A
ccess control solutions have existed
for many years, however, it’s certainly
the case that the recent rapid pace of
technological advancements and innovations
has increased the capabilities of products
which are on the market today.
As any specifier will know, no two
buildings’ access requirements are the same.
This is especially true of organisations and
projects where multiple buildings are
managed under one entity, such as
university campuses, hospitality complexes
or large shopping compounds. With a
variety of offerings available, specifiers can
find themselves lost in what seems like an
overly complex set of solutions, however
recent technology can ensure clients’ needs
are easily met.
In the clouds
Cloud-based technology is one of the most
significant innovations for access control.
Utilising an online platform to manage
user access across single and multiple sites,
these systems require minimal investment
in IT infrastructure to function and
operate successfully.
Integration of new software based
solutions can be costly, time consuming, and
inconvenient to those using the site, especially
in situations where 24-hour access for
authorised individuals is required. For cloud-
based systems, internet access is all that is
required to get everything up and running,
and provides a simple, centralised interface
for managing user profiles and privileges.
This is ideal for campuses and multi-
building complexes, especially those with
high turnovers (e.g. students graduating
from university while new students enrol),
as it allows tailored access to be established
for different people or groups for specific
buildings – so access requirements can be
added, amended or withdrawn in real
time. This also allows access to multiple
buildings with one access medium – such as
a smartcard, key card, or a fob.
Challenges can arise when specifying tailor made external door access solutions that suit
a wide range of users. John Hardman of dormakaba reviews the solutions available, and
how technology can help specifiers identify the right option
Technology benets for all
EXTERNAL ENVELOPE 55ADF AUGUST 2019 WWW.ARCHITECTSDATAFILE.CO.UK