ACT proximity readers and door controllers installed at 4 New Square in London

ACT’s proximity readers allow client to use same cards with time and attendance and PC logical access systems

Capital Fire and Security have completed installation of an access control system at a site in Lincoln’s Inn Fields where lawyers have been practicing for over 600 years. The Grade-II listed building, in London’s largest public square, is now fitted with hardware from Access Control Technology (ACT).

4 New Square, a set of chambers for prominent barristers, is located next to the Central Criminal Court of England and Wales, commonly called the Old Bailey. Using ACT’s proximity readers and door controllers, 4 New Square has added access control to over 100 doors.

The building hosts meetings between clients, solicitors and barristers for the most high-profile legal cases in the world, with many of the barristers being Queen’s Counsel. After a demonstration, the client saw the benefits of a centrally controlled card-based access control system as opposed to traditional key-based systems. Flexible security is paramount, especially in an environment where lawyers working in the same building frequently appear on opposing sides of the same case.

Capital Fire and Security chose an ACT proximity reader with the ability to read highly secure and versatile smart-card technology, the ACTpro DESFire EV1 1040. This choice of advanced reader allows the client to use the same cards with time and attendance and PC logical access systems. With architectural integrity a major consideration, the ability to install the readers as either flush or surface-mounted ensured the installation had minimal architectural impact.

To complement the choice of readers, ACTpro 4000 door controllers have been fitted in the operational and administrative areas of 4 New Square. Used in conjunction with ACTpro door stations, these controllers can support 60,000 users and 1,024 user groups. The ACT hardware uses low bandwidth and auto-discovery for easy installation and maintenance, alongside advanced features such as timed anti-passback and counting areas.

To complement and manage the access control system, ACT’s latest software platform, ACTpro Enterprise, is being used at 4 New Square. This role-based system is designed for the increasingly complex demands of a modern access control system. The design principle behind ACTpro Enterprise segregates different functionality by the user’s role – such as the installer, the security guard and the system administrator – to ensure minimal accidental system changes and system maintenance. The modules within the application are called ‘ACTinstall’, ‘ACTmonitor’ and ‘ACTmanage’. The flexibility of ACTpro Enterprise is demonstrated with the integration of third-party products on this site such as the intruder alarm system.

ACTpro Enterprise has been designed to give users a familiar web-browser experience using hyperlinks, ‘backwards’ and ‘forwards’ buttons and powerful search functionality.

Ian Wheeler, IT Manager at 4 New Square, said: “ACTpro Enterprise allows us to assign rights based on roles, zones and time of the day. With ACT’s access control system, a lost card is easily removed and a replacement issued straight away. Flexibility, paired with ACTpro Enterprise’s powerful reporting ability, means ACT access control really is an all-in-one solution for us.”

Capital Fire and Security design, supply and maintain access control, CCTV, and fire systems throughout London, working for clients in sectors including retail, banking, education, theatre and office management. The company is accredited by the National Security Inspectorate (NSI), the United Kingdom Accreditation Services and the Safe Contractor scheme.