Vehicle access: barriers, gates and long-range readers
What they are. Rising arm barriers, gates or bollards controlled by long-range RFID tags, remote controls, intercoms or schedules. Many estates also add ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) to automate vehicle entry policies.
Strengths. Controls car parks and service yards, separates pedestrian and vehicle flows, and can mirror staff access policies for vehicles.
Considerations. Integrate with your people access system where practical, to keep a single source of truth for permissions and audit. If you’re planning perimeter control, we design and install security barriers and integrate them with door systems and reception workflows.
(See: Security Barrier Installation)
Where they fit. Car parks, loading bays, gated compounds, campus-style sites.
System architecture: standalone, networked and cloud-managed
Beyond the reader on the wall, architecture determines how you’ll manage users, permissions and reports across the estate.
Standalone. A reader/controller manages a door locally—fine for a single door or small sites, but limited in central reporting and multi-door policies.
Networked (IP). Door controllers connect over your LAN; administrators manage users, time schedules and reports centrally. This model scales well and integrates cleanly with CCTV and alarms, which is why it’s the norm for modern systems. If you’re refreshing an older setup, our IP security system installation overview shows how IP infrastructure underpins modern security estates.
(See: IP Security System Installation)
Cloud-managed. The control application runs in the cloud, offering web access, automatic updates and simpler multi-site management. Whether on-prem or cloud, specify equipment that meets BS EN 60839-11-1 performance requirements and follow recognised codes of practice like NSI NCP 109 for design, installation, commissioning and maintenance.
Life safety and compliance you cannot ignore
Security can never compromise safe escape. UK practice is clear that electronically controlled doors on escape routes must release on fire alarm or relevant fault conditions. BS 7273-4 sets out how door release mechanisms should actuate in a fire—the detail your fire and access contractors should coordinate on during design and commissioning. If you’re ever in doubt, insist on an explicit fire interface design and test. Industry bodies and standards pages provide accessible summaries if you need to brief internal stakeholders.
Compliance also touches data. If you deploy biometrics, treat the templates and event logs as personal data and—where used to uniquely identify people—special category data, requiring stronger safeguards, governance and typically a DPIA before roll-out. The ICO has clear guidance on definitions and expectations that you should incorporate into policies and supplier due diligence.
Integrations that elevate security
The best systems don’t operate in silos. Pairing access control with CCTV means you can instantly review video for a forced door or suspicious entry, enrich incident investigations, and deter tailgating. Linking with intruder alarms allows “first-in, last-out” logic so alarms arm/disarm automatically with legitimate movement. We’ve detailed practical patterns and benefits in our knowledge base article on CCTV, access control and alarm integration.
(See: CCTV–Access Control–Alarm Integration)
From a governance perspective, NPSA’s security best-practice materials emphasise clear policy, signage and staff awareness so your technology is supported by good procedures on the ground.
How to match “type” to your environment
Start with a short, structured assessment: the risks you’re mitigating, the areas you’re protecting, the number of users and visitors, occupancy patterns, and any specific compliance requirements. Then choose the credential type (cards/fobs, PINs, biometrics, mobile) and reader mix that matches each zone’s risk and throughput. Use higher assurance at sensitive rooms; keep friction low at busy common doors. Decide on the architecture (networked or cloud) to suit your scale and IT posture, and plan integrations from day one so CCTV and alarms share events. Finally, lock in life-safety behaviour with your fire contractor and document it thoroughly.
If you’re weighing options and want a pragmatic design that aligns with UK standards and operational realities, our specialists can help—from survey and design to installation and training. For organisations exploring touch-free journeys, mobile credentials and hands-free readers increasingly deliver the best blend of hygiene, convenience and control—especially when paired with strong policies and well-tuned alerts.
