During this time systems were designed for other fire and access control companies. Some of the existing IET products are also available via other manufacturers such as Tyco and Keymat in different physical forms.
"While dealing with certain American products early on, it was obvious that 24/7 operation was all important for access systems, and that no 'degraded mode' operation should be allowable," said IET's managing director David Leiper.
System control and flexibility
Innovation and a refusal to accept conventional wisdom soon produced the Tower system which offered levels of control and flexibility not seen before in such a cost-effective package. This was followed by the Inigo, Easycode, Easyweig and EasyAccess systems and, finally, by the large system Integra unit.
Leiper continued: "With security systems, and in particular access control networks, any sort of communication failure is not acceptable. To minimise these problems, we design our controllers to offer true, fully-distributed intelligence. This means that they will function normally with or without a PC if the communication network should be broken."
According to Leiper, this is because each individual controller is a master containing the full system database – thus they can operate as stand-alone units if need be. When the network is restored to normal, the controllers poll data between each other – and each individual unit is updated without any need for the host computer.
Access all areas
IET access control hardware and software is designed and manufactured in-house at the company's UK head office and factory in Potten End, Hertfordshire.
"Having our own research and development facilities and fully-equipped laboratory enables us to develop, produce and test equipment to the most exacting standards, thereby ensuring that our systems provide the very highest levels of reliability for end users," added Leiper.
In keeping with the strict levels of security demanded today, IET controllers operate with virtually all reader technologies and are able to interface directly with biometric ID systems including – among others – facial recognition, fingerprint technologies, hand geometry systems and iris recognition.
The IET software packages allow comprehensive control and management of the systems. Multi-user networks are able to communicate over WAN, LAN or Ethernet.
The new client/server Terminus package allows the use of multiple workstations for multi-tenant buildings. "Using Terminus allows each tenant or department to control their area, while overall control and out-of-hours monitoring is provided by the landlord or management company," stressed Leiper.
IET's smaller off-line systems cover the range from stand-alone keypads (Easycode) to the EasyAccess 2 door card reading units.
Bespoke solutions for end users
Building management control modules can be added to both the Tower and Integra control units. These provide additional inputs and outputs, lift control, voltage and current measurement over the existing access control network.
On-line car park control with automatic card dispensing and swallowing, etc is also available. "We specialise in providing the exact system for a particular application. That's what the end user wants," added Leiper. "A bespoke solution."
Source
SMT
