Doors vary greatly in how difficult and costly it is to add electronic access control. Bad assumptions about them can cost thousands. Often the door is inadequately or inaccurately described resulting in avoidable specification mistakes. In t...
By Brian Rhodes - about 2 months ago
Density presented its cloud-based occupancy sensor to deal with Coronavirus at the May 2020 IPVM Startups show. Inside this report: A 30-minute video from Density including IPVM Q&A Background on the company Key Positive factors to c...
By Brian Rhodes - 5 months ago
Openpath presented its new PoE controller at the May 2020 IPVM Startups show. Inside this report: A 30-minute video from Openpath including IPVM Q&A Background on the company Key Positive factors to consider Key Negative factors to ...
By Brian Rhodes - 5 months ago
PDQ presented its mobile, wireless access system 'pdqSmart' at the April 2020 IPVM New Products show. Inside this report: A 30-minute video from PDQ including IPVM Q&A Background on the company and the new product Key Positive factor...
By Brian Rhodes - 6 months ago
Dormakaba presented its Switch Tech smartlock at the April 2020 IPVM New Products show. Inside this report: A 30-minute video from Dormakaba including IPVM Q&A Background on the company and the smart lock Key Positive factors to cons...
By Brian Rhodes - 6 months ago
IPVM recommends that integrators advocate and end-users consider adding door operators to fight the spread of coronavirus. This delivers mutual benefits - providing business to integrators in a slowdown and improving the attractiveness and heal...
By Brian Rhodes - 7 months ago
Controlling access to hazardous environments requires equipment meeting specific ratings that certify they will not start fires or will not introduce potential contamination risks. Understanding those ratings mandate careful selection. Inside t...
By Brian Rhodes - 8 months ago
Delayed Egress marks one of the few times locking people into a building is legal. With so much of access control driven by life safety codes, and a predominant focus of 'free egress' during an emergency, 'delayed egress' is contrary in preventin...
By Brian Rhodes - 9 months ago
Despite widespread use, locked doors are notoriously weak at stopping entry, and thousands can be misspent on locks that leave doors quite vulnerable. Using locks with multiple latches is one way to improve door security against attacks. Insid...
By Brian Rhodes - 9 months ago
Wyze's inexpensive cameras have grabbed the attention of many in the consumer market, but can the company's new smart lock get similar attention? In this test, we share an IPVM member's field report to see how well Wyze lock installs and performs...
By IPVM Team - 9 months ago
Mechanical keys are one of the most fundamental forms of access control. 'Master Keying' can allow individually different credential keys to segment access, but requires no electricity, no network, and uses regular door locks. How Master Keys w...
By Brian Rhodes - 10 months ago
Hotel access control does not work like typical commercial access control because doors in hotels are not typically directly connected to a central server. How does it work then? How can the hotel assure that cards are used properly? Inside thi...
By Brian Rhodes - 10 months ago
While Wyze has disrupted the consumer IP camera market with ~$20 cameras, its entrance into smart locks is entirely undisruptive. We have reported on the rise of Wyze in the past year, including 'big box' retail displays, selling more than 1 mi...
By Brian Rhodes - 11 months ago
One of the biggest access challenges are locking and securing glass doors. Unlike wood or steel doors that can be modified to work with electrified locking hardware, glass doors present great challenges. In this tutorial, we examine: Why Gl...
By Brian Rhodes - 11 months ago
For some access openings, running wires can add thousands in cost, and wireless alternatives that avoid it becomes appealing. But using wireless and WiFi locks can have drawbacks over hardwired alternatives. In this guide, we examine key aspec...
By Brian Rhodes - 11 months ago
For access, there is one basic maxim: Life safety above all else. But how do you know if all applicable codes are being followed? While the basic maxim is simple to understand, many potential variations of rules exist, and access control profes...
By Brian Rhodes - 12 months ago
Just because access doors are closed does not mean they are locked. Unless access systems are using lock status monitoring, the doors and areas they protect could be left insecure. How can you tell when doors are locked? Lock status monitoring...
By Brian Rhodes - 12 months ago
Door controllers are at the center of physical access control systems connecting software, readers, and locks. Despite being buried inside enclosures or hidden inside ceilings, they are a complex component that ties everything else together. ...
By Brian Rhodes - almost 1 year ago
Few terms carry greater importance in access control than 'fail safe' and 'fail secure'. Access control professionals must know how these concepts apply, and how to select locks that are appropriate. In this tutorial, we teach: The differen...
By Brian Rhodes - about 1 year ago
A heated access debate surrounds who should pick and install the locks. While responsible for selecting the control systems, integrators often struggle getting locks to work when others supply them. So we asked integrators 'What percentage of you...
By Brian Rhodes - over 1 year ago
Maglocks divide access control specifiers perhaps more than any other component. Many are concerned about life safety codes, but others cite benefits such as being less expensive. How frequently are maglocks used? 150+ integrators told us how ...
By IPVM Team - over 1 year ago
Significant money can be saved and problems avoided with an access control job walk if you know what to look for and what to ask. By inviting interested parties onsite for pre-bid job walks, many of the site conditions inadequately described in...
By Brian Rhodes - over 1 year ago
One of the most misunderstood yet valuable pieces of electrified hardware is the maglock. Few locks are stronger, but myths and confusion surround their proper use. Many access control designers avoid using them altogether, but should they? In ...
By Brian Rhodes - over 1 year ago
For access controlled doors, especially those with maglocks, 'Request to Exit', or 'RTE' devices are required to override electrified locks to guarantee free egress. Inside we examine these key RTE factors: The Common RTE Devices: REX and Pu...
By Brian Rhodes - over 1 year ago
Door Closers have an important job: automatically shut doors when they are opened, because an open door cannot control access. In this note, we review Door Closers, examine how they are selected, and how to avoid misusing them: Why closers a...
By Brian Rhodes - over 1 year ago
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