Access Control

Child care centers need access control for controlling both children and parents to ensure child safety at each child or day care center. Having a secure child care facility is an important factor in a parents search for a child care center for their children.

Access Control Considerations

In your search for the best access control system for your child or day care center, there are a number of factors that you must take into consideration before making a choice of which access control system will be the best for your child care center.

The proper access control for a child care center will ensure that only authorized individuals may have both the door and child released for entry and exit.

Five Access Control Questions:

  1. Do you simply want to enable any authorized person entry to a common area using a single common code for all, or do you wish to have individual codes for each and every person?
  2. If different codes are desired for everyone, how many codes will you need?
  3. Is the access control keypad going to be located outdoors or indoors where weather, vandalism, and lighting are not a necessary consideration?
  4. Is it necessary to have the access control keypad connected to a computer, or can it be a "free-standing" unit called a "Stand-Alone" device that is used to release a locked door?
  5. Is security a primary concern for an outside perimeter entry door, or is it an interior door that you want controlled to restrict entry into the classroom?
     

Stand Alone or P.C. Connected Access Control

 A door release can be controlled from either a keypad that is or is not connected to a computer for automatic time and attendance tracking, if desired, for parents, children, and staff with appropriate add-on software.

TYPES OF STAND ALONE KEYPADS:

  1. Membrane Keypad
  2. Mechanical Push Button Keypad
  3. Piezo Keypads
     

A. MEMBRANE KEYPAD

Membrane keypads usually are less expensive units that have both the electronics and keypad located in one housing for ease of installation.

The initial lower cost is offset by being more prone to vandalism by the use of a hot cigarette to destroy the membrane keypad. It is usually restricted to its use on the inside entry doors rather than outside perimeter doors.

B. MECHANICAL KEYPAD

Mechanical keypads are designed for higher traffic applications and are not prone to damage by longer fingernails, as those of the membrane keypad. They eliminate cigarette burning damage. Many of the mechanical keypads utilize cast aluminum housings to avoid ugly rust stains that appear on the membrane metal housings, and many also are lighted for after dark use as well.

C. PIEZO KEYPAD DESIGN

Access control door systems that separate the outside mounted keypad from the inside mounted electronics provide a far more secured entry that is less prone to vandalism and far less costly when it is attempted.

Unlike both Membrane and Mechanical keypads, Piezo keypads have NO moving parts to wear out! They have extended warranties with stainless steel bodies and have been proven in tens of thousands of cars and high security applications around the world.

Since there are no moving parts, the keypads are virtually indestructible and are never hampered by bad weather. They can easily be used outdoors for a totally secured perimeter door entry system without weather concerns.

The cost of access control systems will depend on the number of user codes, stand alone or PC connected, and indoor or outdoor usage and the security desired.

Membrane or Mechanical Keypad access control systems start at $350. Piezo keypad systems start at $400.

For more in-depth analysis of your particular access control needs, please click our immediate Hot Line Callback for answers.