Clairlea Lock Experts · Toronto
Access Control Installation: what to note first
Locksmith · Toronto, Ontario
Head office wants a record of who opens the branch and when, tied to an actual name rather than a shared code scrawled on a sticky note taped under the till.
Worth answering before the call
Is there network access near where a controller could be mounted? What are the doors and frames made of, as far as you know? Do any doors need different hours than the rest of the building?
Can access control be added to just one door, or does it have to cover the whole building?
A single door with its own standalone reader is a complete installation on its own, and plenty of businesses start there. If more doors need controlling later, a networked controller can be added at that point, or the building can simply add another standalone unit. Nothing about starting small commits the business to expanding, and nothing about a single-door job rules out growing the system later.
Can access control go on a fire exit or a required exit door?
Yes, with extra care taken specifically because it is an exit. A magnetic lock on an exit door is paired with a request-to-exit device and wired into the fire alarm system so it releases automatically the instant an alarm activates, and the door is confirmed to open with one motion from the inside at all times. An electric strike on an exit door generally needs no additional egress hardware.