Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies secures Mental Health Hospital

(03/08/2009)

A Mental Health and Psychiatric Hospital in the West Midlands which opened in 1996 has recently undergone a major refurbishment. This large hospital houses staff, in-patients / out-patients and has a high throughput of visitors each day. Due to the mix of patients, some of which are formally detained, the Hospital needed to replace and upgrade its existing security with a more secure system involving a combination of automatic doors with biometric access control.

The specification also called for a future-proof system which could eventually be adapted to incorporate time & attendance, visitor monitoring and staff scheduling as and when required.

The decision to use Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies for this scheme was simple as the company could fulfil all three requirements - automatic doors, biometric access control and integrated workforce management systems. This made complete sense performance-wise, financially and from an integrated solution point of view. By choosing a PASA framework approved contractor, the Trust was confident that it was making the most effective use of its resources and getting the best possible value for money.

Dor-O-Matic automatic slide and swing doors were installed inside the hospital entrance together with a set of manual doors which were connected to the fire alarm system to 'swing-free' when the alarm is activated. Embracing the reception area and out-patients waiting room, the doors were installed to provide double sided security both to prevent patients from leaving and to stop unauthorised visitors from gaining access. The system was also designed on the double door principle - requiring entrance and exit through two sets of doors working in parallel, where one door only opens when the other one is closed. This is not only enhanced security, but also helped to retain heat within the building, thus conserving energy.

To provide further security, many reception and internal doors are linked to biometric access control readers using both fingerprint and proximity card readers. This makes entry for authorised staff quick and easy and negates the need for manual visual verification. The combination of both card and biometrics provides additional security over standard swipe cards by preventing access should a card be lost or stolen. Other sensitive areas inside the hospital, such as the Secure Ward, Administration and Management Suites, are also secured with biometric access control. The whole system is integrated and can be linked in to a time & attendance, staff scheduling and visitor logging system with the minimum of disruption and cost.

The Admin Services Manager at the Hospital comments, "The new biometric and access control systems were put in place for a reason and have fulfilled their purpose extremely well. The biometric management system lets us easily control who can enter and where they can access. The result is a safe and secure environment not only for staff and visitors but, importantly, for our patients for whom we have a duty of care. It has certainly made the administration and management of controlled access a lot easier and more efficient."

Related topics:  Building access control system   Door entry systems and locks   Fingerprint biometrics   Fire detection and alarm   Smart card 

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