ACCESS CONTROL & DOOR ENTRY
Access Control & Door Entry Systems
We design and install access control and door entry systems across Essex and London, from a single controlled door to networked systems covering several sites.
Essex, London & surrounding areas
Established 2003
Single & Multi-Site Scalable access control
Essex & London And surrounding areas
4.9 from 116 customer reviewsGoogle & Facebook reviewsRead our customer reviewsSTART WITH THE PEOPLE
Access Control Designed Around Your Building
A useful access control system starts with three questions: who needs to get in, where they need to go and when. The answers decide the equipment, the doors involved and how the system is managed day to day.
Who needs access
Staff, residents, visitors and contractors rarely need the same access. Each person or group can be given its own permission level.
Where they need to go
A single front door, several internal doors, restricted areas such as stockrooms or server rooms, or gates and car parks.
When they need it
Access can follow working hours or shift patterns, with some doors open to certain people only at set times or on set days.
CREDENTIALS
Cards, Fobs, PINs and Mobile Access
The credential is what someone uses to open the door. Most systems support more than one type, so the choice can suit each entrance and each group of users.
- Cards and fobsQuick everyday access, with an individual credential for each person.
- PIN keypadsUseful where issuing a physical credential isn’t practical, or as a second check alongside a card.
- Mobile accessCompatible systems can use a smartphone app in place of a card or fob.
- Fingerprint and facial recognitionBiometric readers are available where they suit the site and the people using it.
If a card or fob is lost, or someone leaves, their credential can be removed from the system without changing any locks.
PERMISSIONS
Control Who Can Go Where, and When
Access control replaces a bunch of keys with a set of rules you can change. Each user or group is given access to the doors they need, at the times they need it, and nothing more.
- Permissions for individual users or whole groups
- Access to selected doors and restricted areas
- Different access times for different people
- Users added or removed without issuing new keys
- Event logs showing who used which door, and when
- Several doors managed from one place
For a business, that means a new starter can be set up on day one, a contractor’s access can end when the job does, and there’s a record to check if something goes missing.
HIKVISION ACCESS CONTROL
Hikvision Access Control and Door Entry
Hikvision is our preferred range for access control and door entry. It scales from a single reader to multi-door, software-managed systems, and works alongside Hikvision CCTV where both are installed.
- Access controllers, card and fob readers
- Keypads
- Video intercoms and IP door stations
- Indoor monitors
- Facial recognition and fingerprint terminals
- Hik-Connect mobile functionality
- HikCentral software management
- ANPR vehicle access
- Integration with Hikvision CCTV
We choose the equipment after the survey, so the system is matched to the site rather than the other way round.
DOOR ENTRY
Video Door Entry and Intercoms
Video door entry lets you see and speak to a visitor before you open the door. The call can be answered on an indoor monitor, at reception or, on compatible systems, through an app.
- Homes and private entrances
- Offices and commercial entrances
- Flats and apartment blocks
- Indoor monitors and reception answering points
- App answering and remote door release where compatible
Door entry and access control can work as one system, so staff or residents use a fob while visitors call through.
SCALE
Single-Door, Multi-Door and Multi-Site Systems
ONE ENTRANCE
A single controlled door
A standalone reader or keypad on the main entrance. Often the right starting point for a small business, a shop or a home.
SEVERAL DOORS
A networked building
Front door, internal doors and restricted rooms on one system, with permissions and event logs managed from a PC or app.
SEVERAL SITES
Central management
Multiple buildings or locations managed together, with users and permissions set once and applied where needed.
A system can start with one door and grow. We plan the first stage so that more doors can be added later where the equipment allows.
VEHICLE ACCESS
Gates, Barriers and Vehicle Access
Access control extends to the site boundary. Gates and barriers can open for authorised vehicles and people, using the same permissions as the building.
- Controlled gates and barriers
- Authorised vehicle access
- ANPR number plate recognition where appropriate
- Commercial sites, yards and car parks
- Construction site access control
INTEGRATION
Working with CCTV, Alarms and Other Systems
Access control can be connected to the other systems in the building, so they work together rather than side by side.
CCTV
Door events can be linked to camera footage, making it quicker to check who used an entrance.
Intruder alarms
Access control and the intruder alarm can be linked where the equipment supports it, for example to set or unset the alarm.
Time and attendance
Door events can feed time and attendance records, using the same cards or fobs.
Fire alarm and emergency release
Door locking and release arrangements are designed around the building and system requirements, with emergency break-glass units and a fire alarm interface incorporated where required.
EXISTING SYSTEMS
Upgrading or Taking Over an Existing System
If you already have access control, we can assess what’s there and advise on the practical next step. Where the equipment is compatible, doors and users can often be added to the existing system.
Where a system is obsolete, or parts are no longer available, replacing it is often more sensible than trying to extend it. We’ll explain the options and the reasoning.
As well as Hikvision, we install Paxton systems, including Net2 and Paxton Entry.
- Assessment of existing access control and door entry
- Additional doors and users on compatible systems
- Upgrades to older systems
- Takeover of suitable third-party systems
- Replacement where extending isn’t sensible
HOW WE WORK
Our Access Control Installation Process
01
Survey
Look at the doors, the people using them and how access needs to work.
02
Design
Agree the credentials, locking hardware, permissions and how the system is managed.
03
Installation
Fit readers, controllers, locks and door entry with care for the building.
04
Setup & Testing
Configure users, schedules and door behaviour, then test every door.
05
Handover
Show you how to add and remove users, check logs and use the system day to day.
MAINTENANCE & SUPPORT
Access Control Maintenance and Support
Readers, locks and door hardware are used many times a day. Planned maintenance helps catch wear, alignment problems and failing components before a door stops working.
We offer access control maintenance contracts, preventative checks, fault call-out support and repairs, and can help with changes to users, doors and permissions as your needs change.
- Maintenance contracts
- Preventative system checks
- Lock and door hardware checks
- Fault diagnosis and call-out support
- User and permission changes
YOUR QUESTIONS
Access Control Questions
Straightforward answers to the questions we are asked most often.
Is access control worth it for just one door?
Yes. A single controlled entrance is often where access control starts, particularly for small businesses. It removes the need to hand out keys, and more doors can usually be added later.
Can I remove a lost fob or card?
Yes. A lost card or fob, or the credential of someone who has left, can be removed from the system without changing any locks.
Can different staff have access to different areas?
Yes. Permissions can be set for individual users or groups, so each person can only open the doors they need, at the times they need them.
Can I see who entered and when?
Networked and software-managed systems keep event logs showing which credential was used at which door, and when.
Can access control work across several sites?
Yes. Suitable systems can manage several buildings or locations centrally, with users and permissions set in one place.
Can it work with CCTV or an intruder alarm?
Yes, where the equipment supports it. Access control can be linked to CCTV to check door events against footage, and to the intruder alarm.
Can you upgrade an existing access control system?
We can assess an existing system and add doors or users where it’s compatible, upgrade it, or take over suitable third-party systems. Where equipment is obsolete, replacement is sometimes the better option.
Do you install video door entry?
Yes. We install audio and video door entry for homes, offices, commercial entrances and flats, with indoor monitors and app answering where compatible.
Can doors release automatically in an emergency?
Door locking and release are designed around the building and system requirements. Where required, emergency break-glass units and a fire alarm interface can be incorporated to release doors.
Do you provide access control maintenance?
Yes. We offer maintenance contracts, preventative checks and fault call-out support for access control and door entry systems.
Do you install gates, barriers and ANPR?
Yes. We install controlled gates and barriers, with ANPR vehicle recognition where it suits the site.
Do you install biometric access control?
Yes. Fingerprint and facial recognition readers are available where they suit the site and the people using it. We’ll discuss whether biometric access is the right choice during the survey.
RELATED SERVICES
Other Security Systems We Install
FREE SITE SURVEY
Need Better Control of Who Comes In?
Tell us about the entrances, the people using them and the level of control you need, and we’ll arrange a free survey.