Lexicon Europe News- Access Control
Access control systems: How much money they could save you
Access control systems manage the availability of areas of the building to only certain individuals who have the correct permissions. Commonly found using electronic cards, doors and other access points can be fitted with the systems and each separate card can be programmed with its own rights to ensure personalised permissions throughout the company premises. Originally, these were implemented to protect sensitive information and controlled areas of the site from unauthorised access, enabling those who need to be in particular areas or using specific data to enter freely whilst preventing those without permission from entering the area. However, additional benefits have also been felt by businesses using access control systems.
On environmental issues, card readers can be fitted as energy saving devices. These are fantastic at cutting energy bills, as the cards can directly control the building’s utilities. Once in the area, the presence of the access card in the device completes the circuit, allowing lights, heating or air conditioning to function. When the employee leaves, taking their security card with them, the facilities cease to work until the device is reactivated, with either their card or an alternative staff member’s access card. Lights and other facilities cannot thus be left on by accident, saving energy, reducing carbon emissions and the business’ environmental impact as well as directly lowering fuel bills and saving money.
In addition, individual user cards can be programmed with certain rights – so that only management or supervisory level team members are able to control the thermostat, for example, or that facility services will only activate if the card is ‘authorised’ to be in that area. Energy saving access devices can also be fitted to pieces of equipment or machinery, meaning that only permitted and trained staff can use them. As well as promoting safe working practices, ensuring those using equipment are trained to do so, it also helps prevent accidental damage – another unnecessary expense which can be avoided with access control systems.
Finally, access control systems have one other key financial advantage: electronically monitored access negates the need to employ receptionists or door supervisors, saving money directly on wages and training costs. With audio door access systems, any visitor can present themselves and be allowed access once their identity is established, without requiring a team member to leave their work and manually offer the visitor access. This increases productivity, increasing earnings and minimising financial losses to the business.