A Better Way To Manage Visitors
Door entry systems in Leicester help commercial buildings manage the moment someone arrives. A visitor calls reception, a tenant or another authorised contact, who decides whether to release the entrance. This gives staff a useful checkpoint before a person enters the building.
An office with a staffed front desk has different needs from a shared building where each tenant receives their own calls. A school entrance may require controlled visitor reception during busy periods. The right design starts with who answers and what happens when nobody is available.
We help scope audio and video entry arrangements for commercial premises. Visitor entry is often best considered alongside staff access, since an intercom does not replace the permission management provided by an access control system.
Choosing Audio, Video Or IP Entry
Audio entry allows a conversation before release and can suit simple staffed entrances. Video entry gives an answering user a visual view of the caller, subject to camera position and lighting. Consider whether the panel can be used comfortably by a range of visitors and whether the speaker remains understandable near traffic.
IP entry systems can route calls over a suitable network to compatible answering devices. App-based answering may be useful, but check subscription costs, mobile coverage and who owns the account. A system that relies on one employee’s personal device can become difficult to manage when staffing changes.
Existing cabling may limit the available replacement options. The survey should trace it rather than assume that an old handset can be exchanged without other work. Panel size, weather exposure and the location of the lock power supply also affect the design.
Secure Release And Accessible Use
An intercom’s door-release connection must suit the lock and escape arrangements. The door needs to close and latch reliably after a visitor enters. A release button should not leave an entrance unsecured longer than necessary, and staff should understand what the button actually controls.
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 is relevant to emergency escape in commercial buildings in England and Wales. Refer to GOV.UK evacuation guidance and the premises fire risk assessment when agreeing locking changes. Security decisions must not compromise escape.
Consider panel reach, contrast, audible feedback and the needs of visitors who cannot use a standard handset. If images or call records identify individuals, data protection also needs to be considered. Document what is captured rather than assuming every video intercom records continuously.
Installation In An Occupied Building
First, map every entrance, answering point and tenant contact. Check the current lock, door closer, panel location and cable routes. Agree how parcels, deliveries and contractors will be handled, including any entrance used outside reception hours.
Next, select the call routing and release configuration. For a shared building, confirm how tenants are added or removed without exposing other occupiers’ settings. Identify any landlord approval needed for external panels or alterations to a common entrance.
After installation, test calls from each panel to each intended answering point. Check voice quality, video in the relevant light conditions and release duration. Test what happens if a call is missed, a network link fails or power is interrupted, and hand over the documented operating procedure.
What Influences The Project Cost
Door entry costs depend on entrance count, answering locations, wiring condition and the lock work required. A shared office installation with separate tenant routing needs more configuration than one entrance calling a single desk. Decorative stonework or concealed cabling can also change the installation method.
Ask for a clear schedule of panels, handsets or licences, power supplies and door hardware. Confirm whether network configuration, ongoing app fees and administrator training are included. Avoid comparing quotations only by the price of the visible outdoor panel.
If visitors arrive at a vehicle entrance, discuss automatic gate controls as part of the same brief. Where an entrance needs recorded evidence as well as a live visitor call, consider commercial CCTV. Tell us how your reception currently works through the enquiry form.
Your Questions, Answered
Can A Door Entry Call Go To More Than One Person?
A door entry call can be routed to several answering points on a compatible system. The design should explain whether devices ring together or in sequence and what happens when nobody answers. For shared commercial buildings, agree tenant separation, administrator permissions and the process for updating the directory when occupiers change.
Does A Video Intercom Record Visitors?
A video intercom does not necessarily record visitors simply because it shows a live picture. Recording depends on the equipment and configuration selected. If images, audio or call logs are stored, agree the business purpose, access permissions and retention arrangements, and provide the privacy information relevant to that use.
Can We Keep Our Existing Door Lock?
An existing door lock may be retained if it is compatible, in good condition and suitable for the door’s escape role. The survey should assess its voltage, operation and release arrangements alongside the closer and frame. Replacing the entry panel alone will not correct a door that fails to close properly.