London office specifies integrated Inner Range solution to enable ‘free flow access and robust security’

Grade A London office, The Bailey, recently enlisted the help of Inner Range and security solutions installer, Antron Security, to enable the swift movement of users, including visitors, through reception to their correct floors with minimal or no touch points, all without compromising security. 

The clients also desired a visitor management system that could be used by multiple tenants and reception staff, secure and clear intercom, easy access for disabled users, and reliable CCTV monitoring of strategic locations.

Inner Range’s Integriti intelligent access control system, integrating with Mitsubishi’s lift controls and Bluepoint’s visitor management system, was specified, to ensure all users and visitors can access their floors and designated areas with ease.

Richard Harvell, Engineering Director, at Knight Harwood, who managed the refurbishment said: “Our key requirement was to be able to move users, including visitors, swiftly through reception to their correct floors with minimal or no touch points. And all without compromising security.

“We have been impressed with Integriti’s sophistication and integration capabilities, as well as Antron Security’s expertise and diligence in designing and installing our bespoke access and security system.”

Knight Harwood was recently commissioned to refurbish the site, along with architect Orms and building design consultancy GDM Partnership. A new and sophisticated access and security management system was part of the refurbishment brief.

Knight Harwood stipulated an access and security management system that would ensure a free flow of users and tenants through reception, without crowding or queues.

This would need to include integrating intelligent lift controls, to ensure users were swiftly taken to their designated floor, as well as a good visitor management system that all tenants could use without the need for a central security team to manage requests.

Touchless access, as well as digital sign-in for users was also important.

An intercom or entry phone and access control operated doors were needed for disabled users accessing the building from the dedicated disabled parking bay, as well anyone arriving ‘out of hours’, or for tradespeople and deliveries.

High levels of physical and cyber security were required to keep all legitimate users and the site safe, without hindering access, alongside CCTV monitoring in strategic locations.

Future proofing, including laying under-floor cables ready for entry turnstiles/speed lanes, was desired.

Integration with lift controls and visitor management

The Mitsubishi lifts can read credentials from proximity cards, or mobile phones, at a user check-in point at reception, or in the lift lobby itself.

The high-level lift integration with ‘destination control’ means the lift software considers where each of the building’s lifts are, where the user’s ‘home floor’ is, as well as where other users are going/due to go, and instantly calculates the quickest lift for the new user. The user is immediately directed to the most efficient lift via a display screen at reception, or in the lift lobby. If users can go to more than one floor, they can update their preference in the lift itself.

This integration ensures users move through reception quickly and efficiently with no unnecessary stops.

Inner Range’s Integriti also allowed Bluepoint’s visitor management system to integrate with the Mitsubishi lifts.

For visitors to access tenanted floors within the building, the following has to take place:

• A tenant creates the meeting via Bluepoint
• An email is generated and sent to the visitor’s inbox where they can create a mobile QR code pass and save it to their smart phone wallet
• When the visitor arrives, they use their mobile phone to scan the QR code in the Bluepoint invite at the reception desk to check-in
• The reception team can then direct them to the Mitsubishi lifts, which display the lift car they need to get to their meeting
• To leave, the visitor presents their QR code at the lift or door reader, which tells the system they’re leaving
• The QR codes are only valid for one entry and one exit, and only on the appointment date and at the planned appointment time. Afterwards, the QR code becomes invalid and is deleted from the system.

The QR code gives the visitor the ability to access everything they will need, including the lifts and any locked doors en-route.

The integration between Integriti and Bluepoint’s visitor management system was achieved using the Bluepoint API. Bluepoint is cloud-based, hosted on the Microsoft Azure platform.

Video entry intercom and CCTV

CAME BPT entry panels were installed to allow disabled users to access the building near the dedicated disabled parking bay, as well as for any visitors out-of-hours to contact the security team, or for deliveries and trades people to use to access doors at the rear of the building.

The panels allow for a reliable and intuitive video entry intercom.

CCTV cameras from Hikvision have been installed throughout the site to create a hard-wired IP closed circuit television system. They are integrated with the Integriti access control system, which allows for intelligent ‘cause and effect’ monitoring.

System protocols automatically bring up specific camera feeds for security managers to view in response to alerts, and footage can be viewed together with additional information from Integriti, such as if a door has been left open.