ACCESS CONTROL · CCTVPLANNER
Door access control system design and installation
Plan every controlled door: the reader, the controller, the lock, the exit button and the cables back to the panel, on the same plan as your cameras and intrusion sensors.
SIX CAPABILITIES · INTEGRATED DESIGN
Complete Access Control Planning
Door Sensor Layout
Plan magnetic contacts, mechanical switches, and wireless door sensors with proper placement and coverage validation.
Window Protection
Design window contact sensor layouts for perimeter protection with glass break detection and vibration sensors.
Wireless Systems
Configure wireless access control systems from leading manufacturers with battery monitoring and signal coverage.
VLAN Isolation
Plan separate VLANs for access control systems to isolate traffic from cameras and management networks.
Compliance Validation
Validate designs against regional compliance frameworks: GDPR, HIPAA, PCI-DSS, and industry-specific standards.
Integration Planning
Plan integration points between access control, CCTV, intrusion detection, and NVR systems on shared network infrastructure.
WHO USES IT
Access Control for Every Environment
Retail Stores
Protect employee areas, stock rooms, and cash handling zones with integrated door sensors and CCTV.
Office Buildings
Secure restricted areas, server rooms, and executive offices with card readers and sensor monitoring.
Hospitals & Healthcare
Comply with HIPAA while protecting pharmacy, operating theaters, and patient record areas.
Warehouses
Control access to valuable inventory, loading docks, and restricted sections with sensor verification.
Banks & Finance
Integrate access control with CCTV and intrusion detection for PCI-DSS and vault compliance.
Education
Plan safe campus access with emergency lockdown integration and visitor management.
ONE DOOR · SIX PARTS
What a door access control system is made of
Every controlled door has the same six parts. Get each one right and the door opens for the right people, stays shut for everyone else and tells you when something is wrong.
Reader
Reads the credential at the door: a MIFARE or 125 kHz card, a PIN, a phone or a fingerprint. Mounted outside, it talks to the controller over Wiegand or OSDP.
Door controller
Decides who opens which door and when, logs every event and drives the lock. One controller usually serves one to four doors.
Lock
A magnetic lock is fail-safe: it releases when power is lost. An electric strike is usually fail-secure: the door stays locked and opens from inside by its handle.
Request to exit
A push button or motion sensor on the inside tells the controller that the door is opened to leave, not forced.
Door contact
A magnetic contact reports whether the door is really shut, so the system can flag a door forced or held open.
Power supply
Locks and readers run on 12 or 24 V DC from a supply with battery backup, sized for every lock it feeds.
INSTALLATION · CABLES PER DOOR
Access control installation: the cables at one door
A typical door needs four or five runs back to the controller. These are the usual choices; the reader, lock and controller datasheets have the final word.
| Run | Typical cable | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Reader to controller, Wiegand | 6-core shielded, 22 AWG | Up to about 150 m |
| Reader to controller, OSDP | Twisted pair (RS-485) plus power | Up to about 1,200 m, encrypted with Secure Channel |
| Lock | 2-core, 18 AWG | Heavier cable on long runs, so the lock gets its full voltage |
| Exit button and door contact | 2-core, 22 AWG each | Often in one 4-core cable |
| Controller to network | Cat 6 | Same switch as the cameras, on its own VLAN |
DOOR ENTRY · VIDEO INTERCOMS
Video intercoms and door entry systems
A door entry system lets a visitor call from the door and someone inside see them and open it. On a controlled door it works alongside the reader: the intercom handles visitors, the reader lets staff and residents in.
Door station
The outdoor unit with a camera, call buttons or a keypad, often with a card reader built in. Mount it where its camera sees the visitor's face, not a bright sky behind them.
Indoor monitor and app
The answering side: a screen at reception or in each flat, or a phone app over the network, from which the call is taken and the door released.
Lock release
The door station or the indoor unit drives the lock through a relay or, where the two are integrated, asks the access controller to open the door, so every opening is logged in one place.
Wiring
IP intercoms run on one Cat 6 cable with PoE, like a camera. Two-wire systems reuse an existing pair in older buildings. Either way, plan the lock's power separately.
IN CCTVPLANNER
Design the doors on the same plan as the cameras
- Pick readers and door controllers from Hikvision, Dahua, HID, Suprema, Paxton, ZKTeco, 2N, Ubiquiti and Axis, with card technology, Wiegand or OSDP, keypad and IP rating from the datasheet.
- Add video intercoms and door stations from 2N, Aiphone, Akuvox, Axis, BAS-IP, Comelit, Dahua, DoorBird, Hikvision, Mobotix and Ubiquiti to the same doors.
- Place them on the floor plan next to the cameras and intrusion sensors, then draw the cable routes: every run gets its length.
- Export the bill of materials and the quote with every reader, controller and cable on it.
QUESTIONS · SIX ANSWERS
Door access control questions
What is a door access control system?
A system that decides who may open a door and when. A reader checks the card, PIN, phone or fingerprint, a controller compares it with the access rules and releases the lock, and every event is logged. A door contact and an exit button let it tell a normal exit from a forced door.
Should I use a magnetic lock or an electric strike?
A magnetic lock is fail-safe and releases on power loss, which suits escape routes. An electric strike is usually fail-secure and keeps the door locked without power, which suits stock rooms and server rooms. Local fire and building codes decide which doors need fail-safe locking.
How far can a reader be from the controller?
About 150 m over Wiegand on 22 AWG shielded cable, and about 1,200 m over OSDP on RS-485 twisted pair. OSDP also encrypts the link and reports reader faults, so new installations usually choose it.
What's the difference between door sensors and window contacts?
Door sensors typically use magnetic contacts for standard door frame mounting. Window contacts (also called window sensors) fit smaller openings and can include glass break detection. Both send open/closed status to the alarm panel and integrate with your NVR system.
Can I mix wireless and hardwired access control?
Yes. Wireless systems work well for retrofit installations and areas where running cables is difficult. Hardwired systems are preferred for new construction and areas requiring 100% reliability. Most modern systems support hybrid deployments with separate VLANs for each type.
How does access control integrate with CCTV?
The two systems share network infrastructure (PoE, Ethernet, VLAN planning) and can be triggered together: when an access control event occurs, the NVR can automatically start recording that area or increase frame rate. Both connect to the same network switch and can share power and cable management.
Related Security Disciplines
CCTVplanner is a complete security design platform. Browse the other disciplines covered in the same project canvas.
Intrusion Detection Design
PIR motion sensors, beam barriers, glass break, dual-tech detectors — designed alongside camera coverage.
Network Planning
IP addressing, VLAN segmentation, PoE budgets, UPS sizing, cable routing for the whole security stack.
Security Compliance
Validate against GDPR, HIPAA, PCI-DSS, ISO 27001, NDAA — auto-generated audit documentation.
Start Designing Secure Access Control Systems
Plan door sensors, window contacts, wireless systems, and network integration. Then export your design as DXF, CSV, or PDF for client presentations.