Author: Gerard Honey
ISBN No: 0 7506 4473 7
Review date: 09/06/2026
No of pages: 0
Publisher: Newnes, Linacre House, Jordan Hill, Oxford, OX28DR. Ring 01865 310366
Year of publication: 11/09/2012
Brief:
Access control systems today are an efficient electronic tool in security management of entrances and exits, Ken Rogers writes.
Access control systems today are an efficient electronic tool in security management of entrances and exits and monitoring and screening of personnel within defined areas. This publication provides a practical approach to electronic access control systems for offices, business premises, homes and secure outdoor areas. It is a handy reference tool for system designers and installers as well as an essential guide for security managers and supervisors, crime prevention and reduction officers, community safety officers and others. This book is also a valuable guide for those studying modules for access control systems for syllabus of the City and Guilds/SITO courses (level three). The eight chapters provide clear illustrations together with a most useful index. Chapter one introduces the basic concept of electronic access control and describes the main elements of such a system. The author, Gerard Honey, covers controllers and readers, types of barriers, swing gates, rising arms, and rising bollards. Importantly, he refers to safety considerations and exiting. Next Honey assesses the various types of doors plus their construction and supporting framework, followed by the use of electronic locks, with excellent illustrations. Chapter three introduces the methods of identification and the credentials that must be presented to the system reached or scanned for the authorisation to be given. Methods discussed extend from keypad entry systems through to access cards, token, and tag types, and include non-contract identification and personal characteristic or biometric systems.
‘Controllers and systems’ in chapter four discusses the basics in a straightforward manner. Simple door systems, anti-tamper devices, standalone keypads, swipe cards techniques are provided with good illustrations. Security professionals must be able to have an understanding of computer networks and software because of its ongoing integration with electronic access control. The author assists here with his usual plain English. Survey and design of systems, the subject of chapter five, covers breakdown of systems in the event of mains failure and emergency access. He argues that the problems of high staff turnover and temporary labour can introduce more complexities. Budgets must be introduced to cover the issue of new credentials and system programming. This chapter of 45 pages covers many areas of design systems and the importance of catering for failure trends, modifications, site changes and integration. Chapter six covers the very important areas of installation and commissioning and providing the reader towards the health and safety measures that form a part of the installation. Service, maintenance and response organizations follow – such as the requirement for comprehensive and regular maintenance and investigations to identify potential threats. The author provides details of ‘good practice’ in two forms of maintaining namely ‘preventative’ and ‘corrective’ that cover routine servicing and emergency servicing. It is within my experience that there are organisations that are reluctant to enter into a preventative maintenance agreement/contract and only require service calls in the event of a breakdown of the system; the author also discusses this area of common concern. Chapter eight provides reference information, British Standards, NACOSS code of practice, and European Standards. Electronic Access control is an excellent publication for the bookshelf. It is certainly a useful tool.
