Access Control: How can you protect your condominium?

“Is this area safe? Can I safely park my car here?”

When it comes to buying/renting an apartment or house, one of the main concerns of residents is security.

Therefore, it is essential that condominium administrators, architects and other professionals responsible for the construction and administration of houses and buildings, maintain the reliability of their projects and that they think of intelligent security solutions.

Due to technological change, many processes that we carry out daily in our routines have undergone profound changes, including access control to condominiums.

In this article, we’ll explain everything you need to know about condominium access control and how you can start thinking about protecting your own.

After all, what is an access control system?

The definition is simple: control and record the movement of vehicles and people in a given space. In other words, with these systems it is possible to define access rules and authorizations, as well as record what day or time they happen.

With an access control system, condominium administrators transmit a safer, more innovative and organized image of their condominiums. This means an increase in the valuation of the property and condominium, thus generating more positive results for owners and administrators.

Advantages of adopting an access control system

1. Optimizes security

We know that not all residents comply with the rules imposed by condominiums. Sometimes the simple gesture of closing the door or gate can be forgotten, putting other residents and property at risk.

As we mentioned before, security is one of the main advantages of adopting an automatic access management system.

For example, automatic gates can prevent assaults on vehicles, apartments or other criminal actions.

With these systems, even if a resident forgets to close the door, it will close automatically. Allowing only authorized people and vehicles to enter and exit the condominium.

2. Improves accessibility

People who need help from others to move around do not experience the essence of the concept of accessibility. We cannot talk about social inclusion if there is not an environment accessible to everyone.

In Portugal there is a decree of law that approves “the promotion of accessibility as a fundamental element in people’s life quality, being an essential means for exercising the rights that are conferred to any member of a democratic society, contributing decisively to a greater strengthening of social ties, for greater civic participation by all those who are part of it and, consequently, for a growing deepening of solidarity in the Social Rule of Law.” (Decree-Law No. 163/2006 – Official Gazette No. 152/2006, Series I of 2006-08-08)

This law requires a series of technical standards for the construction of public or housing buildings that promote accessibility for people with disabilities or reduced mobility, so that they can live independently and exercise their citizenship and social participation rights.

3. Sanitation of spaces

The COVID-19 pandemic reinforced the care to be taken in the use of common spaces and areas. Residents, visitors and other people constantly touch handles and doors.

Automating access to condominiums, such as enabling the opening and closing of doors without the need to touch, can be one of the solutions to reduce the risk of contagion or transmission of diseases. In addition to being able to check who enters and leaves.

Not just in this pandemic, but also in future situations.

4. Comfort and convenience

Imagine waking up on one of those rainy winter mornings. You look at your watch and realize you’re late, you still have to take your kids to school, and you have a meeting scheduled very early.

Already in the car and ready to leave, the rain increases. You take the car out of the parking lot, but when you reach the gate of your condominium you have to go out to open and close the gate.

The scenario would be something like this: open the car door, get out of the car, open the gate, return to the car again, close the door, take the car out the gate, get out of the car again, close the gate and finally, get back in the car.

UFF! Tasks that seem simple, but when done on a daily basis become boring, especially when it’s raining and late for work. Do you agree?

What if you could just get in your car, click a button, wait for the gate to open while you talk to your kids, get out and not even worry about closing the gate?