FOCUS ACCESS CONTROL
Richard Jenkins, chief executive at the National Security Inspectorate (NSI), off ers
advice on fi nding the right suppliers to help manage access to your buildings
Access control reduces risk and
increases the safety of those working
in or visiting a building. Whether
introduced retrospectively to enhance
security measures or as part of a new
construction project, a comprehensive
access control system can improve overall
security.
According to a 2017 Memoori report,
‘Market size and major trends in the access
control market 2017 to 2022’, the global
access control market is set to grow by
a compound annual growth rate of over
eight per cent until 2022, driven by high
adoption of access control solutions as
a result of deploying increased safety
measures. Following introduction of the
28 SEPTEMBER 2019
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR),
identity management and technological
advancements, such as increasingly
reliable wireless technology and adoption
of IoT-based security systems with cloud
computing platforms, are fuelling growth
and enhancing performance.
Various product designs and levels of
sophistication are available. Requirements
vary depending on whether a building is
single occupancy or multi-tenanted, and
it’s important to specify system needs
thoroughly and precisely. Whatever the
environment, the same questions of need
and operability apply. It’s not just hardware
elements that need to be fit for purpose –
system design must also address specific
applications and planned use.
For example, di erent credentials or
recognition technologies can be deployed for
users to gain access to controlled areas of a
building. Recognition technologies fall into
three categories: something known to the
user, such as a Pin code; something carried by
the user, such as a token, fob or card; and a
unique identifier, perhaps a biometric such as
fingerprint or retina recognition.
Door controller so ware at the heart of a
system may be set to determine access rights
for individuals at any given time. Parameters
can vary dependent on the sophistication and
scale of the system, including the number of
readers and zones being controlled from any
one point.
Some of the options include:
A single standalone door controller linked to
a single door with no so ware
Multiple door controllers networked to a
single PC controlling a single zone or site
Multiple zone configurations networked over
a wide network area (could be appropriate
for larger, more complex environments such
as hospitals or schools).
QUALITY CONTROL