Installing physical access control technology at your residential or commercial location is one of the best possible ways of enforcing security and guaranteeing the safety of yourself, your tenants, and your/their property. However, installation of this crucial equipment can be technically complex – which is why we advise leaving to the hands of our professional access control installation team! Here’s a guide from the access control experts at Nonstop Locksmith on the basics of access control system installation.
Access Control Hardware
Here’s a guide the majority of hardware that’s usually involved in access control systems.
Master Controllers
This equipment contains the locally hosted database that controls the main access control system, connecting the hardware of the devices themselves to the electronic cloud, determining who can access your property based on rules and conditions that are programmed in.
Interface
This device moves information to the master controller from the card or code reader, and then locks or unlocks the door based on the commands issued from the master controller.
Reader
This device is visible from the wall, and reads keycards, key numbers, or code-inputs, which is then analyzed by the master controller to either open the door or keep it locked (if it’s the wrong code.)
Electronic Locks
These locks can be electronic crash bars, door strikes, or magnetic locks – but in rare cases can be other types of access enforcement hardware.
Access Control Cables
This equipment connects all the separate pieces of the access control device’s components to allow for the rapid transmission of information between the master controller and the reader, as well as connecting the locks themselves with electricity from the local power supply,
Power Supply
This technology allows the electronic access control system’s readers, locks, and controllers to function by feeding it a flow of electricity.
Door Position Switches
These devices are also called door monitors, and basically tell you whether a door is open or closed at any given time.
Motion Sensors or REX Buttons
These switches or buttons allow you to quickly exit previously locked doors by either sensing nearby motion from the inside and unlocking or unlocking when an exit button is pushed.
Access Control System Installation Process
To put it succinctly, here is a brief summarization of how the access control system installation process will go down:
- Area assessment and analysis: Before access control hardware is installed, the area will be inspected by a professional so they can figure out how the cable hardware will be installed, as well as what type of access control hardware will be installed on the door,
- Cable Running: This integral step consists of cables being run or affixed to areas between the power supply and the area in which the access control system will be housed.
- Lock Install: This is when one of our licensed locksmith technicians will install the electronic locks on the doors that will be utilized to access the area.
- Connections: This is when one of our experts in low-voltage access control component installations will connect all of the components of the door to the master controller and power supply devices.
- Software Set Up and Device Testing: This is where your access control system’s settings will be programmed in, based on your specific desires and needs – and the entire device will be tested to determine that it’s working properly. Then, the whole process is done and you’re ready to roll!