Access Control
Card, fob, and PIN entry for commercial doors and gates, with a record of every entry, including on doors that were never built for it.
We add controlled access to doors and gates that were never built for it, including doors other people said would have to be replaced. We supply and install the controllers, the readers, and the door hardware, and set up the schedules so the right people get in at the right times.
Every install respects fire and life-safety requirements. Doors have to secure a building and still let people out, and that is not something to improvise.
Retrofitting doors that were not built for it
We have experience adding key strike locking to existing doors, as well as auto-retraction mechanisms, on multiple brands of door that did not come factory-equipped for electronic access control. We have added access for customers who were told by others that the only option was to replace the doors. Mag locks are another solution for bringing access control to an existing door.
What an access control system gives you
Most doors and gates can have access control added: a walk-through door, a retractable garage door, or an electric gate. You get a record of who is in the building and when they arrived. You can give cleaning crews, maintenance staff, or customers access only at specific times. And you can unlock or open a door remotely, from the office or from off site.
Schools and other organizations use this to screen who is entering the building without stationing a guard at every entry point, and to know who accessed the building after hours if there is ever a problem.
We also install access control for self-storage facilities and other businesses that run accounting or timekeeping software, so customer or employee tracking and access happen automatically rather than by hand. Most access control systems are within our capabilities. If you have a specific need, tell us what it is and we will quote it.
UniFi Access, in stock
We carry Ubiquiti's UniFi Access controllers in stock, and they suit a lot of applications. You can grant specific people access at specific times, and you get a log and video of every entry. It is reasonably priced, easy to manage, works with access cards, a fob, or a PIN, and there is no monthly fee. It drops straight into a UniFi Protect camera system if you want the door and the footage in one place.
Choosing a locking mechanism
There is more than one thing to weigh, and the first is what happens in an emergency: both avoiding a safety hazard, and whether the system has to tie into an existing fire alarm to meet local fire code. If you are unsure, we will gladly talk through the advantages and disadvantages of each type for your building.
- Emergency egressWith key strike and auto-retraction mechanisms the door can still be opened the standard way in an emergency, which avoids the hazard entirely.
- Fail safe or fail secureWhat happens on loss of power: is the door locked or unlocked when the power goes? That is a decision, not a default.
- Mag locks and battery backupA mag lock has no locking ability at all once the battery backup is depleted. Worth knowing before you choose one.
- Fire codeSome installations must tie into the existing fire alarm system to meet local code. We check this rather than assume it.