Paxton’s new Solo system is giving student accommodation provider Homes for Students a simpler way to manage access at its One London Road site in Newcastle-under-Lyme, courtesy of JPR Fire, Security and Data.
Until recently, the accommodation was secured using a standalone access control solution requiring no network infrastructure. The existing system was becoming difficult to manage, with approximately 500 residents across five blocks, including the onsite gym. Registered students gained access by entering a valid access code or presenting their fob. The site managers were continuously replacing lost fobs, creating additional running costs for the system.
Mike Gater, department manager at JPR Fire, Security and Data, approached the site after attending Paxton’s Tech Tour launch event for Solo; a phone-based, cloud-hosted access control system. Mike saw the opportunity to upgrade the site to a more modern solution.
With the simplicity of standalone and the power of a networked solution; Solo is designed to make access control simple using a smartphone to administer the system and gain access through the door. With the free Paxton Solo app, the site management team can administer access to the premises from anywhere, via their smartphone. For the students, it means never having to remember an access code or to carry a fob, as they’d simply use their phone to gain access to their building.
When a smartphone with appropriate access permission is presented to a Solo controlled door, the phone communicates to the Solo controller using Bluetooth Low Energy frequency to instruct the door to open. With minimal Wi-Fi on site, the phone uses mobile data to confirm appropriate access permissions are available for that door. Where no network connectivity is available, the credential can be stored in the phone for 3-4 hours, to allow access even if the phone is offline.
Mike said: “As soon as we saw the Solo introduction, we knew it would be a great fit for our clients at One London Road. The premises has no network infrastructure, so a standalone system was always going to be a requirement. But with approximately 500 students on site, our clients would really benefit from more features of a centralised system.”
With the introduction of the Solo system on site, One London Road was also able to secure access to the student’s Common rooms. Where previously access was available to anyone who had gained entry to the building, now only students in residence with appropriate access permissions can use the space, by presenting their phone to the Solo DoorTag.
Tallulah-Mae Moran, General Manager at Homes for Students said: “Paxton’s Solo system has reduced the ongoing costs of replacing fobs and time spent doing this. The ability to see the date and time of who accessed which door is extremely useful for us and allows us to manage the site to a better standard and provides accurate information when investigating issues on site. It also allows us to set users up and manage this remotely rather than provide and collect physical fobs. It has been a worthwhile investment and will continue to be effective in years to come.”
