How To Clean Your Access Control System
What Are Access Control Systems?
Access control systems manage and limit access to secure spaces in a range of settings from commercial sites to public institutions. The access control system verifies the identity and access permissions of the entrant before granting or denying them access to restricted areas. This ensures that only authorised personnel are allowed entry.
Access control systems can also be programmed to allow only certain individuals access at specific times of the day. For example, this could mean that a premises is open to the public during the daytime, but only authorised members of staff can enter after 5pm. This allows access control systems to be used in public facilities such as libraries, for example.
The Benefits Of Using An Access Control System
There are several benefits to using an access control system, which include:
• Preventing theft and vandalism
• Safeguarding personally identifiable data
• Tracking who has entered restricted areas, including the date and time of access
• Providing an alternative to traditional keys, which can be easily lost or stolen
The Types Of Access Control System
There is a wide variety of access control systems to choose from, according to your business or organisation’s needs.
Key Fob Access Controls - Members of staff are allocated a personal key fob, which identifies them to the access control system. Using the information on the key fob, the access control system can locate the individual's access permissions and grant or deny them entry based on that information.
However, key fobs can be easily lost or stolen, and do not feature an image of the key holder for identification purposes. Consequently, key fob access control systems are only suitable for low-security settings
ID Card Access Controls - Similarly to key fob access controls, the individual is allocated an ID card. Unlike key fob access controls, however, the ID card features a picture on the card, enabling the key holder to be easily identified.
As a result, ID cards can be lost or stolen, but security will be able to tell if the card is being used by anyone beyond the intended person. These types of access controls are suitable for medium security settings.
PIN Number Access Controls - PIN number access controls are much more secure, as unlike key fobs or ID cards, the PIN number should be committed to memory and therefore cannot be stolen as easily.
However, the member of staff may share the PIN number or write it down, which could compromise security. These types of access controls are suitable for medium to high-security settings
Biometric Access Controls - The most secure of all access control systems, biometric access controls use biometric data such as fingerprints or retinal scans to identify the entrant.
Unlike any of the other options, this type of data cannot be lost, stolen, or provided to an unauthorised individual. Therefore, these types of access controls are suitable for high to very high-security settings.
Why Is Cleaning Your Access Control System Important?
Cleaning your access control system ensures that all its components are working effectively. If your system is not kept clean, it may develop defects, which can get worse over time due to wear and tear.
And if elements such as touchscreens and keypads are covered in grease and grime, they may not work properly, potentially preventing members of staff from accessing certain areas, or rendering software interfaces unusable.
Dust and debris can also prevent the circuits and mechanisms in the security doors from operating properly, which could prevent the doors from opening when required.
In addition, access control systems include a camera, which should be kept clean too. This is because if the lens of your camera is dirty, and an unauthorised person attempts to enter a restricted space, you may not be able to identify the perpetrator due to the unclear footage.
You should clean all components of your access control system closely and by hand to ensure that you do not miss any defects during your routine inspection.
Use an anti-corrosion solution to clean off all the dust and debris from the circuits and mechanism. This solution can also be used to remove grease from the touchscreens and keypads, and to clean the camera lens. If there is any dust or debris build-up that cannot be easily removed, you may need to consult with a professional to have these components replaced.
After you have thoroughly cleaned your system, you should oil the locks of the security doors to ensure that they open and close properly.
If you identify any issues during your routine cleaning, you should always document them in your maintenance log so everything is on record for any maintenance professionals you may have in the present or future. Be sure to include the time and date of your findings, alongside the details of the problem.
If you identify issues with your access control system during your routine cleaning, you may need to hire a security professional to effectively remedy them. In any case, you should arrange a professional inspection of your access control system at least once a year as part of your maintenance schedule.
At KCS Projects, our security professionals specialise in providing exactly this kind of expert inspection and maintenance service. So, if you need help with the installation, upkeep, repair, or replacement of an access control system, contact us today on 01234 230690!