Page 44 - Security Today, February 2018

The Right Fit
Choosing the appropriate access control solution for a retrofit
BOy Gordon Holmes
ver the past decade, there has been a considerable need for added security in schools, hospitals and commercial buildings. This heightened demand for security has led to the continued growth and advance- ment of progressive access control systems. Due to
these advancements, there is now more opportunity to retrofit ex- isting buildings with up-to-date, advanced access control solutions. Choosing the appropriate access control solution in any building sit- uation, especially when discussing a retrofit, can be a complex task. In addition to addressing factors such as cost, time and functionality requirements, limitations inherent to a building’s design can make upgrading or installing a brand-new access control system in older buildings particularly challenging.
With so many options on the market it is important for distribu- tors, maintenance managers and facility managers to understand the building’s characteristics and needs. What are the traffic patterns in and out of the building and specific areas? What are the desired goals for the system? What are the budget constraints to create a solution that will suit the facility’s needs? What kind of level of se- curity is required?
Identifying and understanding the answers to these questions will help someone make an educated, strategic decision on what kind of
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access control solution works best for them. By avoiding a ‘one-size- fits-all’ approach to access control, decision-makers can avoid unnec- essary time and costs.
Standalone System
Standalone systems, where certain access points are equipped with card readers but are not connected to a larger network, can provide a cost-effective access control solution. These offline solutions are es- pecially applicable in retrofit applications where there is not enough room to install panels or monitoring equipment or in situations where it would be impossible to wire the entire building. The electronic locks also add a level of security that mechanical locks cannot provide.
There are certain situations where a building manager may need to keep a certain person out. If the access point was controlled by a me- chanical lock, and that individual had a key, the locks would need to be promptly changed. However, with a standalone system, the electronic lock can be quickly programmed to not recognize that individual’s card or keypad code. In addition, system administrators can download au- dit trails to view when certain users opened specific doors. This allows operators to monitor the activity to building entrances.
Standalone readers, while fitting for facilities that contain only a few doors that need access control, are not practical in large build-
ACCESS CONTROL