Decide the rules first
List the doors that need control and who should have access at what times. Staff, cleaners, contractors and visitors often need different rights. Technology follows policy, not the other way around.
Decide how lost credentials are handled and who administers the system.
Think about after-hours entry, deliveries and emergencies. Many break-ins and lockouts come from gaps in these cases, not from the technology itself.
Doors and hardware
Each controlled door needs a reader, a lock or strike, a door position sensor and a way to exit safely. Fire code requires that people can always leave, so hardware choices matter.
Our team supplies and installs doors and hardware, which means the lock, frame and electronics are matched from the start.
Power and cabling
Readers and locks need low voltage cabling back to a controller, and power supplies often with battery backup. Doors must release on fire alarm, so the system ties into the alarm panel.
Our Low Voltage Systems Manager, Adam Mason, and the electrical team coordinate this wiring with the rest of the build.
Credentials and software
Options include cards, fobs, mobile credentials and PIN codes. Cloud-based systems allow remote management, while on-site systems keep data local. Consider how many users you have, how often they change and your preferred way of managing them.
Reports and audit trails help with investigations.
Growth and integration
Plan for extra doors and for integration with cameras, alarms and visitor management. Running spare cable and leaving controller capacity costs little during construction and a lot afterwards.
Test every door after installation, including fail-safe behaviour on power loss and on fire alarm.
Questions we hear
Can access control work on existing doors?
Often yes, but frames, hardware and wiring paths must be checked first.
Is cloud access control secure?
It can be, when set up with strong passwords, updates and good practice. Ask your provider how data is protected.