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Cutting costs through integrated access control

Remotely managed integrated access system removes the tasks of installing software and managing operating systems on site.

Aldermary House is a modern multitenanted, multistorey office building located in the City of London’s Square Mile financial district. Multitenanted buildings are prone to a myriad security risks, access issues and periods where the building is completely empty.

Aldermary House is home to eight different businesses, each operating on separate floors within the building. Visitors would buzz the intercom, be granted entry by a security guard at the main reception desk where they would sign in and then be able to visit a tenanting company.

Brian Weekes, building manager at Aldermary House was faced with complex security challenges and as a result used a 24-hour manned guard solution to ensure the building was secure at all times. Weekes approached his security partner, SecureWais UK to find a new and improved solution that would alleviate the heavy financial costs and inefficiency associated with manned guarding.

SecureWais proposed the installation of a new integrated access control, video and intercom ‘Meet & Greet’ system which would transform the way people would enter and leave Aldermary House and still meet security requirements. The system was fully installed over a period of two weeks with no resulting disruption to the client.

An important element in the system design was for the access, intercom and video to be remotely monitored at a secure control room. This alleviated the need for a control room onsite and reduced costly manned guarding contracts.

To address the visitor management issues faced by Weekes during out-of-hour periods, an outstation was installed by SecureWais to the external façade of the building adjacent to the main entrance. Upon arrival, the visitor presses the call button and is immediately connected to the SecureWais National Security Institute (NSI) approved call centre.

The call centre has audio and video communications with Aldermary House. When activated, the call centre operative asks the visitor a set of questions before contacting the relevant host who then provides authorisation for the visitor to gain entry. Then the call centre terminates the site link and the SecureWais Meet & Greet service is completed. To close the loop, a video recording is kept on the digital video recorder (DVR).

The building/security management team remain in complete control of the access control card administration but do so by e-mailing the SecureWais office to have cards added or deleted remotely. Database reports are available at any time.

To provide this critical service and solve the challenges faced by Weekes, SecureWais chose Honeywell WIN-PAK PRO Central Station.

It is a departure from traditional access control systems as it removes the tasks of installing software (because the software is run from the Central Station on a secure server) and managing operating systems on site. Any potential computer compatibility or virus protection issues can also be dealt with easily away from site.

The total cost of ownership is reduced to a manageable service fee, which results in the end-user benefiting from lower maintenance costs, lower guarding costs and peace of mind that visitor management and building entry is controlled at all times.

The system at Aldermary House consists of the Honeywell N1000 Access Panel, several proximity readers within the elevator and on selected doors integrated with video and door entry intercom.

WIN-PAK PRO Central Station allows the installer to offer his clients full photo-ID badge production with minimal investment since the installer can spread the cost of the printer across multiple accounts. Combined with the web browser interface, the service becomes even easier; images can be uploaded via the web and are instantly retrieved by the installer.

For more information contact ADI Global Distribution, +27 (0)11 574 2500, [email protected], www.adiglobal.com/za

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