Safeguarding systems

Matthew Holliday, Director of Approval Schemes at the National Security Inspectorate explains how access control systems have evolved to meet today’s demands, with a revised code of practice that provides valuable reassurance

In recent years, technologically driven solutions have been introduced to meet changing access demands. Some of these were required by the pandemic; others are the result of increasingly stringent fire safety requirements driven by legislation in response to incidents such as the Grenfell tragedy. They all create additional considerations for facilities managers.

Access control systems are an increasingly ‘future-proof’ means of safeguarding staff, visitors, stock and infrastructure, including vital IT systems. They play a vital role in enhancing security for varying types of facilities, including offices, storage areas, generating plants and the like.

Access control is no longer limited to standalone methods such as reception area turnstiles and door entry control devices. New opportunities are available to holistically integrate with other systems including IP-enabled CCTV surveillance cameras, automatic number plate recognition, software analytics and visitor management procedures. These provide an ability to increase both the functionality of access control management and its operational effectiveness.

ADAPTING TO DEMANDS

The challenging circumstances imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic in Spring 2020 demanded security measures be freshly assessed and, where necessary, strengthened and redesigned with smarter access control systems. Innovations introduced at the time were designed to help address the detection of COVID-19 symptoms, with contactless access control being deployed to reduce COVID transmission risk, helping FMs to meet their duty of care responsibilities where applicable.

One example of these innovative technological solutions is CCTV-based thermal temperature monitoring. Designed to help identify individuals’ abnormal temperature, it provides real-time alerts to security staff. Access points including door release and turnstile controls can be interfaced with it to provide automatic access or barring of individuals.

Such systems and procedures aren’t fool proof, but at the time offered a practical and realistic response to these new risks. They readily demonstrated the adaptability and ingenuity of system providers and how the security of facilities can be enhanced by these solutions.

The reopening of stadia across the UK for attended sporting and other events, following the easing of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on visiting fans, shone a spotlight on the operational importance of access control systems and procedures at these venues. Security breaches at Wembley Stadium ahead of the postponed UEFA Euro 2020 final in July 2021 provided a pointed reminder that arrangements to ensure the safety of those attending events are paramount.

This incident followed an infringement at Manchester United FC’s Old Trafford ground two months earlier, when more than 100 fans broke into the stadium, invading the pitch and other areas including the players’ tunnel. This focused attention on appropriate stadia security measures including perimeter access control systems and related staffing measures.

Technologies can be adapted to offer both physical security and fire safety protection. A prime example is the interfacing of electronic visitor management systems with appropriate access control solutions. This serves the dual functions of access control and real-time registers being available for roll call verification to account for persons immediately post-incident, should there be a facilities site evacuation.

This type of measure may be identified in a periodic mandatory life safety fire risk assessment, required for commercial and other sites (FMJ, April 2021). Legally responsible ‘Duty Holders’ – who can be anyone with control and/or oversight of a premises – in a wide spectrum of non-domestic premises are tasked with ensuring these assessments are carried out and their findings implemented in full.

This may require the implementation of fire safety protections including fire detection, extinguishing and alarm systems, and emergency evacuation procedures involving the automatic release of access control equipment to facilitate entry and exit.

RISK ASSESSMENT/THREAT DETERMINATION

Specifying appropriate access control measures is best guided by a competently performed on-site risk assessment and threat determination. Carefully defining needs will ensure these measures are both fit for purpose and, importantly, user-friendly. Those using the systems daily need to appreciate their effectiveness. Otherwise, the operational value of measures within these systems may be under-utilised or bypassed altogether, negating their effectiveness and potentially compromising the safety of those on-site.

Risk assessment also assists in the identification of site-specific access control needs, including the location of access points to be secured/monitored and any requirements for remote monitoring. It is factored into design, along with the risk classification of access points, which can vary e.g. inside/outside working hours, during daylight/hours of darkness, at weekends, or during other open/closed periods.