What access control is and who it makes sense for
An access control system decides who can open a door and when, without relying on physical keys. Instead of a cylinder, the door is released with a proximity fob, a code, a fingerprint or a smartphone. In Valencia we're installing it more and more in:
- Residential communities: busy entrances, buildings with a concierge or communities that want to end uncontrolled key copying.
- Communal garages: control over who enters, with fobs and remotes cancelled instantly when a parking space is sold.
- Businesses and offices: staff access by zones and schedules, with an entry log.
- Gyms and venues with long opening hours: member access without front-desk staff at all hours.
- Buildings with holiday apartments: guest entry without physical key handovers.
Available technologies: from MIFARE fobs to smartphone entry
Not every door needs the same technology. This table sums up the options we install and which case each one suits best:
| Technology | Ideal for |
|---|---|
| MIFARE proximity fob | Communities and garages |
| Code keypad | Secondary entrances and premises |
| Fingerprint reader | Businesses and single-family homes |
| Smartphone / Bluetooth entry | Gyms and holiday apartments |
| Fermax panel with built-in reader | Entrances with video intercom |
The most popular option in communities is the MIFARE proximity fob: convenient, robust and very hard to clone, unlike old low-frequency fobs. And if the building already has a Fermax video intercom, integration is direct: the same street panel can incorporate the reader.
Advantages over traditional keys
The question community presidents ask us most is: "what do I gain over normal keys?". The short answer: control. The long one:
- Adding and removing users without changing the lock: if a neighbour loses their fob or a tenant leaves without returning it, that fob is cancelled in minutes. With traditional keys you'd have to change the cylinder and hand out new copies to the whole building.
- Unauthorised copies impossible: encrypted MIFARE fobs can't be duplicated at a hardware shop; only the community's system can register new fobs.
- Entry log: in systems that include it, there's a record of which fob opened and at what time, very useful in garages, storage rooms or communal areas with incidents.
- Management by zones and schedules: cleaning staff can be allowed in only during working hours, or a supplier given access only to the garage.
- Everyday convenience: no more hunting for keys: hold the fob to the reader and the door opens, even with shopping bags in hand.
For communities that already trust us, the step up is natural: we combine it with door entry maintenance for communities so a single technician looks after the building's entire access.
Real use cases and guide prices
Every installation is different, but these four scenarios cover most of the projects we do in Valencia and the province:
As for prices, a prudent reference: a proximity reader with 10 fobs, installed and programmed, usually starts at around €400-600, depending on the chosen reader, the condition of the door and the existing wiring. Projects with several entrances, a keypad or video intercom integration are quoted individually and with no obligation. If you manage accommodation, you'll also want our article on video intercoms for holiday rentals.
Frequently asked questions
As a prudent reference, a proximity reader with 10 MIFARE fobs, installed, usually starts at around €400-600, depending on the reader model, the condition of the door and the existing wiring. Installations with several entrances, a code keypad or video intercom integration are quoted separately. We always give a fixed price before starting.
That fob is deactivated in the system within minutes and stops opening the door, with no need to change the lock or the rest of the fobs. A new one is then programmed for the neighbour. That is precisely the big advantage over traditional keys, where a loss means changing the cylinder.
Yes. Fermax offers street panels with a built-in proximity reader, so the same video intercom panel handles both the call to the flat and fob entry. Code keypads or standalone readers can also be added to the same installation.
It's one of the most common uses: the proximity fob or remote-control receiver operates the garage door and a record is kept of who enters. In addition, fobs or remotes for sold parking spaces or ended rentals can be deactivated instantly, something impossible with traditional keys or clonable remotes.
Want access control for your community?
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