any special requirements and applicable codes. In practice,
creation of the OPR is a negotiation balancing the
budget, schedule, potential threats, asset vulnerability
and accessibility. Life safety codes and the ability
of occupants to egress from spaces in an emergency
is of primary concern. High risk areas may require
biometric readers or two forms of authentication,
adding justifiable cost (Figure 1). To complete the OPR,
adjustments are required to balance risk with safety
and operations.
July/August 2019 I 31
2. OWNER’S PROJECT REQUIREMENTS
Early in design, the team develops the initial owner’s
project requirement (OPR), which is a document stating
the requirements for each passage (door) in the project
and the building operator’s objectives and expectations.
Typically, the OPR is prepared with input from the
owner, architects, door hardware consultants, security
design professionals, code authorities and the local
fire department. Clear documentation of the basis
of design (BOD) for systems controlling access to doors
and passages should be included. It should also include
BIOMETRICS IN LOGICAL ACCESS CONTROL APPLICATION
Host server with
biometric templates
of authorized users
Authenticated at
workstation prior to
gaining access to network
and application programs
FIGURE 1: An example of biometrics, used for identification, in an access control application.
not work on automatic doors, and the manufacturer’s
representative may need to be involved. The automatic
door controller would require contacts for input from
the access control system as well as output to the
access control system for the request to exit signal.
To avoid two actions by building occupants, the
owner may wish that the door opens automatically
when a presented credential is authorized by the
access control system.
If the door is unlocked during business hours, people
entering and exiting through the door would need to
press the push plate or activate a motion sensor. Testing
involves opening the door with a credential during hours
the door is locked and utilization of the push plate
or motion sensor when the door is unlocked.
3. CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS
Close cooperation between the architect and the security
system designer is necessary when incorporating access
control system devices into the construction documents.
Many systems may need to be integrated at each door,
and each system should include the required components
to fully function with other systems. It is
important to document the desired door functionality
under all possible circumstances for future testing
and commissioning.
The following integrations with the access control
system may be required:
Automatic Doors
Adding access control to doors with an automatic opener
can be complicated. Many door hardware consultants do
Network switch for
enterprise connectivity
Biometric reader
integrated into workstation
to allow access to
secure network