Monitored Power for Access Control

Every access-controlled door depends on a power supply that most people never see. It sits in an IDF or above a ceiling, feeding locks, readers and controllers, with a battery that is supposed to carry the door through an outage. When that supply fails or its batteries age out, doors stop working or fail in an unexpected state, and the first sign is often a help desk call. Monitored power makes the power layer visible.

The problem

Common issues with conventional access control power include:

• Silent battery failure. Batteries degrade over time and may not hold a charge when needed, and nobody knows until an outage.
• Unknown loads. Doors are added over the years until a supply is near or over its rated capacity.
• Truck rolls to diagnose. A technician must visit the panel to check voltage, fuses and batteries.
• No maintenance history. Battery install dates and test results live in paper logs, if at all.

The approach

Networked power supplies

Networked access control power supplies, such as those from LifeSafety Power, report voltage, current per output, fuse status, AC loss and battery condition over the network. Many also allow outputs to be power-cycled remotely, which can clear a locked-up reader or controller without a site visit.

Battery monitoring and remote tests

Battery health is checked on a schedule through remote load tests, and results are recorded. Batteries that fail a test, or that reach the end of their expected service life, are flagged for replacement before they fail in service.

Alerts in the security platform

Power events such as AC loss, low battery, a blown fuse or an overcurrent output are sent to the access control or VMS platform (for example, Genetec Security Center) or to the monitoring service, so operators and technicians see them with the affected doors.

What it takes to get right

• Load and standby calculations. Each supply is sized for the actual connected load (locks, readers, controllers and accessories) with headroom, and batteries are sized for the standby time the site requires. Requirements for standby duration can come from local codes, the authority having jurisdiction or the customer's own standards.
• Lock and life safety behavior. Fail-safe and fail-secure choices, fire alarm release and egress requirements are confirmed for every door before power is designed.
• Integration. Supplies are added to the monitoring platform with clear naming that ties each output to a door, so an alert points to the right place.
• Testing. Commissioning includes AC loss simulation, battery transfer, output monitoring and confirmation that every alert reaches the platform.
• Maintenance planning. Battery replacement cycles, remote test schedules and power records are kept with the asset history. Under a managed service, IoTHS can track these and plan replacements before batteries age out.
• Third-party work. Dedicated circuits and electrical supply to power supplies are provided by licensed electricians from the customer's trades, and network ports by customer IT, unless IoTHS is contracted for them. IoTHS typically installs, terminates and programs the supplies, and the split is set out in the scope.

Where it fits

Monitored power suits any access control program with more than a handful of doors, and especially multi-site portfolios where remote visibility saves travel. It fits naturally into new installations, panel upgrades and office expansions, and can be retrofitted to existing doors when supplies or batteries are due for replacement.

Next step

Contact us to review the power behind your doors, or read more about our access control solutions.