Effective measures can be implemented by businesses to combat the practice known as ‘ram-raiding’. Many companies in the last 30 years have come up with solutions to this craze which has evolved during that time – it entails smashing a car directly into a store front in order to steal its contents. Everything from electronic bollards to electronic barriers have been employed, because enlisting a team of security guards is prohibitively expensive and out of range for small-scale operations.
The news items in papers or on television every month reveal details of another ramming episode, but putting up a bollard system would stop a vehicle. These barriers are available from Access Control UK. Being a member of the Tensor group of security companies, you can rely on us.
Static bollards provide a genuine deterrent and are ideal for applications where a permanent pattern of control is required.Suitable in either a ground or surface mount, static bollards are highly flexible in most situations and are ideal for segregating certain areas of your site.Choosing the construction option of cast iron means you have the gone for strength over cosmetic appearance for protection when being accidentally or on purpose hit by vehicles.
Owners of a country petrol station may have spared themselves a large repair bill, after a foiled smash-and-grab attempt by offenders meant they only got away with a bag of logs from the forecourt, by using access control methods from Access Control UK. There was no evidence of a barrier or device that would bar the main method of entry to the building, which was the front door, in order to put off opportunistic thieves. Raiders could afford to drive a red Volvo van at high speed into the front of the Jet petrol station on the A10 between Ely and Littleport in Cambridgeshire.
Commercial properties in areas prone to ram-raids often erect strong obstructions, such as barriers or bollards, to discourage such attacks. A bollard from Access Control UK would have been ideal, or there is a comprehensive range of CCTV cameras which are available from our sister company CCTV Surveillance Ltd. Luckily the owners had already done some installation, as CCTV footage is being reviewed by police.
Officers have also since recovered the vehicle used and forensic tests are being carried out to determine who performed the raid. Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Cambridgeshire Police on 0345 456 4564.
Local council budgets are facing the squeeze as the country faces difficult financial decisions concerning reducing the national debt. The Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition has already outlined plans for £6.2bn of cuts this financial year and is preparing for an emergency Budget on June 22.
Instead of just looking to reduce services, a council can in fact look at other revenue streams when discussing their budget. To ensure its core facilities can remain open, a simple access control scheme can be adopted, with the option a nominal admission charge. For example, a Parliamentary Select Committee has already recommended that all providers of public toilets consider modern access control methods as an alternative to traditional turnstiles.
Tensor plc company Access Control UK is the solution if you are looking for a complete access control system. We have been designing, manufacturing and installing first-class access control solutions since 1991. Indoor access control (AC) includes biometrics, glass turnstiles and half height turnstiles; while outdoor AC includes automatic bollards, automatic car park barriers and full height turnstiles. Barriers are a cost effective solution to control access to car parking facilities in a range of customisable options – a good way for councils to raise money with a small charge per car.
Locks, Gates, Barriers and Turnstiles in your Access Control System
You will also need locks that your Access Control security system can control electronically. The two main options for locking standard doors are electric strikes and magnetic locks. Electric strikes are generally cheaper and are better for free exit doors. They’re also more appropriate for standard wooden or steel doors. Magnetic locks are better for aluminium and glass store front doors, as well as for controlled exit situations and emergency exits.
Often, door hardware will include sensors that know when a door is open and can send an alarm signal if the door is opened without clearance. Systems can also sound an alarm if a security access door is propped open for a specified amount of time.
For restricting vehicle access, there are several options. Swinging or sliding gates of varied sizes can provide a secure option and can be configured to your exact specifications. Automatic bollards provide exceptional resistance to impacts, anti-intrusion locking system and fail-safe in both retracted and extended position. Barriers are a cost effective solution to control access to car parking facilities in a range of customisable options.
Access Control UK’s software and features
One of the biggest differences between competing access control systems is the computer software used to run them. The software lets you set access levels for each ID and door, view reports, and conduct audits to see who used a door at a certain time. Make sure it’s easy to understand and use: access control systems should decrease administrative headaches, not introduce new ones. Ask for a demonstration of our software and see how easy it is to add new employees, change access levels, create groups, and find detailed reports.
Our software runs on the popular Microsoft Windows operating system for compatibility with the vast majority of PC’s across the globe. Access Control UK’s access control software is powerful enough to handle the needs of companies up to at least a thousand users. When you start needing to manage multiple shifts, several thousand employees, and hundreds of doors, you drastically increase the overall complexity. Our software runs a MSSQL database to enable many concurrent connections, keeping your data accurate, secure and up-to-date. For more on our software please contact us or contact Time and Attendance UK for a free download, CD or demonstration.
Integration and installation of your Access Control System
In addition to providing you with the right products and appropriate support, we are able to install your access control system and integrate it with any other related systems you have. There is no real standard for connectivity between access control and alarms, time and attendance, video surveillance, and HR software, so there will always be some custom work involved in creating links between these systems. However, due to our experience with access control over the past 20 years, we are prepared for this and have the knowledge to connect with the type of systems you require.
Installation can take anywhere from a couple of days to two weeks, however, if you require multiple sites we are able to provide a more comprehensive planning specification for you depending on the total number of gates and doors being controlled by your system. We will install the software on your computers, set up your first users and install the locking and detection hardware. We will also include some basic training on how to manage the software, yet we also offer more comprehensive training either on-site or at our training facility based in Hail Weston, Cambridgeshire. For a basic system, an informal demonstration of how to create cards and reports should be enough, while on larger systems, you may need a more comprehensive training session.
If you are looking for a complete access control system which has been designed, manufactured and installed by a first-class access control company that have been providing access control solutions since 1991 then look no further. Contact Access Control UK today to find out more about or products, book a demonstration or informal discussion and find out how we can help achieve greater security and safety for your site and buildings.
An Introduction to Access Control Access control systems let authorised employees enter and exit various parts of your business site while keeping unauthorised people out. They can range from simple electronic keypads that secure a single door to large networked systems for multiple buildings that can include parking lot gates, integration with time and attendance systems and multiple levels of security for each user group.
The increased security provided by a modern access control system is important to many types of businesses – and for businesses working with government contracts, it’s often a requirement. However, they also greatly simplify management of your facility: no need to replace lost keys, hunt down old keys from terminated employees, or wonder who has access to which areas. We are able to offer a wide range of access control systems, using a range of technologies, to suit each business from the multinational to small family business.
Choosing an access control vendor
As with any major business purchase, it’s worth taking the time to ask a lot of questions when choosing an access control vendor. Flexibility is important: the vendor should be able to adjust to your specific requirements. Access Control UK have been designing, manufacturing, supplying and installing across control system since 1991 and due to our unique position, we are able to create a bespoke access control system based upon your requirements.
The size and stability of the vendor is also an important feature of which access control company you choose. You want a vendor who is large enough to be stable and provide timely customer support when you need it, yet small enough to be responsive to your needs. Access Control UK have regional offices to deal with your local situation, yet, we still operate nationally from multi-million pound roll-outs to small local businesses.
The best vendors will ask you questions as well. They’ll walk you through the specification process and help you find the solution that best fits your needs. We are able to supply you with software downloads, CDs or we can come to you and offer a demonstration of our products and how they can be built into your requirements for a secure and scalable access control solution.
Access Control UK work with a wide range of customers and have vast experience in a wide range of industries. We also provide maintenance and support contracts and provide on site training or training at our centre for each of our products. Contact us to find out more about Access Control UK.
Choosing the Right Access Control System
Before you start investigating access control systems, the first question to answer is to determine the purpose that the system will serve. The basic role of an access control system is to deny access to anyone who is not supposed to enter an area. This can be the front door, a parking garage, a server room, a personnel records room, or any other sensitive area.
All of our computerised access control systems keep records of when doors where opened and by whom. However, you may want one that functions as part of a time tracking system, to automatically punch workers in and out for payroll purposes by linking to a time and attendance system.
The system will still only grant access users with the appropriate privileges, the system can both incorporate a time clocking and reliable security system. For this application, you’ll need an access control system that is compatible with your time and attendance software. Access Control UK is in the outstanding position of being manufacturer, supplier and installer, therefore enabling us to uniquely customise your access control system to your requirements.
Another point to consider: how secure do you need the system to be? A basic system may feature a keypad or swipe card. However, we also supply higher security systems which may require Smart Card, biometric or multiple means of authentication (a card and thumbprint) and include more redundancy.
Finally, consider what other systems need to connect to your access control system. Monitored alarm systems and CCTV systems are two good examples. To find out how we can create a bespoke system built around your access control requirements contact us today for an informal discussion or demonstration.
Choosing the Size and Specifications of your Access Control System
If you plan ahead a little when purchasing your system, you’ll find it fairly easy to expand later. The smallest systems, designed for one or two doors, are not very expandable, but many four and eight door systems can be linked together when you need to expand. Once you know the number of doors you’ll be securing, gather information on each one: the physical make-up and use of your doors will impact the type of locks and entry systems you need. Are some doors for customers, and some only for employees? Are the doors wood, steel, or aluminium and glass? Are any designated as fire doors? Do you have any garage doors or car parking barriers to control?
Once you understand the basic role the access control system will serve, think about the number of doors you need to secure. Smaller installations may include just one: a server room with an electronic keypad lock is a common example of a very small access control system. Remember that not every door has to have access control – you can simply leave some locked and only give keys to appropriate personnel.
Another key distinction in access control systems is the difference between free exit and controlled exit systems. In a free exit system, there is no requirement for leaving a secure area. The system either detects someone approaching an exit (usually with motion sensors) and unlocks the door, or has a release button or bar that allows people to leave.
Controlled exit systems use the same security for travel in both directions: employees have to enter the code or wave their card to get in or out of the secure area. By law, access control systems have to be set up to allow people to exit if the system fails or power goes out. Controlled exit systems increase both security and your overall costs.
Larger installations may include more than one site. An access control system that can be operated over a network lets you manage the security at all your locations from a central point. At Access Control UK, we have been designing, manufacturing, supplying and installing Access Control Systems since 1991 and have a history of providing excellent access control solutions for our customers, giving specialised advice and service alongside our first class security solutions.
Identification Within Access Control Systems
There are several components to a secure access control system. Firstly you need a way for authorised users to identify themselves and/or unlock the door. Access Control UK utilise a range of technologies with varying levels of price and security for every occasion and solution:
Keypads are common for single door security access and less expensive systems. They’re easy to use but less secure, since users have a tendency to write down the entry code or to “lend” it to others. They also don’t provide detailed audit trails unless you provide each employee with an individual code.
Proximity cards, which can work from one inch to three feet from a sensor, are the most common. Because there’s no contact between the card and reader, they’re very reliable and suffer little wear and tear. They’re also inexpensive. A specialized type of proximity card is the vehicle tag, which allows access to a parking facility without requiring the driver to open their window or get out of the car.
Smart Cards carry larger amounts information on the card itself, such as employee records or spending account balances, instead of just an ID number that references a database.
Biometric systems rely on physical characteristics of the users for identification such as fingerprints or facial recognition. They are by far the most secure methods of access control. However, they are also considerably more expensive and can seem invasive to employees forced to use them constantly.
Effective measures can be implemented by businesses to combat the practice known as ‘ram-raiding’. Many companies in the last 30 years have come up with solutions to this craze which has evolved during that time – it entails smashing a car directly into a store front in order to steal its contents. Everything from electronic bollards to electronic barriers have been employed, because enlisting a team of security guards is prohibitively expensive and out of range for small-scale operations.
Owners of a country petrol station may have spared themselves a large repair bill, after a foiled smash-and-grab attempt by offenders meant they only got away with a bag of logs from the forecourt, by using access control methods from 
Local council budgets are facing the squeeze as the country faces difficult financial decisions concerning reducing the national debt. The Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition has already outlined plans for £6.2bn of cuts this financial year and is preparing for an emergency Budget on June 22.
Locks, Gates, Barriers and Turnstiles in your Access Control System
An Introduction to Access Control