Paxton, distributed locally by Security Distributors Australia, reports its latest software update for Net2 includes a new feature called Checkpoint Control, which supports COVID-secure sites by monitoring and approving people as they enter buildings.
“At Paxton, people are at the heart of everything we do and this year our focus is bringing people back to work safely,” says Paxton U.S. senior product manager, Jeremy Allison.
“Following on from the successful introduction of Occupancy Management, we are introducing Checkpoint Control. Designed to help businesses ensure their COVID-secure guidelines are being followed before staff enter a site.”
The Checkpoint Control functionality follows Paxton’s introduction of Net2 Occupancy Management and integration with thermal scanning hardware in July. These features work together to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 around populated buildings, according to the company.
“Net2 Checkpoint Control allows a site to assign temporary access levels to one or more users that will remain in place until they have either been manually validated or badged through a specific door,” explains Allison.
“This allows Net2 system administrators to ensure all staff and visitors pass through a designated checkpoint at a frequency that can be configured to suit the business requirements. It also offers the flexibility to split staff between multiple checkpoints to help maintain social distancing and not overrun an area.”
With Checkpoint Control, specific doors or areas of a building are designated as checkpoints, such as the main entrance or reception. End users are then given access to that checkpoint using their normal access token, with the limited access point managed via the access permissions feature within the Net2 software.
Access can then be verified manually in person or by using technology to support automated validation. The automated process works by identifying a person via their access credentials, which can then be followed by a thermal scan to further increase protection against the spread of Coronavirus. Once identity, and where relevant, an individual’s health and well-being has been approved, the checkpoint will validate and grant further building access.
According to Paxton, Net2 v6.05 also includes new virtual traffic lights that can be used on screens to indicate occupancy levels with no need for integrated traffic light hardware. This can further support social distancing by informing the end user of whether the current occupancy of the area they are about to enter is safe for them to do so, working alongside Checkpoint Control to reduce bottlenecks and overcrowding.
Occupancy Management override is also included in the new update. Should there be an emergency, this functionality allows selected people to enter an area that is at capacity, such as a designated medical response team or senior manager.
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