Access Control and Intercom Systems for Business and Home

​Access control is a method to ensure certain personnel and users are who they say they are and that they have the appropriate access where required. This takes away the need for keys and can prevent access to personnel id required quickly.

Electronic access control (EAC) uses hardware and sometimes computers to operate the limitations of mechanical locks and keys. The electronic access control system grants access based on the credential presented. When access is granted, the door or lift is unlocked for a predetermined time and is recorded. When access is refused, the door remains locked and the attempted access is also recorded. The desired system will also monitor the door and even alarm if the door is forced open or held open too long after being unlocked.

When a credential such as an access card, fob or remote is presented to a reader, the reader sends the credential’s information, usually a number, to a controlling hardware device to authenticate and approve access. The controlling hardware compares the credential’s number to an access areas approved list, grants or denies the presented request, and sends a transaction log to a database.

When access is denied based on the the allowed lists the door remains locked. If there is a match between the credential and the access control list, the control panel operates a relay that in turn unlocks the door. The control panel also ignores a door open signal to prevent an alarm.