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Paxton introduces Checkpoint Control

Paxton’s access control system, Net2, has received its latest software update. The new Checkpoint Control feature supports COVID-secure sites and officially launched on 24 September 2020. This additional functionality helps Net2 users to protect employees and visitors by monitoring and approving people as they enter buildings.

Throughout the first half of 2020, the creation of Checkpoint Control was underway along with the unforeseen global spread of the coronavirus. During this time, lockdown and social distancing restrictions in many countries heightened the need for the update to be rolled out globally.

Paxton’s global product manager, Steve Rowlands, said: “Access control is designed to manage user access throughout a building. This puts us in the fortunate position of having solutions readily available to help businesses become COVID-secure. We did not want to stop there though and have continued to adapt our solutions to meet the growing needs of businesses bringing workforces safely back onto their premises.”

The Checkpoint Control functionality follows on from Paxton’s Net2 Occupancy Management and integration with thermal scanning hardware. Both were released for Net2 in July 2020. These features work simply and seamlessly together to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 around populated buildings.

Rowlands further explains, “Net2 Checkpoint Control allows a site to assign temporary access levels to one or more users that will remain in place until they have either been manually validated or badged through a specific door. This will allow Net2 system administrators to ensure all staff and visitors pass through a designated checkpoint at a frequency that can be configured to suit the business requirements. It also offers the flexibility to split staff between multiple checkpoints to help maintain social distancing and not overrun an area.”

Checkpoint Control works in just two simple steps:

Step 1: Specific doors or areas of a building are designated as checkpoints, such as the main entrance or reception. End users are then given access to that checkpoint using their normal access token, with the limited access point managed via the access permissions feature within the Net2 software.

Step 2: A manual or automated verification takes place to validate further site access. Access can be verified manually in person or by using technology to support automated validation. The automated process works by identifying a person via their access credentials, which can then be followed by a thermal scan to further increase protection against the spread of coronavirus. Once the identity, and where relevant, an individual’s health and wellbeing have been approved, the checkpoint will validate and grant further building access.

Net2 v6.05 also includes new functionality to further enhance the Occupancy Management feature. New virtual traffic lights can be used on screens to indicate occupancy levels with no need for integrated hardware. This will further support social distancing by informing the end user of whether the current occupancy of the area they are about to enter is safe for them to do so, working alongside Checkpoint Control to reduce bottlenecks and overcrowding.

Occupancy Management override is also included in this new update. Should there be an emergency, this functionality allows selected people to enter an area that is at capacity, such as a first aider or senior manager.

Checkpoint Control and the new additions to Occupancy Management functionality are available exclusively with Net2 Pro software. To find out further information on the new updates for Net2, check out the Net2 Access Control Software page at the short URL www.securitysa.com/*net2, which redirects to https://www.paxton-access.com/systems/net2/access-control-software,.

In conjunction with the updates, Paxton has produced an on-demand webinar called ‘The definitive guide to COVID-secure buildings’. This is an ideal starting point for installers looking to understand more about social distancing and COVID-secure guidelines. Find it via www.securitysa.com/*COVID-secure, which redirects to https://www.paxton-access.com/install-paxton/resources/covid-resource-page/.

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