Security Tip #2 (continued)
ACCESS CONTROL LOCKING DEVICES - Part 2 of a 5 Part Series on locking devices

INSTALLATION POINTER #3
The access control installation people may not like this statement, but this comes from experience, not prejudice. If you are using strikes and the doors are not pre-cut to accept the strike, hire someone on the installation team to install the strikes! This normally involves a locksmith or a specialist in electric strike installation as opposed to the access control manufacturer or distributor’s installation crew. First off, they normally do not have the tools to properly cut metal door frames; secondly, they are not really experienced in this area, and in most instances, they will probably hire the same specialist we are recommending to you, the end user, because this is a "real pain" for some installation teams. There is an old adage in the world of electric strikes that states, "no two doors are alike!" That is really true because it is not the door frame as much as what is behind it, so investigate having someone else do this work as opposed to dropping it on your access control installer. By the way, you will reduce, to some extent, the installation costs by saving a second markup on the same labor!

SELECTION OF EQUIPMENT
Always select a quality electric strike. We cannot use this page to "endorse" a product line because these products, like anything else, have different levels of quality. Your selection of the product should be dependent upon the application. Electric strikes of poor quality can be popped open with a screw driver, so don’t put them on outside doors or on doors leading to critical assets. Top of the line units cannot be opened with a crowbar, so these are the units that will be used on access controlled portals and critical asset areas. Just be prepared to spend from $250 to $400 per unit for a good quality strike. This expenditure will pay for itself by providing dependable performance and having lower maintenance costs. Lesser quality units ($45 - 125 per) are acceptable for things such as receptionist gates or similar openings where someone is present, thereby increasing the security of the portal. Just make sure you clearly understand the function of the area being controlled as well as the criticality of the asset being protected before making the final decision on the selection of the electric strikes.

ACCESSORIES
A last thought on electric strikes has to do with the accessories or other features of the strike. As a design company, we do not feel the integrity of the security program is enhanced with the electric strike having a door position switch built in to report when the door bolt has been accepted into the strike, thereby supposedly indicating the door is closed. There have been too many instances of these type switches being compromised to provide false reporting to the access control system. Our position is that for the small amount of money required, it is better to install a door position switch in the top of the door to ensure that the system is getting a good report. Remember, you are going to the door with wire anyway, so why not pull an additional pair and monitor the door properly. (To make the strike guys feel better, we don’t recommend the use of door position or bonding switches in the mag-lock world either.)

There are probably fifty other things that can be said about electric strikes however, we think these pointers are important from the standpoint of providing assistance to anyone considering the use of this type of locking device. The electric strike is very effective and is one of the easiest devices to work with from a portal control stand point. We like them, our clients like them, and they work very well. If you need manufacturer’s of this product, please feel free to contact us through this page and we will gladly answer any questions you may have concerning this device.

We thank you for visiting our WEB page and hope this information will be of assistance. We look forward to your visiting our WEB site in the future and remember, if we can be of any assistance with your design, please contact us at your earliest convenience.

Roy N. Bordes
President/CEO

Click here to read Part 1 of this series