks with keys, particularly for access to our homes, access control systems are of great benefit in commercial buildings, housing associations, blocks of flats or anywhere that has a number of people entering and leaving. Keys can be lost or stolen and changing locks and getting new keys for everyone can be expensive and inconvenient. Keys can also be copied which can make your building even more vulnerable.

New technology has had a huge impact on what we can now offer. Some access control systems use coded access cards, some use personal identification numbers (PINs) with a keypad. If cards are lost, or a member of staff leaves without returning their card for example, they can easily be deactivated and a new one issued. You can even allow certain cards to have access within the building to specific areas and allow more limited access to others.

Access control systems ensure all doors controlled by the system are automatically locked, ensuring doors are not left unlocked by mistake, resulting in your building being vulnerable to break-ins.

Systems can be standalone, which means programming takes place at each door. Others are controlled by a PC over a network for example. PC systems can also be integrated with closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems. This is a camera or a number of cameras that monitor who is entering and leaving a building alongside the access control system.

As I said earlier, technology has had a big impact on my industry and we can now offer a range of access control systems such as biometric controllers using fingerprints for example.

Access control is something well worth considering if you have a number of people entering your premises or with different access permissions. It also means you’ll probably never have to change a door lock again because keys have been lost or ended up in the wrong hands.

We can fit and repair all types of access control systems. You can trust us to give you honest advice too if you just want to find out more about access control systems, as we have over 30 years of experience. Just contact us by email or give us a call on 020 8850 8356 to find out more.

Until next time, stay safe.