What is an Access Control System?
Access control systems determine exactly who is allowed to both enter and exit your business premises. In addition to this, they also allow you to choose where they’re allowed to exit and enter, and when they are allowed to gain access.
Typically, an access control system will use an identifier such as an access card, biometrics or a smartphone; which will not only authorise people to enter the property, but can also log where and when, which can be valuable information when you own a business premises.
Expert Access Control Systems in Bristol and the South West
No matter the size of your business or the sector you operate in, having an access control system can improve your organisation’s security. Larger, more complex access control systems would be commonplace for larger buildings such as governmental and healthcare buildings; but SMEs can also benefit from access control with smaller-sized systems.
There are a range of different access control systems available, including door entry systems, turnstiles & speed lanes, SALTO access control and Freevolt biometric access control.
At Brunel, we have over 25 years’ experience in providing access control systems to businesses in Bristol, Bath, Swindon, Gloucester, across the South West and also across the UK.
Every one of our access control systems is designed in-house, meaning we can work with you to tailor our access control technology to the specific needs of your business, and also the premises in which it will be installed.
In addition to designing access control systems, we will also install your new access control system with minimal disruption, ensuring your day-to-day operations aren’t impacted during installation. We’re SafeContractor approved and CHAS accredited, ensuring that every part of the process will be carried out in a safe and efficient manner.
We also offer maintenance and monitoring for access control systems to ensure it is kept in good working order and that the system is continually being observed.
The Benefits of Access Control Systems
There are a number of benefits to having access control installed in your business premises, with the first being able to control who has access to your sites and properties. You can prevent unauthorised parties from accessing entire buildings or even single rooms, whether it’s a malicious or accidental attempt to gain access to your property.
Access control systems allow for selective restriction of access to a property, building or room by authorised personnel and can be operated over a network, thus allowing you to manage your company’s security from one central point whilst also making it easy to stop, or grant, access for different people.
Access control systems can range from single systems to large, fully-integrated multi-site solutions. They can also incorporate a range of different access methods, including card swipes, coded keypads, RFID or biometric data.
What to Consider when Choosing an Access Control System
When considering which system is right for your business, you’ll need to consider a number of factors to ensure we can design and install the most effective access control system for your business. They include:
- How many doors need securing?
- What is the physical make-up of the door: is it wood, aluminium, glass, composite etc.?
- What is the intended purpose of the door: entry or exit, people or cars?
- Is it a free exit or controlled exit?
- What is the volume of people or vehicles?
- What level of security do you need your access control system to provide?
Call 0117 453 3332 to arrange a free site survey or to talk through your Access Control requirements and tap in to our 25 years of experience to secure your business.
Access Control System FAQs
How does an access control system work?
An access control system will contain four key elements: a tag, reader, controller and lock.
Each user will have a tag, such as a card or a smartphone, which will be authorised on specific doors at specific times by an administrator.
These credentials will then be read by the reader. Should the tag be authorised at that time, on that door, and presented near to the reader, the door will unlock.
The controller is the core of the system, which will store all of the information about who is authorised and when. This is controlled by a central computer.
The lock is an electro-mechanical locking device, which becomes unlocked when the above verifies access for the user.
Why is access control important?
When it comes to running a business, ensuring that your employees are safe, and protecting your property; access control is an excellent investment to make.
Access control will prevent people from gaining unauthorised access to your building; helping you to protect valuable items whilst also ensuring that any restricted areas can’t be accessed without authorisation.
An access control system will also give you an unparalleled level of data on who visits your site and when allowing you to further understand your company and its visitors.
What happens if an access control card is lost or stolen?
If an access control card is lost or stolen, the cardholder should report it as soon as possible. Then, the administrator will be able to revoke the access that the card had on the central database.
From this, the access control system will be able to tell whether this card has been used and whether someone has tried to gain access to the premises.
Will access control system installation cause disruption?
At Brunel, we are specialists in designing and installing access control systems in Bristol, the South West and across the UK. We’ll ensure that there is minimal disruption whilst your access control system is installed, allowing your business to run as usual.
Will an access control system affect my insurance?
A business that utilises an access control system will not only have a crime deterrent that will increase security, but if designed and installed correctly, it can also help to dramatically reduce your business insurance premium.