TDSi delivers access control solution for Storage King

Access control specialist TDSi is working closely with Storage King, one of the UK's fastest growing self storage operations serving both business and the general public, to install a tailored access control solution at each of the company's sites. The first complete installation is now in operation at the company's Tyseley site in the West Midlands and is already delivering key security and operational benefits to the management team.

Historically Storage King had employed conventional intruder alarm systems, primarily protecting the perimeter of its sites. However, the company identified that by enhancing its access control procedures, it would not only be able to eliminate one of the curses of the self storage industry, tailgating - where one car quickly follows another into the compound before the entrance gates have closed -  but would also be able to integrate the system with its booking and financial operations.

To provide an integrated access control system, TDSi developed a bespoke solution, STORAGEgarde, based on its advanced access management software, EXgarde PRO and incorporating new functionality specifically to meet Storage King's needs.

Storage King's Facility Manager, Chris Miller explains how the system operates: "When a customer arrives on site to access their own storage unit, they present a fob to open a weather-proof, vandal resistant box that holds the finger print scanner. Here they must enter their individual PIN and scan their fingerprint. Once authorised the gates open and customers may proceed to their own unit.

"As soon as their fingerprint is recognised, they are authorised to access the keypads that protect their individual storage unit and so to access it. This dual protection level is very unusual in our industry; ordinarily sites only have perimeter access control protection with a traditional lock protecting each individual unit.

"So at Tyseley, if a door were to be opened that doesn't correspond with the correct PIN and fingerprint having been authorised, an alarm is triggered. When the customer closes their locker again, the system automatically rearms that particular alarm after a predetermined period of time."

TDSi's software also links to Storage King's own Space Manager System

Once a customer books a specific unit, their details, including a fingerprint scan, are recorded in the access control database. The flexibility of the STORAGEgarde software allows access rights to be given just to the specific areas of the site that a customer will need and, if appropriate, the times during which their units may be accessed. 

At the booking or enquiry stage, the Storage King team can also take advantage of a real time site plan, showing which units are available for rent. The software also allows them to give new customers a virtual site tour to familiarise them with the access points and unit locations. And, as STORAGEgarde has been developed to integrate with the booking and rental system, it also provides an alert if invoices remain unpaid, at which point a customer's specific access rights may be temporarily withdrawn. 

As a PIN code must also be input on exit, the system is able to recognise the point at which all customers have left the site, triggering the automatic arming of the alarms to secure the perimeter.

Chris continued: "TDSi's STORAGEgarde has given us a great deal more control and information over the site than we previously had. We now know how many customers are on site at any one time, exactly where they are and when they leave. Whilst we may not completely be able to prevent ‘tailgaters' entering the site, we can stop them accessing any of the storage units - either their own or other peoples'. And once a customer ends their contract, their access rights are immediately withdrawn, again giving an additional level of security."

STORAGEgarde is now in operation in Tyseley and Cardiff, with plans in place to roll out the system to all Storage King's facilities across the UK.