Building access control systems

Written by: Eric Fleming

If you own a business or building, chances are good that there are certain times of the day (business hours, for instance), when you want the general public to have unfettered access to your establishment. During other times, however (after hours or during special events), you likely want to control access to your building. In this article, you'll learn about a few common building access control systems currently in use. You'll learn how they work for people entering and exiting a building, as well as similar tools used for secure parking lots and garages.

Before that, however, there are a few things to keep in mind when researching and purchasing a building access control system: be cautious and do your research. Don't just buy the first system you run into: take the time to make a good buying decision. Make sure all of your components, from swipe cards to biometric sensors to electric locks, work together seamlessly. Don't be afraid to view a demo system in action. It's your money you'll be spending and your building being protected.

Controlling access to a building really isn't that difficult. When you put as big a lock on the front door as you can, you've accomplished basic building access control. Only one person - the one with the key - gets in or out. But most businesses want something a bit more subtle and a lot more flexible.

Building access control components

To be an effective building access control system, you must have a few components. You must have a means to identify those who have legitimate access, a means to allow access once identity is proved and a means to keep the unauthorized outside.

There are many ways you can accomplish this. You could use a security guard sitting at the locked door, granting access as credentials are presented. The problem with this is the security guard must be paid and lines can build up while credentials are checked. There are many variables that can come into play, such as time of day, security level and more, for which a security guard is often not the best solution.

One common building access control system today is a keyless entry system that uses time-coded fobs. Imagine a day care. There are two time windows, one in the morning, one in the evening, when you expect a large influx of people to be coming and going. With a keyless entry system and time-coded keychain fobs, parents can simply wave their fob over the sensor. The information is transmitted to the access controller, which checks the particular fob against the time of day. If the fob is being used within an allowed window, the door unlocks, granting entry. This is also effective for store employees, as different levels of access can be granted. Managers can be given access no matter the time of day, while employees will only have access shortly before the store opens for business, and shortly after.

Another building access control system in use is a swipe card in combination with a PIN (personal identification number) or simply a keypad. Both these methods of building access control offer simplicity, although a swipe card combination offers an extra level of protection for your business, as each swipe card has its own individual password. Contrast this against a door with a simple keypad. The difference is clear.

Controlling access to parking lots and garages

Finally, there are parking lots and garages to consider. A parking garage (underneath an apartment complex, for instance) has the same set of tools - a locked door, an access-granting mechanism, and a control system that verifies access and grants entry, opening the access control gates. The most commonly used system is again the swipe card, although there are other options. A simple one-size-fits-all swipe card can be used, which controls costs and allows for reuse, but for true security that tracks each entry, individual cards must be used. Gate access control can also be activated by transponders mounted inside employee vehicles, making access more convenient in inclement weather.

Securing a building or parking lot or garage isn't a simple business. There are many different types of access that may need to be granted, and myriad ways to grant them. But performing due diligence in searching for the perfect building access control system should result in happy employees, happy customers and a secure building.

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