Hotel locks – how to choose and install modern proximity card locks?

A hotel lock is, for the most part, the same as any other lock. It consists of components that are mechanically responsible for locking and unlocking the door. These are:

• mortise lock,
• cylinder and mechanical key,
• pins and handles,
• the lock tongue,
• striker plate mounted on the door frame.

An additional element that makes the hotel lock a convenient solution for hotels is the presence of a proximity card reader, usually in the mifare standard, which releases the lock tongue and allows the door to be opened. The mechanical key performs the auxiliary function of emergency opening in the event of damage to the reader or low battery.

The body of the locks is usually made of stainless steel.

But why proximity locks at all if mechanical key hotel locks work and fulfil their purpose? There are quite a few answers.

Modern design

Electronic mifare card locks look much better than classic key locks. The modern look is determined by the use of stainless steel and black plastic, it is a versatile and timeless design that looks good from the corridor side as well as from the room side, it fits in with classic interiors as well as facilities that focus on a modern look and aesthetics.

Access control

Electronic hotel locks work in a similar way to the access control systems present in office buildings. Hotel staff grant access to specific rooms for specific people, guests of the hotel, for a specific period of time and to a specific extent. A reader mounted on the door on the corridor side ensures an easy operation, and access control complements the hotel's reservation system.

Ease of use

A mechanical key has one indisputable disadvantage – it can be lost. Such a situation is always likely to occur and can effectively disorganise a hotel's operations, not to mention frustrate guests.

In times gone by, one solution was to work with a single key system. This worked so that if a key was lost by a guest, the staff used a mechanical key to open every lock in the facility. Hotel locks operating in this way created a more serious problem: what happens if the emergency key is lost?

Proximity cards are issued quickly and easily, the software is intuitive and all controllers and accessories, such as power switches, are supplied. Card storage does not require a separate wall of pendants, just a drawer.

Find out about other applications for magnetic card locks.

Security

With mifare proximity card locks, the problem is very easy to solve. The loss of the card has to be reported to the attendant, who enters the card number on a blacklist and issues a new one to the guest after a while. The lost card will no longer work and the guest will quickly and easily regain access to the room.

One very important aspect of the matter emerges from the previous paragraph. If a key is lost or stolen, the security of the property left in the room is compromised. We do not know who has the key and how they will use it. In order to ensure security in such a lock, the entire cylinder and key would have to be replaced, which generates costs and is rarely possible immediately. Meanwhile, it literally takes a few minutes to remedy a similar crisis when hotel locks use cards.

The second aspect affecting security is the possibility of emergency opening. Imagine a guest faints in the room. Or he leaves an urgently needed medicine or inhaler there and loses the card. Electronic hotel locks have the possibility of emergency opening, which is done using either a staff card or a physical key.

A complete hotel access control system consists of several essential components:

The lock has a steel structure with high resistance to mechanical damage. The surface is coated with an anti-corrosion layer. The lock is 5-latch, shatterproof, equipped with an alarm, and EI60 fire-resistant certified. It is powered by four AA batteries and a low battery alarm indicates when the batteries need to be replaced. The lock's memory allows up to 456 recent operations to be recorded, including the use of an emergency key. The lock has the ability to be opened by emergency key and the connection of the lock system to a computer is provided via a USB port.

The card has a large memory space that can be divided into several sectors corresponding to different applications. Its anti-magnetic, anti-static and anti-interference properties enable long-term operation. In addition, the card has a hard disk protection function and read/write control of the data relating to the sectors allocated in the memory. Encrypted data cannot be copied, the card becomes inactive after three unsuccessful attempts to verify the access password, but the data stored on it remains secure.

The device has a built-in clock and date picker, and can be used, among other things, to:

• set the clocks built into door locks,

• read out the last operations performed on the lock with the time indicated,

• check the level of the lock's battery and replace it on time,

• check the basic information on the locks, such as: room numbers, data of personnel with access, list of last operations performed,

• set the user name and password for access to the system.

The audit device exchanges information with a computer via a USB interface.

A device for writing and reading information on cards using software, e.g.:

• assigning a card to a particular lock,
• creation of different paths and access levels.

Connection to a PC possible via USB port and connector.

Power is only supplied to the hotel room when the guest card is inserted into a special holder. On leaving the room, the guest pulls out the card, thereby cutting off the power supply. Savings of up to 20 per cent can be achieved through the use of an on/off switch.

The hotel management system software is clear and simple to use. It offers the possibility to control room doors and guest cards. The operating language of the software is Polish or English.

The minimum requirements are:

• Windows 98/2000/XP/Vista/Win7,
• Intel Pentium CPU (over 1 GHz), minimum memory of 128 MB RAM,
• disk space: more than 1 GB RAM,
• Microsoft Access, MS SQL SERVER 7.0 and MS SQL SERVER 2000.

A device based on the same system, but it is not a lock, but an access controller mounted on the outside wall of the building and sending an impulse to the electric door strike. This controller is used for hotel entrance doors where it must be weatherproof.

Mifare card hotel locks do not have a unified hole standard, so the complexity of installation depends primarily on the door.

If the builder is planning to replace the door with a new one, he will order a door already prepared for the specific lock model from the factory. Fitting on a pre-prepared door is very easy and takes literally just a few minutes for a single hotel lock. Then it is just a matter of inserting the batteries, installing the software and programming everything.

The situation is different for existing doors which the builder does not want to change. We assess the feasibility of fitting such doors on the basis of photographs sent by the customer, and sometimes a site visit and trial fitting are required against payment.

Adapting an existing door to a specific lock model involves a milling process, which is a lengthy and somewhat awkward procedure. It is advisable to prepare for it properly, provide a work front and optimal conditions for the fitters, including accommodation and catering. Depending on how many locks need to be fitted, the service can take up to two weeks.

We must be aware that the purchasing process, product selection, preparation of the investment, as well as the order and payment conditions themselves are complicated. Therefore, we encourage you to contact us. In our offer you will find not only all the necessary products, but also services such as advice and technical assistance. Please visit our website and send us your enquiry!