Introduction
AccessIT Data were asked to provide an access control solution for managing existing multiple card formats in a multi-tenanted building – Camelford House in London.
Challenges
The managing agent wanted to improve site security by installing turnstiles in the entrance for all staff and visitors to use.
With 18 separate tenants and 16 different card systems in existence across all the floors, the landlord wanted a single card system for the turnstiles, but without everyone carrying 2 cards.
The solutions offered by other providers was to install a system common to one of the tenants and then arrange to issue all other users with a second card to allow access at the turnstile.
This would require managing by the site facilities team, costing an estimated £30K a year in view of the 3,500 card holders.
Solution
Rather than implement a costly and complex work around, AccessIT Data designed and implemented a system that would accommodate the use of all existing cards in use in the building, using the universal Deister reader connected to our Semieta access control software.
This meant we were able to read and convert the card numbers from all 16 card formats, in real time, to allow instant access through the turnstiles.
Once this principle had been established the Semieta software then enabled the client to create the permissions for open and close actions for specific card holders or groups of card holders (like single tenants).
To avoid management time in running the solution, all 16 tenants were given access to the Semieta system through their own portal to add/delete/suspend cards, so the whole system is managed from the individual tenants directly, with just an overview managed by the site FM team.
Visitor management
The tenants were also provided with a portal to book visitors into the site in advance, improving the way visitors were managed on arrival, with over 80% of visitors pre-booked and a pass provided.
The pass is printed with a bar code which allows approved access through the turnstiles on the days agreed.
Using the turnstile on-site data there is an accurate roll call of who is in the building.
Facts and figures
- 5000+ card holders
- 250 visitors a day
- Staff turnover across the site of over 300 cards a month
- 18 separate tenants
- 16 different card formats
Cost savings – site management
- 4000 cards a year at £2.20 each, £8000+
- Management of all the cards across all the staff, estimated at 60% of a staff salary, £30K
- Savings in staff time managing visitors, £10K
Total c.£50K a year
Additional benefits
- Complete on-site records for Roll Call
- Professional approach for managing visitors – use of tablet on arrival, email to host
- Expandable access control capabilities to include common areas, car park barriers, automatic number plate recognition
- Proper control of out of hours work, such as lone workers
Other features
- Semieta provides full access control, additional doors, gates can be added
- We work with room booking systems to seamlessly link the visitors to rooms
- For high risk sites, you can carry out background checks on contractors, etc
- Self-registration – a tablet in reception can allow visitors to self-register and log in, and print out a pass.
