Access Control
Access Control is critical to security of any property. If the wrong people are kept out for a start, shrinkages, vandalism, theft and the like will be reduced.
Link this with Time & Attendance and you have a useful system which you can log staff hours and pay staff and contractors the amount they should be paid.
Let us guide you to ensure that the product you’re getting is reliable, up to date, well supported and fits your budget. We have solutions for small, single door stand-alone requirements right up to enterprise level, multi-site large systems.
We work with a number of different suppliers and products and will assure you get the most bang for your buck when making your selection of product. We take all factors into consideration including number of staff required to use the system, the type of environment the products will be deployed in, the exacting needs of your requirements to ensure you’re not paying for something you don’t need or not getting what you expected from the product.
Our solutions are varied and we fully support and install various types of devices and peripherals to ensure you receive maximum performance from your systems.
Components to the system
All Access Control System and Time & Attendance systems have the same basic components.
- Database / Software – In order to have a system that means anything, there needs to be a system behind it. Smaller applications can work in a “stand-alone” environment where no reporting is required or budgets are tight. This is ultimately what separates systems apart. Most manufactures such as Paxton and Impro will provide free or very inexpensive software which can provide some functionality but if you require a more robust system which can handle multiple rules and take many factors into consideration, then you are better looking at software which can perform these complex rules.
- Network – There are various forms of getting the information from the readers to the “system”. Most popular is TCP/IP (standard network protocol) or a communication on a BUS cable known as 485. 485 communication is typically used in smart-card / tag access control while biometrics typically runs on TCP/IP. Although this is not a hard and fast rule. Time & Attendance and Access Control networks do not need to be robust – as with CCTV – because the amount of data travelling over the network is minimal and can quite easily latch onto your existing IT network without your IT guy getting upset.
- Controllers – each system on the market varies slightly in this area. Some platforms require 1 main controller with separate door controllers (such as Impro), others use 1 controller per door (like Paxton) and others don’t use physical controller but validations are done on a PC over the network. Each methodology has its pros and cons and certain applications would work better in different environments – again a process we will guide you through.
- Readers – mostly smart-card / tag or fingerprint biometric (or other biometric although fingerprint is probably the most widely used. See our section on Smart-card and Biometrics for more info on what’s available.
- Access Control devices – Although time and attendance does not, as a rule, require there to be access control working in conjunction with it, it remains advisable to combine the two for this simple reason that this “forces” staff to actually clock and cannot use excuses such as “they forgot”.
Smart card readers
Smart Card Access Control & Time Attendance:
We supply and install a number of different products all depending on your specific requirements.
Smart card technology is still a widely used technology in the market place as it’s generally much more cost effective than biometric technology and has a host of applications including the hospitality industry, large industry and similar.
Smart Cards have a built-in microchip which communicates to the reader using radio frequencies or more commonly known as RFID (Radio Frequency Identification).
Most of these products are very similar in how they function and it’s mostly the aesthetics and housings which change depending on your environment.
Smart Card Products which we support and / or install include:
- Paxton
- Impro
- ZK Techo
- RBH (Axiom)
- Proxnet GSC Systems)
- HID
- SACO (limited support
Biometric readers
Biometric Access Control & Time Attendance:
Biometrics is usually associated with the measurement and use of unique physiological characteristics to identify an individual such as fingerprints, voice, DNA or the iris. Biometrics are popular as they are unique, quantifiable and near impossible to replicate. From a reliability and cost point of view, fingerprint biometrics remain the firm favorite in the industry.
Biometrics have become immensely popular in South Africa over the last decade or so as it eliminates possible fraudulent activity on your site with regards to Access Control and Time & Attendance as people cannot “clock in” for their buddy or give a person of a dubious nature their access card to get into your facility.
The main advantage of biometrics over smart cards is that a person cannon lose, swap or forget their fingerprints at home. Administration around issuing lost or stolen cards is reduced and security is enhanced.
We supply and install a number of different products all depending on your specific requirements and budget.
• iEvo • Sagem • Virdi • Suprema • RBH (Axiom)• ZK Teco
Software
Biometric Access Control and Time & Attendance Software
There are many different software packages out there some focusing just on Time and Attendance, others mainly on Access Control and some which integrate the two.
Each organisation is different in its requirements so to assist you to make the right choice, we’ll ensure we go through all your requirements and find the best product to meet your exacting requirements. We’ll help guide you through all the technical terminologies associated with access control such as anti-passback, mustering points, parading and other terms you may not be familiar with.
Many manufacturers release their own version of software which is often free but sometimes a bit limited in its functionality. We will evaluate your exacting requirements and guide you towards the platform which best suits your environment, your requirements and budget.
Software which we supply, install and can support include:
• Paxton (Access Control with basic T&A)- integrated with Jarrison T&A
• Impro (Access Control)
• Jarrison Time (Time & Attendance only)
• RBH Axiom (Access Control)
• Suprema Biostar (Access Control with T&A)
• Softcon
• ZK-Teco
• SACO (Access Control and integrated T&A)
Turnstiles
Turnstiles of various finishes, sizes and applications
Turnstiles are the perennial favourite in controlling pedestrian access. The obvious advantage to a turnstile is that it limits the quantity of persons entering your premises simultaneously and you have an exacting record of who came in and when.
Turnstiles come in many different shapes, sizes and finishes – each with their own specific application. The most common for perimeter and industrial / large commercial applications is a full-height turnstile.
Depending on the manufacturer, the average height is about 2.1 meters and around 1.4 meters for a single and around 2.2 meters for a double turnstile. They come in many different flavours as well and finishes are either powder-coated (where rust is not an issue and aesthetics are required), galvanised (where rust is a potential problem and aesthetics is not as important) or stainless steel (very close to the ocean, food manufacturing or high aesthetic value areas) .
Turnstiles also come in half height or waist heigh and there are a number of different products available for more corporate environments and where aesthetics important. Fishes can include glass, stainless steel and other materials to add to the appeal. It is always important to remember that it’s what on the inside of a turnstile that is important if you look at the lifetime cost of ownership of these products. Here are some of the products which are able to offer as well:
Vehicle Booms
Motorised and manual vehicle booms and barriers including spike barriers:
Vehicles coming on to site can always be a problem. It brings with opportunities for theft, damage to property and persons and if not controlled properly can become a major headache. We offer a range of products to suit your environment and requirements from manual to motorise booms and spike barriers. Here is some detail on the various options with their pros and cons:
Manual Booms: This is the most cost effective from a once-off cost perspective but the on-going and permanent requirement to have a manual boom manned can become costly in the long run. If, however, you have a guard stationed at your entrance regardless, then this does not become an issue but then also no record is kept of who went in / out and when.
Motorised Booms: Motorised booms are the most popular as they do not have to be permanently manned and they you will have a record of who came in / out if coupled to an access control system. Even if you have a guard stationed at a motorised boom, the information of movement may be critical to business.
Spike Barriers: If you have a very high risk area and cannot afford for someone to simply drive through your boom pole, the next best solution is a spike barrier. These are retractable spikes which will shred a cars tyres is a vehicle tries to drive over them. The barriers can either be flush mount (which requires a bit of civil work) or mounted on top a solid road surface.
Man traps & Booths
Man traps and booths:
A man-trap or booth is most often seen at a bank to enter and exit but it does serve a greater purpose than just banks. The concept is simple, only one door can be open at a time.
The main advantage to a booth is that it limits the number of persons entering an area to only one at a time, forcing them to “clock” in / out. It is more appealing to the eye than a turnstile and can also aid with inclement weather such as hot / cold winds from entering a building – which could in turn have a cost saving in regulating temperatures and keep all your papers from flying about.
If installed in a bank or other high risk area, they could be set to “shut down” in an emergency either trapping the perpetrator or preventing him from entering. They are also much narrower (approximately 800mm wide) so are often used in an area where a turnstile simply wont fit as the minimum opening required is around 1200 mm.
Locks & Peripherals
Electromagnetic locks, Striker Locks and other ironmongery such as door closers, push bars etc. and Access Control Peripherals:
The most cost effective way to secure a door / gate is through the use of an electro-magnetic lock or simply maglock. The most common “size” is a 300 Kg – which means the magnet will require 300 Kg of force before it separates. Smaller units are available but not used as much but larger units (500 to 600 Kg) are more regularly used on exterior gates where more leverage is available or on heavy safe doors or high risk areas.
Magnetic locks require permanent power in order to operate and thus you should always ensure you have a battery backed up power supply to ensure the door stays locked even when there is no power. Remember also to ensure that an emergency break glass unit is also installed with your maglock so that people can exit in the event of an emergency.
An alternate to a magnetic lock is a strike lock but these are often very cumbersome to install and are not very appealing to the eye. The most common types “stay” locked and unlock when given power. Thus they are mostly used on exterior or perimeter gates /doors from a security aspect. To ensure that your door or gate remains closed at all times, we always fit a door closer. We have either light duty, medium duty and heavy duty door closers. This refers to both the weight of the door or gate that need to be closed as well as the frequency of use.
Push bars are usually installed on emergency exit doors and can be linked to an alarm or fire alarm to ensure that improper use does not occur or that others are warned in the event of a fire. Generally most fire systems require what is known as a “double-knock” i.e. at least 2 devices (fire / heat / smoke) detectors have to have detected a fire in order to raise an alarm but push bars and red, fire break glass units (or also known as manual call points) would send an alarm panel into an immediate “double-knock” status.
Tell us what we can do for you...
Visit Us
Unit H19
Millennium Business Park
Stellenberg Road
Parow Industrial
Cape Town
