Locks and Security News: your weekly locks and security industry newsletter
17th April 2024 Issue no. 701

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Skeleton keys?

The headquarters of the Royal College of Surgeons in London is being secured by door controllers and management software from Access Control Technology (ACT) as part of an IP security system.

The college promotes and advances excellence in surgical practice and patient care in England and Wales. It is active in supporting surgeons at all stages of their careers and also promotes public understanding of the conditions in which they work. The principal building at Lincoln's Inn Fields in Holborn receives visitors from around the world.

Installers IC Integrated Security are securing the college's staff, students, visitors and conference attendees. The ACT equipment used at the college includes the ACTpro 4000 two-door controller which can extend to a total of 16 doors via ACTpro door stations. In turn, up to 250 of the controllers can be networked via a PC interface. They are designed for high-traffic volumes and have been used at many medical sites in the UK and Republic of Ireland.

IC Integrated Security are managing the access control system with ACTWin pro 2.8 software which features auto-discovery of ACTpro 4000 door stations and controllers as well as site maps that allow users to visually monitor access control points and IO modules on a graphical representation of their facility.

Crucially, the fact that the ACT products are IP-addressable has allowed the installer to use existing network cabling infrastructure in this large building where running conduit would have caused significant disruption and often been impossible due to architectural constraints.

Paul Wilson, Managing Director of IC Integrated Security, said: "By 'piggy-backing' on existing structured cabling we have given the client a 'green' solution and are able to interface with other systems such as fire alarms. We've created a system with a hierarchy of access rights for staff members and visitors according to their profile and seniority. Facility managers can generate cards that allow distinctions between clinical and non-clinical, likely hours of work or visiting, and access to high-security areas such as dissection rooms."

The college's Lincoln's Inn Fields site dates from 1800 and, despite bomb damage during WWII, elements remain from the work in 1833 by Sir Charles Barry who preserved the Ionic columns and portico from the earlier design. The College houses a museum whose exhibits include early surgical instruments, anatomical tables presented by the diarist John Evelyn and the skeleton of Irishman Charles Byrne whose height was 7 ft 7 in.

Essex-based IC Integrated Security work across all major security disciplines. These include access control, CCTV, fire alarms, public address and voice alarm (PA/VA) and perimeter protection. Clients are both commercial and government bodies and they come from sectors including residential developments, manufacturing and corporate buildings.

About Access Control Technology (ACT)
ACT meets varying security needs with units that will control a standalone door right through to scalable, enterprise-wide solutions with open format design and interoperability suitable for 'intelligent' multi-campus buildings with thousands of users. The products will integrate with many third-party applications including card readers and databases. An extensive range of access control and audio-video door devices is currently protecting government sites, major educational facilities, pharmaceutical organisations, hospitals, prisons and retail chain stores.

IC Integrated Security Ltd T: 0845 626 2233 E: [email protected]
W: www.icintegrated.com

6th June 2012