Access control – what is it about?
There is a door access system to every building. No building on earth is functional without an entry system and therefore no building can exist without it. In the conventional approach an entry system to a building is the combination of a lock and key. But these days moving ahead of traditional lock and key, modern buildings have smarter entry systems. In fact there exists a wide and impressive range of these solutions for the consumers to choose from. The latest range of access control systems is highly smart and advanced. These solutions actually combine a number of components to ensure impregnable security to a premise, building or location. Moreover the systems provide remote access and prioritise the experiences of users.
Every egress point ranging from proper doors to a building to doors to garages must be secured and to ensure security every such point must be properly managed. In addition to that the top of the class entry system solutions enhance efficiency of access authorisation to entering a demarked location for visitors, personnel and others who want an entry.
Electrified door hardware has the typical components
Entrances and exits are of various types and there can be lots of variations even within a single location. But there are also lots of general similarities existing among the varieties, says a skilled professional who works on key card door entry systems. In an ideal situation it must be possible to manage every door across your premise from a centralised hub through any device that can access the Internet.
Electromagnetic locking system
An electromagnetic lock is also called an electrified door lock forms the centrepiece of any electrified door system. This particular mechanism is mainly responsible for maintaining security and restricting access to authorised persons. The technology that powers electrified door locks is not something that is new. The locks are triggered locally using either biometrics like fingerprint or key cards. The modern versions of the system differ from earlier versions only in terms of their greater ability in integrating and controlling everything throughout the wider access control system. Using an entry system that is keyless it is also possible to tread little further beyond discarding the traditional access cards.
Door strike
A door strike is important to include in any locking system. You will find the component installed on a door frame. It is paired with other core components and it enables the lock to work in the way you want.
Door reader
This component is actually an electronic device and it enables an authorised individual to unlock the door and get access into a room, building or premise. Different types of these readers are there meant for different credential options. You can match and pair different types of door readers with different types of cards and different unlocking systems. There are two common standards to communicate with the system; these are the Wiegand and the OSDP or Open Supervised Device Protocol. These standards support a number of user friendly options like biometric readers, keypads, standard prox readers and others explains a professional who deals with key fob entry system for buildings over the years.
REX or Request to Exit
There is a range of electrified doors which is equipped with a mechanism to recognise when someone is approaching. This recognition is actually done by an IR sensor (IR stands for infra red). The technology is better known as REX or Request to Exit and involves raising an alert based on proximity when someone is approaching the closed door. One interesting fact about this system is REX knows whether the door is closed or open. Whenever someone attempts leaving the area the sensor initiates the unlocking process on its own.
DPI or Door Position Indicator
DPI or Door Position Indicator is a sensor that determines whether a door is closed or open. This sensor is present in several systems and it provides you with an instant visibility of the status of the door any time. The sensor even alerts you promptly whenever an out of ordinary incident occurs within the periphery. Some of these so-called extraordinary incidents could be intentional – like holding the door open for a guest. But at other times there could be a matter of concern involved – like an intruder tries breaking open the door. In both instances an instant visibility to the situation in hand proves helpful. When everything is working normally as those should the DPI works in combination with the controller to ensure the door relocks on its own after being closed.
Different varieties of RFID (or Radio Frequency Identification) Key Card Formats
One of the most common tools used unlocking electrified doors is key cards. The majority of people are accustomed to this range of cards as these are widely used in workplaces. These are one of the standards in door access systems thanks to the impressive level of efficiency and ease of use. However it is important to note that every key card is not the same when practical usage is concerned.
There is a range of RFID card formats for you to choose from although these options primarily depend on the type of door reader you are using. It is also important to mention that the majority of products that are used these days are actually not secured enough and thus pose a risk. It is crucial to select the right key card for the type of door entry system you have to bolster the security aspect.
Frequency difference – high frequency versus low frequency
The basic factor that differentiates key cards is frequency. Some cards are meant to operate on a low frequency while others depend on a high frequency. An RFID solution that uses low frequency will effectively communicate with card readers at 125 kHz whereas a high frequency RFID solution will require 13.56 MHz. The 125 kHz LF or low frequency solution is commonly used in proximity card format that is meant for employee badges as well as in access controls at gates and doors explains a skilled and qualified professional working at the renowned Commercial Electrician London. On the other hand the 13.56 MHz HF or high frequency solution is a common element found in credit cards and employee badges that are meant for physical and logical access control.