Case Studies

Custodian Fire & Security Ltd were asked to design and install a new access control system for the Mark Rutherford Upper School in Bedford.

The school needed to improve and upgrade the site security (31 doors, one external pedestrian gate & one vehicle gate) for pupils and staff as well as managing attendance and knowledge of who is on or off site at any one time.

Key factors for the system were as follows: 

• A system that would be easily manageable, administered and could have students and staff access added to it simply was required.
• Appointed members of staff to be able to log on to the server via client software to check events and run reports when required.
• Networking of door controllers in multiple buildings via the schools LAN system.
• Integration with the site fire alarm system (to release doors when fire alarm activated).
• Future expansion.

Taking into consideration the site resources and the requirement for the system to be easily manageable, we chose the Paxton Net2 system.

Specifications:

• PC based server connected to the schools LAN network.
• Paxton Net2 Pro Software – 1 to 1000 doors, 50000 users, utilising roll call and fire alarm integration. Event reporting for users and door status for forced and held open.
• Paxton Net2 client software for multiple user stations.
• Paxton Net2 plus ACU network door controllers (TCP/IP ports to plug directly into the site LAN network).
• Paxton P50 IP rated readers.
• Monitored Maglocks
• Combined high impact ABS push to exit buttons/emergency break glass units.  

Installation:

Asbestos was found to be present within many of the site buildings, in the ceiling voids and fire barriers between areas in the classrooms and corridors. Cabling for the doors and networking could not be run through these locations (since completion of the installation work, the asbestos has been professionally removed from all areas of the premises).

To overcome this situation, it was decided that the cables would have to be run from the door positions externally around the buildings in metal containment e.g. galvanised trunking, conduit, and catenary wire. Specialist cabinets with integral power supply units that housed multiple door controllers were to be installed at strategic locations where access to 240VAC mains and the site network was available.

For a durable form of containment, white PVC conduit was used for the cable drops to the internal push to exit buttons/emergency break glass units and for the cabling to the maglocks. 

The system was integrated with the site fire alarm system as required.

Full training was delivered on administering the system, this included adding and deleting users and how to run event reports for tracking users.

The customer was extremely happy with the project turnaround during the summer holidays and the school now has an effective access control and door entry system to help manage the flow of staff, pupils and visitors.