Secured Entry

We have one property that is 4 buildings with interior hallways. The interior entry adds some security, but the entrance doors to each building are not locked. The residents have been asking to get locked doors with an intercom system entry.

I don't know much about installing intercom systems, so I was hoping someone here would be able to help me

It sounds expensive? 4 seperate buildings would mean 4 systems and then do we have to re-do a bunch of wiring? Thanks!

If you can get a phone line to the door, you can control access with a local phone # to the resident who can allow them in, the intercom calls that resident and they press a # to let them in. We also have a code that goes to the office and 911. We allow any local # including cell phones. Then at the door for privacy we link a name and a code # so that their apartment #'s arent provided. How do they get packages? Deliveries? We take them in the office if people arent home, but it sounds like deliveries are probably left at their door?

what about a "valdine" key card system like some student housing uses? Kansas State University's dorms had this and it was a good solution to the problem. I think it's just a magnetic trigger set to a certain frequency supplied by the card when it's scanned through the reader, which looks a lot like a credit card reader. If you're looking for cheap, check with your local colleges. They might be upgrading from this system to something newer currently.

If that wouldn't work, why not just a simple RFID chip reader connected to a lock? The building I work in right now has that kind of system and the keycard is the size of a credit card. You don't even have to take it out of your wallet to use the thing.

I have a building located in the famed Central West End in Saint Louis where we've replaced aging intercom systems. The cost was $1800 per building with the phone line already being there.

I would love to do something with a key card/chip system but there are a lot of older residents in the community so if someone came to visit, it would be difficult for them to always go down to let people in. I think that just leaves the option of the call box system or not having locked entry doors at all.

There is certainly an up-front cost to providing this type of access security, but this can be offset by the credits your insurance carrier will offer for making these changes. Over time, it should pay for itself as an investment. Assaults and other crime on the premises are far less likely with a secured building, and your insurance underwriter should give you at least 5% credit for that. If they don't, you're with the wrong company!