Important Things to Consider When Going for Electronic Locks at the Workplace
Posted on: 2 May 2016
Security and privacy are key considerations when choosing a mechanism to lock the door at the workplace. When working, it is important for people to have a conducive environment with minimal interruption. For you to do this, you must have reliable locks that will limit unauthorised entry into working areas in need of restricted access. Electronic locks are ideal for restricting access and ensuring both privacy and security in different work areas within the office. Here are some of the things you should keep in mind when going for electric locks in the workplace:
Safety In Case of an Emergency
When an emergency such as a fire breakout occurs, the lock mechanism should guarantee the safety of the people in the building. Ideally, electronic locks come with the fail-safe or the fail-secure alternatives. With a fail-safe electronic lock, the bolt that keeps the door locked unlocks in case of a power outage or emergency alarm. This means that the people in the building can leave the rooms and go to emergency exit points. For this reason, the fail-safe electronic doors are suitable for offices with many visitors.
On the other hand, fail-secure electronic locks require electricity to retract the bolt. This means that the bolt will remain in place in case of a power outage, keeping the door locked. Such locks are ideal for rooms that have little traffic because of the impeded evacuation.
Authentication Mechanisms
The authentication codes required to manipulate electronic locks are an important aspect that you should consider. As people interact in the workplace, they share information. Therefore, there is a great risk of authentication codes being revealed or copied by those whose access is restricted. Preferably, you should opt for authentication swipe cards to reduce the risks of sharing or copying access codes. In areas that require very limited access, you can use biometric authentication techniques such as fingerprints or handprints.
Digital Devices
You can also use digital devices when opening or closing electronic locks. The devices can be customised to open specific doors depending on the areas that the person has permission to access. Notably, they are only usable at proximity to the doors to reduce accidental unlocking when someone is quite far from the door. You can reset the locks to reject any signals from the digital devices in case of infringement. However, you should also consider the fact that the digital devices can be damaged, lost and costly to replace.
For more information, talk to a locksmith.
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