Access Control Systems
Keypads, card readers, intercoms, telephone entry, and integrated access management, controlling who enters, when, and maintaining audit trails.
Access control is the decision layer of an automated gate system. The operator moves the gate; access control determines whether it should move, for whom, and when. Systems range from simple keypads with a shared code to networked platforms managing thousands of credentials with detailed audit trails. We design and install access control matched to the application, appropriate technology, manageable complexity, and integration with gate operators and building systems.
What We Do
- Keypads and PIN entry systems
- Proximity card and fob readers
- Telephone entry and intercom systems
- License plate recognition (LPR)
- Mobile credential and app-based access
- Integration with building management systems
Best Fit For
- Gated communities requiring resident access
- Commercial properties with multiple tenants
- Industrial facilities with shift-based access
- Parking structures and lots
- Properties requiring audit trails
How We Deliver
- Access control needs assessment
- System selection and design
- Wiring and network infrastructure
- Programming and credential setup
- User training and documentation
- Ongoing support and credential management
Standards & Compliance
- UL 294 for access control units
- Integration with UL 325 gate systems
- Fire department override requirements
- ADA accessibility for pedestrian access
Access Control Technologies
Access control technologies vary in security level, convenience, cost, and management complexity. The right choice depends on user population, security requirements, and administrative resources.
- Keypads: Users enter a PIN code. Simple and inexpensive, but codes can be shared and there is no individual accountability. Best for low-security applications or as a backup method.
- Proximity cards and fobs: Users present a credential to a reader. Each credential is unique, enabling individual tracking and easy revocation. The standard for most commercial applications.
- Telephone entry: Visitors call residents or staff from a directory. The receiver can grant access remotely. Common for multi-family residential and visitor management.
- Intercoms: Two-way audio (and often video) communication before granting access. Adds verification beyond just having credentials.
- License plate recognition (LPR): Cameras read plates and grant access to registered vehicles automatically. Convenient for users but requires database management and has limitations (rental cars, dirty plates, lighting conditions).
- Mobile credentials: Smartphones replace physical cards using Bluetooth or NFC. Convenient and difficult to share, but requires compatible infrastructure and user adoption.
- Biometrics: Fingerprint, facial recognition, or other biometric verification. High security but higher cost and complexity. Typically reserved for high-security applications.
Standalone vs. Networked Systems
Access control systems fall into two broad categories: standalone units that operate independently and networked systems managed from a central platform.
Standalone systems store credentials locally in the reader or a small controller. Programming happens at the device, adding a card means physically accessing the controller. This works for small installations with stable user populations. Management becomes impractical as user counts grow or when credentials change frequently.
Networked systems connect controllers to a central server or cloud platform. Credentials are managed from software, with changes pushed to controllers automatically. Access events are logged centrally for audit trails and reporting. This is essential for larger installations, properties with multiple entries, and applications requiring accountability.
The trend is toward networked and cloud-based systems, which simplify management and enable features like remote administration, real-time monitoring, and integration with other building systems. However, networked systems require reliable connectivity and introduce cybersecurity considerations.
Credential Management
Access control is only as good as credential management. A system with perfect technology but poor credential hygiene, active cards for departed employees, shared PINs, no audit review, provides limited actual security.
Effective credential management includes: prompt issuance for new users, immediate revocation when access should end, regular audits of active credentials, and review of access logs for anomalies. For large user populations, this requires administrative resources and defined procedures.
Credential formats matter for security. Basic proximity cards can be cloned with inexpensive equipment. Higher-security formats (smart cards with encryption, mobile credentials with device binding) resist cloning. The security requirement should drive credential selection.
We help clients establish credential management procedures appropriate to their security needs and administrative capacity. The most sophisticated technology is wasted without proper management practices.
Telephone Entry Systems
Telephone entry systems serve multi-family residential, commercial buildings with visitors, and any application where guests need access granted by occupants. The visitor finds the resident in a directory and calls; the resident speaks with the visitor and can grant access remotely.
Traditional systems dial out on telephone lines, the resident answers their phone and presses a digit to unlock. Modern systems use cellular or internet connections for the call, and can reach mobile phones directly so residents can grant access from anywhere.
Directory management is an ongoing task. Residents move in and out; contact information changes. Systems with web-based administration simplify updates. Some systems allow residents to manage their own listings.
For commercial applications, telephone entry can route to a receptionist, answering service, or auto-attendant during off-hours. Integration with building directories and tenant management systems reduces administrative duplication.
License Plate Recognition
LPR systems use cameras to read license plates and match them against a database of authorized vehicles. When a match is found, the system signals the gate to open, no credential, no button, no interaction required from the driver.
The appeal is convenience: registered users simply drive up and the gate opens. No cards to lose, no codes to remember, no stopping to present credentials. For parking applications and residential communities, this streamlines entry significantly.
LPR has limitations. Accuracy depends on lighting, camera angle, plate condition, and plate design (some state plates are harder to read). Rental cars, borrowed vehicles, and new purchases require database updates. Visitors still need another access method.
LPR also provides audit trails, every plate read is logged with timestamp and image, whether access was granted or denied. This data has value for security and parking management, but also raises privacy considerations that should be addressed in policies.
Mobile Access and App-Based Control
Mobile credentials turn smartphones into access devices. Users install an app, receive a credential, and present their phone to readers using Bluetooth or NFC. Some systems allow opening the gate directly from the app without approaching a reader.
Advantages include convenience (phones are always carried), difficulty of sharing (credentials are bound to devices), and remote management (credentials can be issued and revoked without physical contact). Temporary credentials for visitors are easy to create and automatically expire.
Challenges include user adoption (not everyone wants another app), technology requirements (readers must support mobile protocols), and reliability (phones need battery life, Bluetooth must be enabled). A fallback method is usually necessary.
The technology is mature and increasingly standard. For new installations with tech-comfortable users, mobile access deserves serious consideration. For retrofit applications or populations less comfortable with smartphones, traditional credentials may be more practical.
Integration with Gate Operators
Access control must communicate with gate operators to trigger opening. The interface is typically a relay contact, when access is granted, the access control system closes a relay that signals the operator to open the gate.
This interface seems simple but requires attention. The relay must be wired correctly to the operator input. Timing must be coordinated, the relay must stay closed long enough for the operator to recognize the signal. For high-security applications, the interface may need to be supervised to detect tampering.
More sophisticated integration is possible. Modern operators and access control systems can communicate digitally, sharing status information and enabling coordinated behavior. The gate can report its position to the access system; the access system can log not just the access grant but whether the gate actually opened.
We ensure access control and gate operators work together properly, testing the complete system rather than just individual components.
Wiring and Infrastructure
Access control systems require electrical infrastructure beyond what the gate operator needs. Readers need power and communication wiring. Controllers need power and network connectivity. Telephone entry systems need cellular or internet connections.
Planning wiring during gate installation is far easier than retrofitting later. Conduit runs from the operator location to reader mounting points should be included in initial installation even if access control is deferred. Retrofitting conduit often means saw-cutting pavement or trenching landscaping.
For networked systems, network connectivity at the gate is essential. This may mean extending building network infrastructure to the gate location, using wireless bridges, or relying on cellular connections. Reliability of this connectivity directly affects system reliability.
Reader mounting height and position affect usability. Vehicle readers should be positioned for drivers to reach without stretching or opening doors. ADA requirements apply to pedestrian access points. Weather protection may be needed for exposed locations.
ADA Considerations
Access control at pedestrian entries must comply with ADA requirements. This affects reader mounting height, operating force, and interface design.
Readers and keypads must be mounted at accessible heights, typically 48 inches maximum above the floor or ground for a forward reach. Controls must be operable with one hand without tight grasping, pinching, or twisting. Audio feedback helps users with visual impairments.
For telephone entry systems, the interface must be accessible. Directories must be navigable. Audio must be clear. Video screens (if present) should be at appropriate heights with adequate contrast.
ADA compliance is a legal requirement for public accommodations and commercial facilities. We design and install access control that meets these requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What type of access control is best for a gated community?
- Most gated communities use a combination: proximity cards or mobile credentials for residents, telephone entry for visitors, and sometimes LPR for convenience. The specific mix depends on community size, security priorities, and budget. We recommend systems with web-based administration to simplify the ongoing credential management.
- How many users can access control systems handle?
- It varies by system. Simple standalone keypads may handle dozens of codes. Commercial card systems typically support thousands to tens of thousands of credentials. Cloud-based systems scale effectively without limit. We match system capacity to current needs with room for growth.
- Can access control systems track who entered and when?
- Yes, networked systems log every access event with timestamp, credential identification, and access point. This audit trail is valuable for security, time and attendance, and investigating incidents. Standalone systems have limited logging capacity; networked systems store logs centrally for reporting and analysis.
- What happens to access control during a power outage?
- It depends on system design. Most systems include battery backup for controllers, allowing continued operation for hours during outages. When batteries are depleted, fail-safe systems unlock (allowing exit for life safety); fail-secure systems remain locked (maintaining security). Fire code often dictates fail-safe operation for egress points.
Related Services
UL 325-listed gate operators for swing, slide, cantilever, and barrier applications, sized for your gate weight, cycle frequency, and operational requirements.
Knox boxes, siren-activated openers, emergency key switches, and radio receivers, ensuring first responders can access your property during emergencies.
Walk-through gates for controlled pedestrian access,from simple side-yard gates to access-controlled commercial entries and code-compliant pool enclosures.
Code compliance and permitting information.
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