Access control installation: vendor-neutral design from single-door to multi-site enterprise

SEG Ltd designs and installs commercial access control across England — and we do it without being tied to any single manufacturer's sales agenda. We're authorised installers for Paxton (Net2 and Paxton10), Salto KS, ACT, Inner Range Inception, Suprema BioStation, and the major standalone product ranges, which means we can recommend the platform that actually fits your site rather than the one that happens to pay us the best margin. A small mixed-use office with three doors needs a fundamentally different solution to a 200-door multi-site campus with biometric enrolment, and we'll tell you which is which.

Every installation starts with a free site survey where our engineers walk every door you want to control, identify the cabling routes and power requirements, and discuss credential preferences (cards, fobs, PINs, mobile, biometric). For new-build sites we work alongside the M&E contractor; for retrofits we plan cable routes that respect existing finishes and avoid disturbance to occupied spaces. You get a written quote covering controllers, readers, door hardware (electric strikes, mag locks, push-to-exit), cabling, commissioning, and software setup — broken down line by line so you can see exactly what you're paying for.

After installation we hand over with documentation, on-site user and admin training, and the option to enrol in our maintenance programme. We commission every system end-to-end: door schedules tested, user groups configured, integration with CCTV or intruder alarms verified, mobile credentials issued. Our installations meet all current standards for fire-strategy interface (free-egress on alarm, NCP), GDPR for biometric data, and EN 60839 where specified.

What's included in an access control installation

Platform selection

We recommend the right platform for your site — Paxton Net2 or Paxton10, Salto KS, ACT Enterprise, Inner Range Inception, or standalone — based on door count, multi-site needs, and integration requirements.

Door hardware

Electric strikes, mag locks, fail-safe and fail-secure locks, push-to-exit buttons, REX motion sensors, break-glass overrides, and door contact monitoring — fitted to suit each door's fire and security requirements.

Readers & credentials

Proximity card and fob readers, keypad/PIN readers, biometric (fingerprint/face) readers, and mobile credential support via Bluetooth/NFC. We supply initial credentials and configure issuance workflows.

Cabling & infrastructure

Reader cabling, lock power, REX wiring, door contact loops, and PoE-switched controller backbones — installed in containment, fire-stopped where required, and labelled at both ends.

Software setup

Server or cloud platform commissioning, user/group structure design, time-zone and schedule configuration, integration with HR or directory systems where supported.

Integration & fire interface

Connection to CCTV (camera-pop-on-event), intruder alarm panels (auto-disarm on entry), fire alarm (free-egress on alarm via NCP relay), and visitor-management systems where required.

How an access control installation works

1. Survey

Free on-site survey. We walk every door, discuss your operational needs, recommend a platform, and quote in writing within a few working days. No high-pressure sales, no exclusive-supplier lock-in.

2. Installation

Single-day jobs for small standalone sites; phased installs for larger multi-door projects so existing access patterns aren't disrupted. We tidy as we go and coordinate with your facilities team for any out-of-hours work.

3. Commissioning & handover

Every door tested for entry, exit, REX, break-glass, and fire-interface behaviour. Software users created, schedules configured, mobile credentials issued. Walkthrough training and full documentation on the day.

Access control installation FAQs

It depends on door count, site complexity, and budget. For 1–6 doors, single-site, with no multi-site future: Paxton Net2 is the most cost-effective robust choice. For multi-site, cloud-managed, or integrated-CCTV requirements: Paxton10 or Salto KS. For very large enterprise (100+ doors, complex permissions, intruder integration): Inner Range Inception. We survey first, recommend honestly.

Yes — integration is one of the main reasons to choose a modern access platform. We integrate with most CCTV (Axis, Hikvision, Dahua, Milestone) for camera-pop-on-event, with intruder alarms (Texecom, Honeywell, Pyronix, Ajax) for auto-disarm on entry, and with fire alarm panels via NCP-compliant relay outputs for free-egress.

A single-door standalone install is a half-day. A typical 4–8 door networked Net2 or Paxton10 system: one to two days. Larger multi-door sites with new cabling: three to five days, sometimes phased across evenings/weekends. Multi-site rollouts are scheduled around your operations.

All of them. We typically issue proximity cards or fobs as the default (most cost-effective), with mobile credentials via the platform's app for users who prefer phone-based entry. Biometric (fingerprint or face) is added where high-security or anti-passback is required. Many sites run a mix.

No. Every installation includes a fire-alarm interface that releases all exit-route doors on alarm, complying with BS 7273-4 NCP requirements. Failsafe mag locks drop on power loss; failsecure strikes are wired through the fire panel's relay. We test the interface at handover and at every maintenance visit.