Q: What’s the point of integrating an access control system with an intruder alarm?
A: Integration has long been a buzz word and, like many hot topics, is often talked about for the sake of it. Most of us recognise however that what really matters are the benefits to installers and system users. Intruder alarm integration provides real benefits for the system user. Since ACPO (in their infinite wisdom) introduced DD243, it has been possible for a business to lose their right to a police call-out if too many false alarms are generated.
False alarms are typically generated by somebody entering the building without the necessary code to disable the intruder alarm. For example, a factory supervisor doesn’t turn up one morning and a junior member of staff enters the building triggering the alarm. By linking the intruder alarm to the system that controls access to the building, this situation can be completely eradicated. If the alarm is set and you don’t have permission to unset it then you’re not allowed in. In addition to preventing false alarms, the access control system also makes the intruder alarm easier to use by handling the setting and unsetting. No more sweaty palms when you’re the first one in, no more codes to remember.
Using the access control system in this way also provides an audit trail of who sets the alarm and when. Believe it or not, alarm integration can be achieved quickly and easily with no need for extra equipment. When integrating with intruder systems, be careful to comply with the other aspects of DD243.
Q: How do I connect my fire alarm to my access control system and why should I bother?
A: The most important requirement when considering fire doors is that there is a fail safe way method of exit in the event of a fire. This can be satisfied by installing a local break glass or mechanical egress such as a handle or a push bar. Doors can be automatically opened by connecting auxiliary fire alarm relays directly to the electric locks or maglocks so they open in the event of an alarm. In addition to the fundamental requirements, there are other things you can do to integrate the fire alarm system with an access control system.
Among these are the automatic generation of a roll call report. This report shows who was in the building at the time of the alarm. A muster reader can be configured in the gathering area (normally a car park or in the street). Those users that have safely evacuated the building can present their tokens to the muster reader. This marks them as ‘Safe’ in the roll call report. Although this roll call report may not be perfectly accurate (users may leave their token in the building or may have entered the building without presenting their token) it provides a greatly reduced list of ‘Missing’ people that can be found and struck from the list manually. As for the “Why bother?” Offering benefits like this to potential customers can give you an edge over the competition.
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