An elevator is an entity that provides access control properties to elevators. For an elevator, each floor is considered an access point.
When a cardholder uses a credential, the floor buttons to access those floors for which that cardholder is authorized, are enabled. This is achieved by controlling an output relay to enable the floor button.
Floor tracking is achieved by monitoring inputs, which records the floor buttons that are pressed. This permits tracking reports for elevator usage in the Security Desk.
Hardware required for elevator control and floor tracking
To control access to an elevator, you require the following:
- An access control unit.NOTE: Only Synergis™ units are supported for new installations. For more information, see Supported access control features for Mercury controller integration with Synergis™ Softwire
- A reader in the elevator cab.
- Outputs that close relay contacts to enable the floor buttons.
- Inputs that record the floor buttons that have been selected (only necessary when floor tracking is required).
- Interface modules supplying or connecting the above hardware to the access control unit.
Reader modes
The following reader settings can be applied to the elevator cabin reader:
- Card only
- Card or PIN
- Card and PIN
- Card and PIN on a schedule
Elevator-wide settings
The following elevator-wide settings can be configured:
- Grant time
- This value indicates for how long the elevator floor buttons stay enabled after the access has been granted.
- Output relay state for free access
- There are two possible choices: (1) Normal, means floor access is enabled when the access control unit output relay is de-energized; (2) Active, means floor access is enabled when the access control unit output relay is energized.
Limitations
- An elevator (both the cabin reader and the I/Os) must be controlled by a single access control unit.
- Antipassback, interlock, and people counting do not work with elevators.
- Minimum security clearance cannot be enforced on elevators.