The locking systems world is not one of feast or famine, a choice between strictly mechanical or only networked alternatives. Although electronic locking systems that fill the chasm between the two extremes have been around for some time, the new generation of programmable electronic locks and electronic locking systems offers new features, advantages, and benefits to building managers and their users. Such systems can even interface with the access control system software already in place and be hardwired into that system in four easy steps.
Doors swing both ways. While it is important to determine what will be on the front of the door, allowing people in, these same people must also be able to get out. There are multiple options here, too, including both electrified and electronic exit devices. Exit devices also will operate hard-wired or battery powered. You will want to ensure, in almost all cases, that any latching models selected are listed for A label fire-rated openings.
Whatever the organization, the decision rests by compromising between four major elements: security, convenience, price, and design. With almost any system offering a range of architecturally complementary designs and finishes, let's leave those decisions for another day and concentrate on the remaining three issues that security professionals need to understand.
Electronic locking systems can range in cost from $500 plus/minus per door to as high as $3000 plus/minus per door in a fully-networked system. Between the strictly mechanical system and the totally networked systems exists a full range of electronic locking solutions that should not be overlooked. They provide economical solutions for those needing increased security and convenience with designer touches.
Convenience can range from keypads to biometrics. Security falls between the simply acceptable (for the leasing office) to extremely high (at the major airport access to the tarmac). The tradeoffs are many. From an organizational perspective, let's look at them from a cost standpoint and discuss the ramifications of each.
At a cost of around $500 per door, programmable electronic locks are a solid choice for facilities with a limited number of users and access points. A step above the traditional generations-old strictly mechanical pushbutton lock, programmable electronic locks are standalone, microprocessor-based, battery-powered locks that provide increased customer value. With them, you can quickly program up to 100 individual user codes, right at the keypad. Facilities managers or the office manager can add or delete users in seconds. Users' codes are typically kept between three to seven digits and entered via the keypad by the user to gain entry. There is no external wiring required and the locks will provide 80,000-plus activations or two to three years of used with common AA batteries.
Computer-Managed Locking Systems -- Wired Benefits Without a Wired Network
These standalone locking systems, averaging around $1000 per door including installation costs, are the new workhorses of the security industry, providing features found previously only with online, networked systems. Whatever the credential used, one intuitive, user-friendly software programs all -- the locks, access trim, strikes, and magnets -- from a laptop or PDA. New users, access points, and access privileges can be entered into the system in seconds.
With such computer-managed locking systems, managers can become very creative. These systems facilitate simplified, uniform access control administration. Multiple openings in an organization can be managed with a variety of standalone locking systems that share common software. Without any network wires, users have the benefits of a networked system without the costs involved. Access and profile management are greatly improved without adding any extra software. Users and installing dealers can mix and match the best type of front-end solution for each opening without adding complexity to the system.
The system operator can easily control both users and access points based on time of day, day of week, credential needed and/or period of time. Reports show audit trails retrieved, access privileges granted, and time functions established by either the user or door. With a laptop or PDA, the administrator goes to a door, plugs in the interface to the locking system right at the door, adds or delete users, determines which users can have access to specific doors at specific times throughout the day, and downloads audit trails of who has been through the door and when.
Such a locking system offers new flexibilities in designing the right level of security for each door without sacrificing convenience. Multiple credentials can be easily employed within the facility. They can include codes, i-Buttons, magnetic stripe cards, proximity cards. Facilities managers can also easily gain increased security by introducing biometrics into an existing installation. Since the user's hand is the key, the hand geometry reader positively identifies people themselves, not their keys, cards, or codes. Facilities managers aren't burdened by the cost of a card system nor need they worry about lost or stolen credentials.
These electronic locking system solutions can even manage up to 1000 users per opening (very useful for those facilities and campuses that have high turnover). They will also provide audit trails for the last 1000 events. With multiple time zones, multiple time schedules, a variety of holidays and other time functionalities, administrators can grant multiple users different privileges regardless if they are using a hand geometry reader or proximity, magnetic stripe, codes, iButtons®, or any combination within their facilities.
