Access Control Systems for Offices and Flats
Choose an access control system that suits your building and makes everyday entry straightforward. Whether you are managing an office entrance or upgrading a communal door in a block of flats, Door Entry Online can help you find equipment for your requirements.
Explore keypad and proximity entry options, compare locking arrangements and get advice before you order. From an independently managed entrance to a project requiring central administration, start with the way your building needs to work.
Shop Access Control Kits · Request a Bespoke Quote
Find the Right Access Control System
The right choice starts with three questions: who needs access, which doors need controlling and how will you manage users?
Consider:
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The number of entrances and people using them.
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Whether users should enter with a PIN, card or key fob.
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The existing door, frame and locking hardware.
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How visitors and deliveries will gain entry.
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Who will add users and remove access.
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Whether you need central administration or access records.
Deciding these points early helps you compare equipment on suitability as well as price.
Keypad access for PIN entry
A keypad lets authorised users request entry by entering a code. When planning your system, decide who will issue codes, when they should be changed and whether individual credentials would make administration easier.
Some equipment combines keypad and proximity entry. Door Entry Online’s AC7 kit, for example, supports PIN, card and fob access.
Proximity entry with cards and key fobs
Proximity entry allows users to present a compatible card or fob to a reader. For offices and communal entrances, consider how credentials will be issued, recorded and withdrawn when someone leaves.
Check compatibility before buying additional credentials. Cards and fobs should be selected for the reader concerned rather than assumed to be interchangeable.
Central management for several doors
If your project needs coordinated permissions and event records, explore Door Entry Online’s PC access control systems. The range includes network control equipment for software-managed access.
Discuss the required software, door count and administration features before selecting the components.
Compare Access Control Kits
Use the following options as starting points for your project. Final selection should account for the door construction, locking arrangement and emergency escape requirements.
AC4: Proximity Entry with an Electric Release
The AC4 proximity reader kit combines:
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An SR2-X proximity reader.
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A power supply.
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An exit button.
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A fail-secure electric lock release.
The reader is listed for up to 1,000 users. Consider AC4 where you want proximity entry on a compatible door.
The supplied release requires a suitable rim or mortice latch, which is not included; it is not compatible with a deadlock.
View the AC4 Access Control Kit
AC7: PIN, Card and Fob Entry
The AC7 electronic access control kit includes a K401-IE keypad, power supply, exit button and fail-secure electric release.
Its keypad offers:
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PIN, card and fob entry.
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Capacity for up to 1,000 user codes and/or credentials.
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Backlit buttons.
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An IP66 rating.
Consider AC7 for a compatible office entrance where a choice of entry methods would be useful. A suitable rim or mortice latch is required and is not included.
The standard releases supplied with AC4 and AC7 have specific restrictions concerning fire alarm connection. Ask for advice if your project requires that integration.
View the AC7 Access Control Kit
AC13: Proximity Entry with Magnetic Locking
The AC13 kit brings together a fob reader, power supply, exit button, emergency break switch, magnetic lock and bracket.
Consider this option for an entrance where proximity access and a magnetic locking arrangement have been specified. For a communal door, confirm the mounting requirements and escape arrangements before ordering.
AC17: Keypad Entry with Magnetic Locking
The AC17 kit includes a keypad, power supply, exit button, emergency break switch, magnetic lock and bracket.
It provides an alternative to assess where keypad entry is preferred and the door requires a suitable magnetic locking arrangement.
Compare AC13, AC17 and the Full Kit Range
Access Control Systems for Offices
Your office access arrangements should reflect how staff, visitors and contractors use the premises.
Start by identifying the main entrance and any internal doors that need controlled access. Then consider whether each door can be managed independently or whether permissions need to be coordinated across the building.
Plan Around Your Working Day
Before choosing equipment, establish:
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Which entrances employees use.
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How reception will admit visitors.
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Whether contractors need separate access arrangements.
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Who will maintain codes and credentials.
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Whether you need records of access events.
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How the system should accommodate future changes.
AC4 and AC7 are options to assess for a compatible entrance. For projects requiring central administration, discuss the PC-based range and the features your management team needs.
Access Control Systems for Flats and Communal Entrances
A communal entrance needs to work for residents, visitors, deliveries and those responsible for maintaining the building.
Begin with the number of flats, shared doors and people who require access. Agree who will manage credentials and how changes of occupancy will be handled.
Make Resident Access Easier to Manage
Prepare a clear process for:
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Issuing credentials to new residents.
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Handling lost cards or fobs.
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Removing access when residents leave.
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Providing appropriate access for maintenance visits.
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Checking that the entrance closes and secures correctly.
Where fob entry and magnetic locking are required, AC13 is one kit to discuss. Its suitability depends on the complete entrance arrangement.
Include Visitor Communication in Your Plans
Resident entry and visitor communication serve different purposes. If visitors need to call individual flats or speak to residents before being admitted, include those requirements in your enquiry.
Do not assume an access control kit includes an intercom, camera or resident handset. These functions need to be specified as part of the wider door entry solution.
Request Advice for Your Communal Entrance
Why Make Door Entry Online Your First Choice?
Choosing equipment is easier when you can discuss the whole project with a supplier that understands the product range.
Equipment for Different Building Requirements
Door Entry Online is a UK-based supplier offering access equipment, locking hardware, power supplies and exit devices. Its range also includes customisable kits and PC-based solutions, giving you several routes to explore as your requirements develop.
Help Before You Order
Share details of your door, preferred entry method and building use to help identify suitable options. Photographs and measurements are particularly useful when assessing an existing entrance.
Free Email Technical Support
Door Entry Online offers free email technical support for its products. If you need assistance, send a description of the issue, photographs and relevant order details.
The technical support page also points customers towards product documentation and video resources.
Bespoke Quotations for Your Project
If your requirements extend beyond a standard kit, request a tailored equipment quotation. Provide the number of doors and users, preferred entry method and any visitor communication or central management needs.
Check the Complete Installation Before Ordering
An access control system needs to suit the physical entrance as well as your preferred method of entry.
Confirm:
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Door material, frame dimensions and opening direction.
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Compatibility with existing latches and locks.
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Space for readers, exit devices and mounting brackets.
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Power, cabling and any backup requirements.
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Exposure to weather.
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Accessibility and emergency escape arrangements.
A kit’s contents alone do not establish fire safety compliance. The complete installation must be assessed for the building and door concerned. Government guidance for offices and shops stresses the importance of reviewing electronic locking and safe escape arrangements. Read the official guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which access control system should I choose for a small office?
Start with your door count, preferred entry method and administration needs. AC4 offers proximity entry, while AC7 combines PIN and proximity options. Confirm compatibility before choosing either kit.
What should I consider for a block of flats?
Consider resident credentials, visitor communication, changes of occupancy and the number of communal entrances. Include the condition and operation of the doors in your assessment, and decide who will manage access.
What is included in an access control kit?
Contents vary between products. Check the itemised list for the reader or keypad, locking hardware, power supply and exit equipment. Confirm separately whether you need credentials, cables or additional installation materials.
Can I use my existing door?
Possibly. Suitability depends on the door, frame, existing locking hardware and available mounting space. Send photographs and measurements so the proposed equipment can be assessed.
Can the equipment be installed outside?
Check each component separately. An externally rated reader or keypad does not mean that every item in its kit can be exposed to the weather. Follow the relevant product specification and installation guidance.
Do all access control systems provide access logs?
No. If event records are essential, specify that requirement when enquiring. Ask about a suitable PC-based system and confirm the software capabilities before ordering.
Does a magnetic-lock kit automatically meet fire safety requirements?
No. Compliance depends on the complete door arrangement, installation and building requirements. Emergency release equipment must be considered within that wider assessment.
Can Door Entry Online help me choose?
Yes. Share your project details through the bespoke quotation service. Include photographs, the number of doors and users, your preferred entry method and any additional management requirements.
Choose Your Access Control System with Confidence
Find equipment that suits your office or communal entrance. Compare the available kits, check the installation requirements and get advice on the details that matter to your building.