Electronic access control systems are installed in homes and office spaces for safety and security purposes. These access control systems are becoming increasingly popular around the world. They are designed to hoot an alarm as they sense trespassing into the building or information system. They are available in many types, such as role-based, mandatory access control, discretionary access control. They can manage permissions on an individual employee basis; you can monitor the points accessed by people, etc.
Similarly, this system safeguards your property in your home and does not let unknowns enter the house. The door will be locked and can be opened through the set pattern or number lock only. Just like other electronic devices, these alarm systems also need maintenance to keep working properly. This article will discuss some tips on maintaining the electronic access control systems installed on your property.
Visual Inspection
For visual inspection, most people tend to take a quick look at the device. But that is not what exactly visual inspections stand for. Instead, it means to take your time and inspect the device for any exposed wires, debris on locks, any build-up on the screen. Additionally, you need to check if the screen is working properly or hanging while you use it.
Make a list of all the access points in your building and evaluate them one by one. It should be noted that you must maintain an inspection routine and not ignore it, or else you might end up hindering the device’s performance.
Cleanliness is a Necessity
Whether it is a touch device or an alarm sensor with keypads, it should be kept free from debris and dust. Keeping your access control device clean helps in ensuring the proper working of these devices. You might have heard that a false alarm rang in the electronic access control systems because of the accumulation of dust and debris over the sensors.
The sensors and screen need to be kept clean; there should be no marks of grease, dust, etc. The sensors work by sensing the heat produced in the area, and the accumulation of dust does not let the sensors work properly. The debris collected in the circuit area hinders the mechanism, thus resulting in poor performance. The cameras installed can also get blurry if they are not cleaned regularly. The dust on the cameras also scratches and damages them.
Software Maintenance
Inspecting and cleaning the devices is a part of the hardware maintenance for these safety devices. But software management is equally important to ensure the efficient working of these access control systems. Make sure that you look for any available software updates are installed properly. Systems have different notification patterns; some might blink a light; others might pop a message; ensure to be vigilant and run the installation of the latest software in the access control devices.
Professional Inspection
Even when you run your regular maintenance on the devices, a professional inspection is still worth it. A professional will know things you don’t; therefore, scheduling an appointment for professional technicians is always good. He will dive deeper and solve issues you might not even know existed in your access control device.
Check for Power
Ensure that during the inspection, all the devices and cameras have power and are still working. This will help you gauge if any device is not working properly or lacks power. If you have a battery-run system, make sure that you re-check and recharge the battery to ensure the functionality of your devices. It is a good idea to replace the batteries as and when they are nearing their life span. Keep a check on battery life, accordingly replace them with new ones.
Perform a Regular Test
A regular test for communication and sensor helps you gauge issues in your alarming and access control system. For example, if you use a cloud-based access control system, there must be proper communication between you, the alarm system, and the central station. In addition, you can test for sensors and trespassing to see if the system sends a signal when activated or not. Running these tests is crucial to maintain the connectivity of all devices and control systems.
Just like you would refrain from using a car that has not been serviced and maintained for a long time, you should also not trust an access control system that has not had its maintenance. Likewise, electronic devices need regular maintenance to function properly. Therefore, use the above mentioned tips to run a regular maintenance check on your devices and keep up the safety of your home and office.