ACCESS DIVISION - Glossary
ADI Global Distribution's Access Control Division can meet all your needs in this specialist area of access control security. Our Access Control & audio video entry system Security products provide all forms of access control.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AC INDUCTANCE - Interference from electrical wiring or devices. This is usually manifested by 50 cycle buzz when the open voice intercom stations or wiring are located too closely to AC wiring.
ALARM INPUT - A device that is monitored by the access control panel. An alarm signal will be generated if the device is activated.
ALL CALL - On systems with this feature, by pressing the All Call button, then the Talk button, the announcement will be transmitted throughout inside intercom stations in the system. Some systems have this feature built in.
ANTI-PASSBACK - A feature that will not allow any card to re-enter unless it has been used to exit. This requires that readers be used for both entry and exit.
AUDIO MONITORING - Listening to another station from a master station. Masters can monitor any other station in the system. Sub stations cannot monitor another station.
BAUD RATE - The speed data is transmitted at.
BREAK GLASS UNIT (BGU) - A device mounted near the exit door that can be used to release the door in the event of an emergency.
CALL TONE - Mono electronic tone heard when a sub station calls a master station. This tone can also be heard when a master station calls a sub station by depressing the designated buttons for calling by tone.
CARD HOLDER - A person who has been issued with an access control card.
CARD NUMBER - A coded number that is stored in the access control card.
CARD READER - A unit that is fitted local to the door and reads the access card and transfers the information back to the access control unit.
CENTRAL OR ON LINE PROCESSING - A system where all system information is stored in a central location and all go or no-go decisions are made by this unit.
CHIME TONE (DOOR CHIME) - A multi-stroke chime heard through the system. This feature is standard on some systems, and an option on other systems.
CONTROLLED AREA - An area where the entry/exit is under the control of an access control system.
DAISY-CHAIN WIRING - The wiring method where the wire path is in and out of each station from the first to the last location.
DISTRIBUTED PROCESSING - An access control system where some of the system information is stored at the individual readers or controllers. This allows the system to operate when the host is down or not communicating.
DOOR FORCED ALARM - A signal indicating that the door was opened without a valid card or request to exit device. This requires a status switch and some type of request to exit device.
DOOR STATION - Weather resistant station. Designed to be used at doors, gates, or any outside area. Pressing call button activates a tone and/or LED at the handset(s). When the master answers, communication is hands free at door, controlled by the master.
DOOR HELD OPEN - A signal that indicates that the door was held open longer than it should have been. This is used to prevent someone from using a card to enter and then leaving the door open for others. This requires a status switch on the door.
DOOR OPEN TIME - The allowed time period for the door to stay open before creating an alarm condition.
DOOR RELEASE - The activation of an electric door strike or a magnetic lock from the inside intercom system.
DOOR RELEASE RELAY - A relay that provides a clean contact from the access or audio system,to operate electric gate system or barrier
DOOR STRIKE - An electro-mechanical device used to lock and unlock a door.
DOS - Disk Operating System associated with PC (Microsoft dos).
DRY CONTACT - Is a output that's normally requested from OEM manufactures to drive their product , this output is basically a door release relay as above
EASY EGRESS - A means of exiting where the person wishing to leave simply turns the doorknob to exit.
EVENT - A valid transaction received by the access control system.
EXIT - A way out of an area that may or may not be controlled.
EXTERNAL SIGNALING DEVICE - A supplemental sounding device tied in with an intercom system for remote or louder indication of a call being received. (Requires additional equipment.)
EXTERNAL SIGNALING RELAY - The relay required to activate an external signalling device. Choose the relay specifically designed for that purpose on the system being installed.
FAILED LOCKED - Locking device that requires current to unlock (fail secure).
FAIL SAFE - Is a locking device that is unlocked when no power is applied.
FAIL SECURE - Is a locking device that is locked when no power is applied. These are not normally used for exit doors, as they cannot be unlocked during a power outage.
FAIL UNLOCKED - Locking device that requires current to lock (fail safe).
FREE EXIT - This is a operation of a system that when either a specific time zone is applied or a break glass unit is actived , the locking device will open and stay open until either the time zone is expired or the break glass is reset
FORMAT - How the computer arranges information on to a disk.
GLASS BREAK STATION - A device mounted near the exit door that can be used to release the door in the event of an emergency.
GLOBAL ANTI PASSBACK - A feature that will not allow any card to re-enter unless it has been used to exit. This requires that readers be used for both entry and exit, global means this rule is applied to the whole system rather than a local door
HALL EFFECT - Means of monitoring the condition of a magnetic coil in the mag-locks.
HANDS FREE REPLY - Respond without touching the intercom station when called by a master station.
HARD DISK - A large capacity non-removable disk drive in a computer.
Kb (KILOBYTE) - one thousand bytes or characters of information.
LED CALL INDICATOR - When a call is placed from a door or sub station, the corresponding LED station light will light up on the handset(s) for approximately 20 seconds.
LOCKING DEVICE - This is a means of locking a door, either using a Rim lock release or a maglock.
MAGLOCK - A type of lock that holds the door shut through magnetic force. This works by a electromagnet being attached to the doorframe and armature being attached to the door so that, when the door is shut, the two plates are located next to each other. When a current is applied, the electromagnet pulls the armature to the electromagnetic plate and holds it tight, holding forces in maglocks varies in the size of coil, the holding forces are 150Kg 300KG and 500KG , 300Kg is by far the most popular
MASTER CARD - On some stand alone systems there is no way of inputting data to the reader, such as door open times to validate or remove cards from the system. These functions are done via master card being presented and a specific protocol being followed, Master cards are sometimes used in conjunction with shadow cards
MASTER STATION - Station where communication is initiated and controlled. The features of a master station may include selective calling, All Call button, Privacy, Occupied light, Monitoring Capability, Door Release and other features provided from components included in a system. (All Call for the LEF system requires additional equipment.)
Mb (MEGABYTE) - one million bytes or characters of information.
MODEM (MODulator/dEMulator) - An piece of equipment that is used to transmit data between electronic devices.
MONITOR (VIDEO) - The unit used in conjunction with the intercom to provide video door answering.
MONITORED - Senses the condition of the door open or closed.
MORTICE LATCH - This is a type of lock that is morticed into the door, its operation is very simlar to a rim yale
MORTICE RELEASE - This is a type of electric door release. That is mounted in the door frame typically used for mortice latches
MOV - Metal oxide varistor, a device used to prevent the electro-magnetic force generated by the locks from damaging the controller.
MULTI-CONDUCTOR (or MULTI-CORE) CABLE WITH OVERALL SHIELD - Cable that has multiple wires in a single jacket. Every wire will be a different colour, and they are not paired. Shielding is an aluminum covering over all wires just inside the outer jacket along with a bare metal stranded wire (called a drain wire). If the lines that indicate wires on a wiring diagram are parallel, that indicates the use of a multi-conductor cable.
NETWORK - A series of points connected by communication channels.
NOISE - Interference present on data lines.
N/C NORMALLY OPEN CONTACT - A contact for a door release that is in the open position when not activated, and closes when the door release button is pressed. This type of contact is typically required to activate an electric door strike.
N/O NORMALLY CLOSED CONTACT - A contact for door release that is in the closed position when not activated, and opens when the door release button is pressed. This type of contact is typically required to activate a magnetic lock.
PDO (PUSHED DOOR OPEN) - A signal indicating that the door was opened without a valid card or request to exit device. This requires a status switch and some type of request to exit device.
PIN / CODE - A Personal Identification Number assigned to a user. It is code used by the user to gain access to a controlled area and is used either by itself or in conjunction with a card.
PRIVACY - Many manufacturers have different ideas as to what privacy is, the most popular is
PRIVACY OF SPEECH - In a multi tenant building, if a call is made to a flat, none of the other residents can hear the conversation. This remains in effect until that handset is replaced
PRIVACY - Another idea is a switch on a handset that, when pressed, it switches off the buzzer. Thus, when a call is made, the handset doesn't buzz.
PROTOCOL - The standard that is used to send information between computers and peripherals.
PROTOCOL CONVERTER - Data transmission converter i.e. RS232 to RS485.
PSU - Power Supply Unit.
RAM (RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY) - the read write memory of a computer.
REMOTE CONTROL - Remote activation or deactivation of devices. Lights can be turned on, alarm contacts disarmed, surveillance cameras activated, video monitors turned on, and door releases activated. Any function controlled with N/O or N/C contact can be done with this feature when included on a system.
REMOTE HOST - A system where the main computer controlling the system is remotely located. It allows a single computer to control multiple systems.
RS232 - Data communication industry standard for data transfer.
RS485 - Data communication industry standard for data transfer.
RTE/RQE/REX BUTTON (REQUEST TO EXIT BUTTON) - A device that must be pushed in order to release the door.
RIM-RELEASE - This is a type of electric door release. That is mounted on the door frame typically used for yale type locks
SELECTIVE CALLING - Call a specific station in the system by depressing that station's selector button at a master station. Communication at the calling master is push to talk, release to listen. At the called station, communication is hands free.
SHADOW CARDS - On some stand alone systems there is no way of inputting data to the reader, to remove lost or stolen cards from this type of system requires a shadow card, a shadow card will come with a user card ,the shadow card has only the critical information in it, this information can be used to delete or validate the card of which it shadows
SHUNT TIME - When a door is released the status switch is automatically "shunted" for a period of time to allow the person to enter/exit. If the time is exceeded a door held open signal will occur.
STAND ALONE - A system where the controller is contained in the card reader and is therefore self-sufficient.
STATION - A station is a point at which calls can be made and/or received on a door entry system
STATUS SWITCH - A magnetic contact mounted on the controlled door. It is used to detect door held or door forced.
SUB-STATION - Receives a call from a master station, and can place a call to master(s) by tone and/or light. In open voice systems, the communication is hands free at the sub station, controlled by the master. In handset systems, the communication is simultaneous through the handset.
TALKPATH - Circuits on which communication takes place. The number of talkpaths, also called communication paths, is generally one unless otherwise specified.
TIME ZONES - "Schedules" that allow cards to function or not function depending on the time of day. This is used to limit access to the facility. The schedule may include not only time but also which days of the week a card is valid.
T-REX - An infra red exit device, typically mounted about a door, so when it detects a person present will deactivate the locking device to provide free exit
TWISTED PAIR CABLE - A type of cable where there are individually twisted pairs of wires within a single jacket.
WAY - Refers to the number of internal door entry phones that can be attached to one external phone. On these systems, the external panel has a number of buttons so that one can call the particular handset/apartment that one is visiting.
WIN - Refers to the Microsoft operating system. Ie: WIN95 , WIN98, WIN ME , WIN 2000 , WIN NT , WIN XP .