Access Control System Security Project for Passage and Access Control
Our organization delivered the project and estimate for access control system in a regional medical center in March.
MEDICAL CENTER ACCESS CONTROL SYSTEM PROJECT DELIVERY IN THE REGION
Access Control System Project Scope
This project was developed in accordance with the technical specification for the access control system. The access control system serves to enhance object security and control authorized personnel access to the building territory, as well as control access inside the building.
Characteristics of Design Documentation Stage for Access Control System
The protected object consists of two adjacent buildings with underground structure and basement, and an adjacent conference hall. The basement and underground structure contain: medical, service, technical, commercial premises, as well as storage and production facilities, food preparation workshops;
The first floor contains: registration desk, information desk, doctors' offices, commercial premises, service and technical premises, food preparation workshop premises;
The second floor plan contains: doctors' offices, treatment rooms, operating rooms, radiology diagnostic offices, service and technical premises;
The third floor plan contains: hospital wards, doctors' offices, service and technical premises;
The fourth floor contains: hospital wards, operating rooms, laboratories, doctors' offices, service and technical premises;
The fifth floor contains: hospital wards, doctors' offices, service, technical and administrative premises;
The sixth floor contains: hospital wards, doctors' offices, service and technical premises;
The seventh floor contains: operating blocks and doctors' offices;
Purpose of the Designed Access Control System
The access control system is designed to provide automatic regulation and control of employee and client passage into the building, controlled zones and premises.
All premises are divided into three main access zones:
First zone - uncontrolled, assumes free movement and presence of personnel, client representatives. During night time, according to schedule, the zone closes for free access. Access is possible by access card or with security permission.
Second zone - controlled, provides movement and presence of specific circle of employees and client representatives after appropriate control;
Third zone - highly controlled, provides movement and presence of limited circle of employees and client representatives
Medical Center Access Control System After Commissioning Provides:
Access to main elevator lobby for personnel and visitors by access card through turnstile unit equipped with access card readers at entrance and exit.
Access to main elevator lobby for personnel and visitors through automated gate controlled from security room.
Access for personnel and visitors to operating block from main elevator lobby side by access card.
Access for personnel to operating block from elevator side by pressing "Entry" button.
Access for personnel and visitors to administrative section by access card.
In ward departments, provide video intercom communication between duty nurse post and entrances from elevator lobbies,
Access for personnel and visitors to departments by access card.
Access for personnel and visitors from emergency exits of basement and first floors by access card.
Deactivation during daytime from exits to ward departments.
Access for personnel and visitors from emergency exits on stairwells by access card.
Capability to operate in autonomous mode with preservation of all above functions in case of communication loss with control computer.
Alarm signal output to security post in case of unauthorized penetration into access zones and designated premises.
Creation and maintenance of database for all access cards active at the facility, with capability to assign and change access level for each card.
Production of different level access cards with photos for employees and regular clients, without photos for visitors with capability for multiple card reprogramming.
Video intercom monitoring and passage control from main and emergency entrances.
Automatic deactivation during evacuation announcement.
Personnel working time accounting.
Automatic collection of access cards from one-time visitors at exit from controlled territory.
Justification for Technical Means Selection
When selecting technical means for access control task solution, the following is provided:
- building access through passage formed by automatic turnstiles equipped with access card readers and electromechanical gate;
- premises access using individual access cards according to time and access level;
- building access through basement floor entrance by access card according to time and access level;
- access decision making based on comparison of person's image from database with their appearance;
- management from computer with building plans and passage points display;
- easy system expansion when increasing control points;
- information communication provision;
- application of color images on access cards, including photos of card owners;
- convenience when making changes to employee access card database;
- information collection for operational personnel location control system;
- autonomous operation of entire network when computer is disconnected and AC power network voltage is lost with partial preservation of operation protocol;
- capability for integration with other security systems.
Selection and Technical Estimate Justification of Means
The access control system is built on principle of network interaction of controllers, which are responsible for specific passage algorithm and can be flexibly expanded. Each premises is equipped with necessary set and quantity of controllers depending on passage algorithm through specific door.
This technical solution was chosen by the organization based on following criteria:
High system reliability and modularity, allowing quick replacement and repair of system components without long-term disruption of object functioning.
Capability to organize integrated security systems workstation based on building management software. Favorable price/performance ratio compared to other technologies.
The basis is controller with access point modules, further referred to as "panel". Each panel can provide access control through turnstiles and through one door from two sides.
The panel can store 64 programmable time intervals. Interval is defined by three parameters: "Start time", "End time", "Day of week". Access by access card, activation of output relays and alarm inputs activation can be limited to specific time interval. Door opening fact by mechanical lock key is recorded by access control system as alarm information, with notification to system operator.
Access Card Readers
Access card readers are used according to estimate at entrances to first accessibility zone premises and at exits from premises, have reading distance, which is necessary condition for preventing accidental unauthorized activation.
Reader characteristics:
- installed on wall at entrance and/or exit from premises;
- works with access cards;
- powered from external source (DC voltage +12V);
- connects to control panel with shielded cable:
- wire core section 0.5mm.
Access card readers used in this case don't require preliminary command format programming before access cards can be read.
To read access card code, it must be brought to reader at reading distance so access card can transmit its number, otherwise number won't be transmitted. For repeated reading: access card must be taken away from reader and brought again.
Electromechanical latches, locked by voltage, electromagnetic locks and door closers are used for opening/closing doors with following characteristics:
- mechanical locks withstand maximum pressure load on latch - 400 kg;
- door closers have guaranteed number of opening/closing cycles not less than specified;
Color Plastic Card Printer
Plastic card printer allows production of high-quality color cards using modern technologies. Using card printer allows quick application of high-quality graphic and photo images on plastic cards. Printer works with any compatible computers.
Access Control Structure
To restrict access to building and territory, following objects are identified in regional medical center structure:
- building entrance through main entrance;
- Building entrance through emergency exits;
- entrance to medical offices and wards zone
- Security post workstation;
- Server workstation;
- Pass bureau and photographer workstation.
- Video intercoms.
Building Entrance Through Main Entrance.
Main entrance doors are not equipped with access control system devices. One of emergency entrances from main entrance side is equipped with devices. During daytime, main entrance doors are open for visitor reception. At other times, doors are closed by security according to medical center schedule.
One door is equipped with position contact, door closer and electromagnetic lock. Access card readers are installed on both sides of door. Employees having right of building entrance-exit can pass by access card according to their access level. Building entrance during non-reception hours can be obtained with security permission, for communication with which video intercom is installed at entrance.
Building Entrance Through Emergency Exits All emergency exits on first and basement floors are equipped with devices. Doors are equipped with position contact, door closer and electromagnetic lock. Access card readers are installed on both sides of door. For passage, access card with active number must be presented to reader.
Entrances to Medical Offices and Wards Zone
Main entrance to medical offices and wards zone is located in main elevator lobby. Here two turnstiles equipped with access card readers and mechanized gate are installed. Employee and visitor passage is carried out by access card.
In emergency cases, passage can be provided through mechanized gate with security or administrative person permission. Elevator lobby doors of each floor are equipped with position contact, door closer and electromagnetic lock.
Access card readers are installed from elevator side, and from floor premises side exit buttons are installed. During daytime, passage is free in both directions. During night and non-reception time, passage from elevator lobby side is carried out by access card. Return passage by briefly pressing exit button. Elevator lobbies are equipped with video intercoms connecting them with duty nurse post.
Service entrance to medical offices and wards zone is located in service elevator lobby. Doors in first floor elevator lobby are equipped with position contact, door closer and electromagnetic lock. Access card readers are installed on both sides of door.
For passage, access card with active number must be presented to reader. Doors in elevator lobbies on other floors are equipped with position contact, door closer and electromagnetic lock. Access card readers are installed from elevator lobby entrance side, and from elevator side exit buttons are installed.
Emergency entrances to medical offices and wards zone are located from emergency exit stairs side. Emergency exit stairs doors on first and seventh floor are equipped with position contact, door closer and electromagnetic lock. Access card readers are installed on both sides of door. For passage, access card with active number must be presented to reader.
Emergency exit stairs doors on other floors are equipped with position contact, door closer and electromagnetic lock. Access card readers are installed from stairwell entrance side. From other side, exit buttons are installed.
Entrance to dental department premises is located on first floor. Doors are equipped with position contact, door closer and electromagnetic lock. Access card readers are installed on both sides of door.
Security Post Workstation - Building Entrance.
Using this workstation, operational control of client and employee flow passing through turnstile is carried out. Workstation allows obtaining access card owners images on computer screen and implements duty mode interface for turnstile management. Performs turnstile unblocking.
Server Workstation Configuration
Using this workstation, centralized access management to controlled building zones is carried out. Workstation implements both interfaces (duty mode and manual system management). Administrator software is included in server software package.
Application software package provides administrator with:
- Formation of following databases: controller operation algorithms, access levels, holidays and days off, protected premises plans;
- dividing object employees into categories with individual access levels and assigning access rights to object for different categories, for this purpose, capability to form employee, client and visitor databases in terms of access levels, individual PIN-codes, time zones is provided;
- setting individual system reaction to any event registered by system, with reaction addressed by administrator to specific monitoring point;
- assigning functions to other monitoring points with corresponding access rights differentiation to separate system resources;
- printing contents of any databases on printer;
- managing controllers.
Pass Bureau and Photographer Workstation
Pass bureau and photographer workstation software is included in server software package. Using this workstation, pass registration and issuance based on corresponding documents is carried out, as well as registration and issuance of ready personal access cards to employees and regular clients and issuance of one-time visit access cards, as well as control over access card movement and their collection.
Using this workstation, employee and regular client photographing and personal access card production.
Access Control System Operation Mode
After connecting all equipment components, checking their functioning within communication lines, initializing all controllers, the access control system can be in one of three operation modes:
- normal mode;
- autonomous mode;
- backup power mode.
Normal Operation Mode
This mode is the main operation mode in which it operates 24/7.
When reading numbers (valid or invalid), corresponding message appears on monitor screen (if such function is set), allowing operator (or security guard) to intervene in access process. Message character for each case is described in operator instruction.
Autonomous Operation Mode
This mode can occur in case of communication absence with computer or when it is disconnected.
In this mode, all automated access control system controllers function independently, regardless of workstations. Therefore, there is no capability to influence access process from operator side.
Operator also has no capability to receive messages from panels about events or reports for certain time periods. However, access mode to serviced premises is not violated, since entire database defining access is saved in controllers and can be changed only from computer in normal operation mode.
Backup Power Mode
This mode is emergency operation mode and occurs only when main 220V power is disconnected. All access control system components have power supply from backup batteries in case of main power disconnection, which allow maintaining access control system in autonomous operation mode for at least three hours.
Medical Center Passage Algorithm
Two main types of passage algorithm are used in access control system:
- normally open;
- normally closed.
Normally open passage algorithm provides that when passing through access control point, door is in open state, door locking occurs only when access features don't match. For implementing this algorithm, electromechanical locks with latch position sensor, door closers, turnstile are used.
Normally open passage algorithm is used for access to first accessibility zone premises with mass passage of employees and clients and second accessibility zone premises with frequent employee passage.
In separate second accessibility zone premises with frequent employee passage and one premises owner, special normally open passage algorithm can function, when when owner is present in premises, there is no necessity to register entering and exiting employees and clients by devices.
Normally closed passage algorithm provides that when passing through access control point, door is in closed state, door unlocking occurs only when access features match. For implementing this algorithm, door position sensors, electromechanical latches and mechanical locks, door closers are used.
Normally closed passage algorithm is used for access to second accessibility zone premises and third accessibility zone premises.
Project production cost can be found by following link below.