Access control decides who can be where, and when. Done well it removes keys, records movement and locks down a building in seconds. Done badly it traps people behind a locked fire exit. We design access control with the escape route as the first consideration, not an afterthought.
Systems
- Networked access control for single doors to multi-site estates.
- Door entry and video intercoms for housing, with concierge and app options.
- Proximity, PIN, biometric and mobile credentials.
- Turnstiles, barriers and gates.
- Integration with fire alarm release to BS 7273-4, lockdown systems, CCTV and intruder alarms.
- Visitor management and time and attendance.
Fire release done properly
Every electrically locked door on an escape route is designed against BS 7273-4: the category of actuation, the interface with the fire alarm, the local override and the fail-safe on power loss. The release is tested at every fire alarm service, and the result is recorded on the same certificate.
Frequently asked
Will access-controlled doors release in a fire?
They must. BS 7273-4 sets out how electrically locked doors on escape routes are released by the fire alarm, and which category of actuation the door needs. We design and test the release as part of the fire alarm cause-and-effect, which is where most other installers get it wrong.
Cards, fobs, phones or fingerprints?
Proximity cards and fobs remain the workhorse. Mobile credentials suit offices and staff who already carry phones. Biometrics suit high-security doors but involve personal data under UK GDPR, so we will talk through the data protection implications before specifying them.
Can you integrate with CCTV and intruder alarms?
Yes. Events can trigger camera recording, and the access system can arm or disarm intruder zones on the first and last credential of the day.
