Specialising in ICT and Electrotechnical Services, Spider Technologies has been providing PAT testing, bespoke software and digital signage installation – as well as access control management – since 2005.
Driven by a strong technical background, the company quickly became a registered Paxton installer in order to provide easy-to-use yet performance-driven security solutions.
Spider Technologies was initially approached by Emrys ap Iwan’s management team before IFSEC International 2012 to investigate fit for purpose and robust access control solutions that would be used to replace its original swipe card system as it was causing them problems at the school.
After attending IFSEC International and researching each possible solution, Steve Jones – managing director at Spider Technologies – decided upon the iEvo Ultimate fingerprint reader as it stood out from the crowd at the show, mainly due to its capabilities and proven reliability.
Having received a one-to-one demonstration with one of iEvo’s account managers in August last year, Jones quickly sketched out an order of multiple Ultimate readers which he would later install at the school to be activated as early as September, just in time for the next academic year.
Details of the old swipe card installation
Located in Abergele, North Wales, as stated the Ysgol Emrys ap Iwan School previously employed a swipe card system whereby approximately 250 Sixth Form pupils and 100 teaching staff would gain access between different points around the building. Not only was the system difficult to maintain, but it also became increasingly expensive to run because pupils kept on losing their cards.
All the iEvo Ultimate readers secure and monitor access on entry points between two main school buildings, in turn enabling further control over Sixth Form pupils and the remainder of the school year groups.
“Having researched an access control solution to solve the problems faced at Emrys ap Iwan there was no doubt in my mind that ievo would be fit for the job,” explained Jones. “Obviously, I had never installed an iEvo biometric reader before, so on that basis I did have some technical questions.”
He continued: “My iEvo account manager visited the installation site on a couple of occasions in order to facilitate technical support. I was incredibly pleased with how well iEvo Ultimate interfaced with Paxton’s Net 2. It made the installation process run a lot smoother and of course reduced disruption on site. This was a major bonus because I had a tight schedule to abide by in order for the system to be completed before the next school term began.”
Observing the highest standards
There were three main reasons why the iEvo ultimate fingerprint readers increased efficiency, security and reduced the cost of maintenance at the school.
First, using the iEvo Ultimate reader permitted school management to control access rights between the two separate buildings on the grounds. Using Paxton’s access control system, Net2, Emrys ap Iwan’s management were able to control what times each year group entered each school building.
The buildings are accessible by all pupils although some areas – such as the main entrance and access to an adjoining further education college on one of the sites – are only designated for staff and Sixth Form pupils. Access levels are therefore granted to Sixth Form pupils and staff continuously while remaining year groups gain access to general exterior doors between five-minute lesson changeovers only.
Second, management at the school were worried about vandalism, which is why one of their requirements was a robust access control product that would be able to function in any adverse environment.
At Emrys ap Iwan, the Ultimate reader was installed on main external doors which caused no problems for the robust reader. Ultimate is manufactured in Polycarbonate ABS and the fingerprint sensor is encased within toughened glass. In addition, it’s IP 65 rated meaning it will function even when there’s water present and is dust tight.
Time of the essence
Finally, the school required a security system that would be up-and-running within a short period of time. Therefore, ease of use and usability played a major factor.
The registration process of enrolling and training the pupils and staff on how to use the system took around two days. End user guides and posters were supplied with each reader so that there was no confusion on how to use the product. The guides also provide information on data protection, which was useful for parents or guardians of young adults being registered.
Nayland Southorn, the head teacher of Emrys ap Iwan, commented: “Ysgol Emrys ap Iwan is a very large school spread over several sites with multiple entry/exit points. This has always posed a significant access and security problem for students, staff and visitors alike.”
Southorn added: “Our existing swipecard system was proving to be inadequate for our needs and increasingly difficult to maintain. We contacted Spider Technologies to look in to the issue and the company operated with great speed, professionalism and efficiency to investigate our concerns and devise a reliable and cost-effective solution.”
In conclusion, Southorn told Info4Security: “The rapid installation of the iEvo Ultimate fingerprint readers has proven to be a tremendous success, immediately solving all of our access and security problems in one fell swoop.”
