Access Control Installation
in North Hollywood

Keypad, card or fob – which one fits a NoHo studio or shop?

A keypad is cheapest and good for a single back door with a handful of regulars, but everyone shares the code, so you re-key the code when someone leaves. Cards or fobs make more sense once you have rotating freelancers or several doors: each person gets their own credential, you see who came and went, and you kill one card without disturbing anyone else. For a small two-person suite we often just do a keypad; for a multi-tenant building we lean cards.

Does the system tie into the fire alarm?

If your door is on a fire-alarm circuit, it has to. Maglocks especially must release on alarm so people can get out, and L.A. inspectors check for it. When we install, we wire the access hardware to fail safe on the fire-alarm signal and confirm the door drops free during a test. On a door that isn't part of a monitored alarm, we still make sure egress is code-compliant – you can always leave from the inside without a key or code.

Someone left and still has a card or code. Can you revoke it?

Yes, and that is the main reason to move off metal keys. On a card or fob system we delete that credential in the software in seconds and the door stops recognizing it, no need to collect anything or re-pin a lock. On a shared keypad we change the code and hand the new one only to current staff. We can show your manager how to do both so a quitting editor or ex-tenant is locked out the same day.

Do you run the wiring, or do I need a separate electrician?

We run the low-voltage wiring ourselves – the reader, strike or maglock, power supply and controller are all part of the job. For a single keypad on an existing powered door it is straightforward. In older North Hollywood buildings where there is no nearby power or the wire run is long, we sort the path during the walkthrough and quote it up front. The only time you would need a licensed electrician is new high-voltage service, which most of these jobs do not require.