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Access Control and Fire Safety
Access
Control priorities change in the event of a fire alert. The key issue
changes from regulating who enters the building or area to ensuring that
everyone who is in the building or area has free exit. The generic
requirements for Access Control operation under a fire emergency are:
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Fail Safe Doors – the first requirement in the event of a fire or
similar emergency is for all Access Control doors to revert to open
mode, for easy and safe evacuation. Access Control systems can remove
the electronic locking of doors automatically through links to Manually
Operated Access Door Release call points and/or the Fire alarm detection
system. |
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Roll Call – When a fire evacuation has taken place, it is essential
to know who is and who isn't in the building, including visitors. The
central PC of an Access Control system can quickly provide a precise
list of the names of building pass holders registered on the Access
Control data base at the exact time of the alarm.
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Networking – In addition to knowing who is and is not in a building,
it can be important to know where key staff are at the time of an
emergency. If an organisation has a number of buildings in an area, with
staff or members moving between them, then a networked system provides a
trace on all people in the group of buildings. |
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Muster Points – The roll call itself can be automated, using a
reader at a designated safe muster point at which people register their
arrival, for quicker and more accurate electronic roll calls
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CCTV links – A CCTV control room can use manual control to switch
into the camera with a view of the fire. There can also be automatic
links designed & installed between the CCTV system and the fire
alarm/detection system, instantly switching the control room view to
that of the camera at the site of the fire as identified by the
heat/fire detection system. |
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emergency systems, both Access Control and the Alarm System normally have a
back up power supply - that cuts in if the normal supply suffers a failure
in the emergency.
Access
Control Systems and Fire Detection/Alarm systems can now be integrated into
a sophisticated automatic system. Although each component of the system may
not be complex, our experienced Surveyors and Technicians ensure a full
function system that operates effectively under all operating conditions.
In view of
the above it is a condition that skilled installation is carried out; the
system will then provide a powerful aid to the safety of staff and the
public in the event of a fire. Sonic Security Services Ltd aim to
design, install and maintain our Access Control Systems to a standard of
high quality and safety.
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