SubscribeThe Animal Health Trust discusses the benefits of their new access control system
The Animal Health Trust was formed in 1948, replacing the Veterinary Education Trust. Located in the tranquil setting of Lanwades Park, the Animal Health Trust is a charity with a mission to provide specialist veterinary, clinical, surgical and diagnostic services for companion animals. As well as the veterinary services, AHT also undertake research into the diseases that affect our domestic animals. They have had several major breakthroughs in preventative medicine and treatment for animals. This knowledge is shared with other organisations to enable the benefits to be passed on.
In 2004 Leigh Harvey IT Support Engineer for the Animal Trust was tasked with looking at security on the site. There had been no major issues with security, but Leigh believed that with the amount of separate buildings on the site, it would be easier to monitor and control use of doors with an electronic access control system.
The Allen Centre already had Net2, a PC based system from Paxton Access, installed controlling two doors. Leigh says "Before just going ahead and having the same system installed on the other buildings, I did some research on the systems available and what they offer. My decision was to expand the Net2 system."
"The addition of access control to all of our buildings will be a gradual process. It is essential that the system chosen is easy to expand. Net2 is a system that we can grow, by one door at a time if necessary. It will also operate over our existing network via TCP/IP. I need to be able to have central control of the system from my office. Net2 will allow me to do this".
"It was essential that the system was easy to expand"
Leigh contacted Aztek Services who installed the original system on the Allen Centre. Alan Cockerton of Aztek was approached, checked over the requirements and presented a detailed plan of works and a quotation. Allen says "I know Leigh had looked at other systems but saw the advantages of sticking with Net2".
The first building to be added to the Net2 system was the Grade II listed stable block. The stable block is home to the John McDougal Visitors' Centre and also some of the offices. Seven doors are now controlled by the Net2 system.
The Hall has been added to the access control network. The external doors all have readers both sides of the doors, providing read in and out control. One interior door is also fitted with a proximity reader and access through this door is restricted. As the system expands across the whole site, all of the doors will be set up as read in and read out. Leigh's plan is to use roll call and muster report in the event of a fire alarm.
"I really like the Net2 software, it is just so easy to use"
There are two administrators for the system, Leigh and H & S. Leigh uses most of the features in the software. Departments, timezones and access levels are used to make the issuing of cards with default access permissions easy. Access levels are set according to which building staff work in and their need for access to other areas. Individual permissions are also used where necessary. Leigh comments, "I really like the Net2 software, it is just so easy to use"
The Animal Health Trust has upgraded their system to Net2 Version 4. This enhanced version of the Net2 software, released by Paxton Access in January 2006 offers advanced features that Leigh Harvey is happily integrating into his expansion plan. "The triggers and actions facility in the software means that I am sent an email if an invalid token is used or a door is left open or forced. I also like the idea of SMS messages being sent to our security guards' mobile phones if anything untoward happens.
We are also using an input/output board to monitor use of the pharmacy. I get an email to notify me of out of hours use. The I/O boards are great. I love the fact that if I decide to use this anywhere else on the site, I can just move it to another location and plug it into the network! It is very simple to set up the trigger and the action in the software."
"I am sent an email if an invalid token is used or a door is left open or forced"
In addition to the extensive CCTV camera coverage on site, Leigh was keen to record camera images against events in the Net2 software. Version 4 integrates with Milestone IP camera software. AHT have the Enterprise version. Camera images are associated with events in the Net2 software.
On the Visitors' Centre, the external door is unlocked in normal working hours. An infrared beam goes across the opening which triggers the IP camera every time someone enters or leaves. On the Hall a further 3 IP cameras are deployed to view the exterior entrances. When a Net2 token is presented to enter the building the event is recorded in the Net2 software, the camera image is recorded in the Milestone software. On the Net2 events screen an icon is shown by the event, double clicking on this icon brings up the associated camera image.
"It's great having the camera images associated with Net2 events available instantly"
"The Milestone software works well", Leigh says. "It is great having the camera images associated with Net2 events available instantly from the Net2 software. Searching the Milestone software for images not associated with Net2 events is also incredibly easy. I can easily look for and find images from a particular day, time and place. The Milestone software is run on a separate server to the Net2 server, this means that we have plenty of server space to store all of the images. The integration works really well and as we expand the Net2 system to all of the other buildings, we will also install IP cameras linked to Net2 and Milestone Software. This is a great solution for us".
Site graphics is another of the new features which Leigh says will really benefit them. Leigh has imported drawings of the site into the Net2 software and set up existing doors and cameras on the plan. Leigh monitors this at the moment but says, "Once all of the buildings and doors have been added to the Net2 system, site graphics will be used by the security guards we have on site".
Leigh is really happy with the system. "It runs over our networks avoiding expensive cabling. The easy expandability combined with the flexibility of software is great. Our security which is already good, will be further enhanced, giving us greater control and traceability".
