The possible applications for electronic access control (EAC) equipment are a wide open market for the enterprising locksmith. Although interfacing between card readers and electrified locking systems is relatively familiar ground, expanding the realms of control situations has already been recognized and regularly fulfilled by another category of service providers referred to a “integrators.” Integrators have entered the market but because their expertise is in other disciplines, they may not be coming in through the door like locksmiths.
Opportunities abound, and such adaptations to other external equipment with EAC hardware and software are apparent as we let our creative juices flow to fill a special requirement for our clients.
These are definitely not situations where a self-contained access control device can be used, but rather discrete components; readers, controllers, dry contact outputs must be configured to suit the situation.
Some equipment such as typical HVAC use low voltage control circuits which are discrete from the high voltage side of the system, but sometimes, controls operate at the same high voltages as motors and compressors, etc.
Although it is important to know your limitations, it is also essential you recognize your recognize your strengths and be willing to take on challenges and obtain the necessary support from properly licensed trades as the particular job requires.
Applications for the use of EAC to operate or control equipment abound.
- The goal may be to prevent pilferage, such as where precious metals or valuables are stored or dispensed
- Using card readers to arm and disarm security systems is hardly new and has been in general practice for years.
- Institutional settings where drug vending ensures authorized persons dispense the proper items.
- Gun lockers present a challenge to protect innocent individuals from munitions and firearms
- Rather mundane but nevertheless a big requirement is to limit the use of copiers and related office supplies.
The application we are reporting on in this article presents an opportunity recognized and seized upon by an enterprising vendor, Fred Dawber of CANSEC.
Locksmiths and integrators are problem solvers at heart so it is not surprising that he would not only find a solution, but also inaugurate a new product to service the market.
We are familiar with building codes and life safety codes, but there other agencies and other codes which govern the safe usage of different types of equipment. These codes are in place to prevent injuries. Code enforcement uses fines to motivate compliance where an institution might otherwise ignore a situation and take a chance facing a possible consequence rather than take pre-emptive action to indemnify themselves against liabilities and protect workers and the public from dangerous and avoidable scenarios.
Where safety is concerned, setting unified standards, generally consensus driven, should be considered as a important contribution to all of our safety and quality of life. Entities such as UL, NFPA, OSHA and ADA have really transformed the lives of our population. A quick review of recent history, or even a survey of conditions in countries where such regulation, is absent reveals how valuable and essential they are.
CANSEC has been manufacturing access control products for more than 25 years. They have earned a reputation as a global innovator of access control solutions that simply work.
The new Active Presence Reader was developed to address workplace safety issues. The product borrows from traditional access control technologies, and invites use in other integration situations.
Fred Dawber, CANSEC’s CSO (Chief Simplification Officer) explains this new product:
“There is a rapidly growing emphasis on workplace safety being driven by regulatory bodies such as OSHA in the USA and the Canada Labour Code. In addition, the introduction of Bill C-45 in Canada established new legal duties for workplace health and safety, and imposes serious penalties for violations that result in injuries or death.
As an example, he cited a $190K fine paid by Walmart in August 2013 for, amongst other things, ‘unsafe trash compactor procedures.’ Under the settlement, trash compactors must remain locked while not in use, and may not be operated except under the supervision of a trained manager or other trained, designated monitor. Clearly, hanging a sign on a piece of dangerous shop floor equipment which says ‘To be used by authorized personnel only’ is not adequate, he added.
Access systems have been used for many years to manage physical access to restricted areas. However, they can also provide a cost-effective means of ensuring that dangerous machinery is only used by trained and authorized operators.
“Access control systems are designed to unlock doors, gates or other physical barriers by momentarily activating a relay. The relay remains activated for a fixed interval (i.e. 5, 7, 10 seconds). This works fine for doors, gates etc. but it does not work well when the item being controlled is a piece of machinery. The challenge was to adapt our technology to provide the required control features and the safety features demanded by the regulators,” Dawber added.
“While the momentary relay output from the access control panel can be used to activate the equipment for a fixed and pre-programmed period (i.e. 5, 10, 30 minutes, what deactivates it? If the activation period is too short, the operator has to keep presenting their access card to ‘buy more time’. If the activation period is too long, the machine will be left activated (and unattended) should the operator leave before the activation period expires.”
CANSEC’s solution was for the operators’ card to “clip” onto the reader and remain there as long as the operator is working on the machine. The machine remains activated as long as the card is present. When it is removed, the machine should be immediately deactivated.
This solution was implemented with a product developed by Cansec Systems Ltd. called the Active Presence Reader. This solution consists of a Cansec CanProx One reader with a built-in card clip and an Active Presence Reader control module. The CanProx reader contains firmware which continuously reads the card and outputs Wiegand data to the control module.
The control module has two Wiegand ports and an onboard Machine Control Relay which is used to activate/deactivate the controlled machine. When a card is snapped into the reader clip, the following occurs:
- The card data is sent to the control module
- The control module sends the data to the connected access control panel and monitors the access control panel’s lock output relay.
- If the lock relay is activated, the control module knows the cardholder is authorized to use the machine at which the card was presented and turns on its Machine Control Relay
- The control module monitors the Wiegand data constantly being sent by the reader. When the access card is removed from the clip, the control module turns off its Machine Control Relay and sends the Wiegand data (for the card just removed) to the connected access control panel.
“Besides providing control of the machine, the host PC will have two transactions in its audit trail file - one when the machine was activated and one when it was deactivated. With the appropriate reporting software, this allows a report to be generated of machine utilization by operator.”
The Active Presence Reader is compatible with all access control panels and all 125KHz HID or HID compatible access cards regardless of their Wiegand format.
Features include:
• Compatible with both HID and AWID 125 kHz proximity cards
• 30-second relay timer delay on card removal
• When connected to an access control panel, Active Presence Reader relay is only activated for authorized cardholders
• Green Initiative product
• Increases safety, security and reduces operating costs
Product Specifications:
Mullion dimensions: 40 mm (W) x 98 mm (H) x 17 mm (D); 1.6 in (W) x 3.9 in (H) x 0.7 in (D)
Wall mount dimensions: 70 mm (W) x 115 mm (H) x 25 mm (D); 2.8 in (W) x 4.5 in (H) x 1.0 in (D)
Weight: 85 g (3 oz)
Color: Black
Environment: Indoor or outdoor
Operating Temperature: -40˚C to 60˚C (-40˚F to 149˚F)
Frequency: 125 kHz
Certifications: FCC and CE
Warranty: 5 Years
For more information, contact CANSEC Systems, 3105 Unity Drive, Unit 9, Mississauga, Ontario,Canada, L5L 4L2. Telephone: 905-820-2404. Website: www.cansec.com.
