Controlled Access – how to get the best from your access control & security systems

Covering the subject of self-storage security can fill pages and take hours to complete so I have tried to highlight the basic principles of what’s involved. For this exercise I have left out the Intruder and Fire Alarm requirements and just concentrated on Access control and CCTV. If you would like to discover more information on the subject of store security then please visit the Members Area on our website and read the blogs. So let’s begin!

Many variables can be considered when designing a security system for your self-storage store. It's an art to balance what is functional, marketable and easy to use when talking about these systems. Finding what's right is often more work than people realise and it is important that the process is started early on in the design otherwise you may not have the resources to secure the site you invested so much time and money into.

Your store’s security is part perception, part functionality. What you offer your customer should attract them and draw the type that does not mind paying a few extra pounds to secure a unit at a state-of-the-art property. If having a gate that requires customers to use an entry and exit code sends a troublemaker somewhere else, then your system has just paid a silent dividend. The same holds true for individual door alarms, site graphics and closed-circuit TV solutions.

It’s important to choose components that make the most sense for your store. Don’t go overboard on technology to secure your store if it isn’t necessary for your area—or won’t be used. You want to ensure that your security system is easy for your store manager to operate, and almost completely automatic. Choosing this type of system allows your manager to do his job: rent units and serve customers. Balance what will help you secure and market your store with what is really necessary.

Obviously from a marketing perception you would do well to offer a comparable service to your nearest competitor, although if there are extras to be had over and above what they provide then why not take advantage as it will make selling your product that much easier, not to mention aiding in the management of the store.

For peace of mind an electronically controlled gate is a necessity. Not only will this manage and record the movement of your customers but it will also keep any troublemakers and undesirables at bay. Having your customer Login through the gate is one thing but where do they go once inside the perimeter? For the answer to that question you can employ a number of tactics.

PIN activated lifts mean that only customers with units on upper floors can use the lifts and that use is easily restricted to their particular floor. The second and more common option is individual door alarms. Using this option allows for the alarm on the customers unit to be deactivated upon their entry to the store through the external gate. If they then attempt entry to another customers unit, the alarm will sound alerting your staff. Once the customer has accessed their unit the alarm is reactivated when they exit the site by using their PIN to open the external gate. All access control systems have inbuilt redundancy where if activity is not logged on the customers unit for a set period, their alarm reactivates.

So you now have a system that controls the customers movement throughout the building and records the times that they accessed the site, so why is that important. Well once you have a report on your customer activities you can look at opening times and decide whether out of hour’s access is needed or alternatively you may discover that you are open longer than necessary. After all just because you’re open 10 hours a day 7 days a week, it doesn’t mean that your customers will automatically use you.

The second security element to consider is one of CCTV. The industry standard here is a digital system that employs colour cameras both internally and externally, with a software interface on the front desk which can also be accessed via a web browser from anywhere you wish. Points of particular interest should be the main entry/exit gate where a camera should pick up the vehicle registration and the occupants, Keypad cameras to view the person entering the access code, Loading areas to take in the manner of goods being stored, internal corridors and stairwells and your reception area so you can manage the well being of your staff. I have been in situations where I have been able to call a member of staff whilst viewing them handling a difficult and abusive customer. Once they realised they were being recorded the situation was diffused and the member of staff protected.

However if you want full control over your store and your customers then your access control and CCTV systems need to be integrated with the Self-Storage Management Software. From this central access point you can automatically control customer accounts, access and view images of them on site using the access control to provide date and times. StorMan is an excellent product that links all these elements together, why else would we distribute their full range of products?

For more information on access control and security, visit our website at www.urstore.co.uk