Glossary of Common Terms

Look here
for the meanings
of various terms
and phrases

updated periodically

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | XYZ

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Access Card—a token, (typically a plastic card), by which a person is identified to a security system for access control, usually for admittance through a door, passageway or gate.

Access Control—refers to the rules and deployment mechanisms which control access to information systems, and physical access to premises.

Access Control Device—a hardware device that detects the presence of electronic cards. Devices have sensors, which detect the cards, and a card reader interface, which decodes the card’s electronic data and transmits that information to the device. The devices also detect state changes for doors and monitor points.

Activate—to cause a security object to become active, triggering the actions associated with the security object.

Attended Operation—denotes the operation of a door or gate by means of a continuous pressure control device [switch] that requires a user present and within sight of the gate for the complete operating cycle (closing and opening).

Automatic Operation—denotes a completely automatic operation cycle (opening and closing) initiated by a control signal device such as a remote transmitter or keypad.

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Balustrade—a railing with supporting balusters.

Baluster—a pillar or column supporting a handrail or coping, a series of such being called a balustrade.

Barcode—a technology used extensively throughout the world for various applications. Supermarket checkouts use barcodes printed on packaging to calculate your shopping bill. Library and Time and Attendance systems use barcode cards to identify individuals. Bar codes employ a pattern of bars and spaces of varying widths to represent the user information. Since the bar code is visible it is easy to duplicate and as such is not considered to be a good choice for systems where security is a major concern.

Barriers—are gates that are not closures but that simply limit the access of unauthorized persons or vehicles to particular areas or routes.

Biometric—systems that measure some physical property of the user such as hand geometry (fingerprint), retina pattern, or voice pattern. These type of devices offer very high security but also are the most expensive and require that the user be present in order to be enrolled into the system.

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Card Format—the way information is encoded on a security access card.

Card Number—field on an access card that associates the card with the cardholder’s personnel record.

Card Reader—a physical device that interacts with an access control card.

Cast Iron—also called pig iron. Covers a large group of irons with 2% or more carbon. The high quantity of carbon makes cast iron brittle and suitable for forming only by casting and machining. It cannot be forged. The lack of ductility, high stiffness and deadening qualities makes cast iron a superior material for machinery beds and frame... and of course, gates.

Chain—a group of access control devices wired together. Each chain connects to the host system computer with a single cable.

Clearance—a security object containing a list of doors (or gates) and times during which the cardholder is granted access.

Company Code (Facility Code, Site Code)—a facility code is a data field on an access card that contains information unique to the facility where the card is issued. A site code is a field on an access card that identifies the site for companies that have several sites.

Control Point—a security object that turns a device on or off when given instructions from the system. Also known as an output. A software definition that corresponds to an output on an access control device. When the control point activates, the output closes.

Customized Access—combination of one card reader with one time code or time interval which is assigned to a single cardholder. This feature must be enabled during system installation.

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Drawn Gate—is the leaf of a sliding gate.

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Finial— an ornament, usually foliated, on top of a gate, fence, spire, pinnacle, gable, etc.

Fixed Card Field—field on an access card that is the same for all access cards of a particular format used in the system.

Fleur de lis—a stylized three-petaled iris flower tied by an encircling band, used as the heraldic bearing of the royal family of France

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Gate—is a moveable element, gate, or door used to control access to enclosed areas; when reference is made exclusively to one particular type of gate, it is specified.

Gate Operator—connects the leaf to its counterweight or to a drive motor. This term also applies to gearing and other drive elements linking the motor and the leaf.

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Infrared Cards—contain a series of bar codes, similar to standard bar code cards, that are only visible when exposed to special infrared light. When the card is exposed to the special light, the bars cast a shadow behind the card which is then read by the reader. They are relatively low in cost, very reliable, not easily duplicated, and offer a good level of security but can be difficult to laminate for use as an ID card.

Iron—element number 26, metalic. Symbol Fe (l. ferrum). Pure iron is a soft ductile metal. Unprotected it oxidizes (rusts) rapidly. Steel is iron with a small percentage of carbon (1.5 max) making it hardenable. Cast iron generaly has 3 percent or greater carbon content and is very brittle and non-ductile. Wrought iron is pure iron crystals with thin layers of silicous slag resulting in grainyness simliar to wood. The word "iron" is used loosely to describe anything made of cast iron, steel or wrought iron. In blacksmithing forging steel is often called "pounding iron".

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Keypad—a device which uses a numeric pad, similar to that of a telephone. The user simply presses his code into the keypad and the system reads the numbers. This system does not require the user to carry any special card or token but can be less secure since unless the user is very careful someone may see which numbers are being pressed. Certain keypads overcome this drawback by scrambling the number layout each time the keypad is used. Keypads can be used either by themselves or for high security in conjunction with some card reader technology. In this manner the user must both present a card and enter a code before access is granted.

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Leaves (or leafs)—are moveable components that open and close door openings and gateways.

LED - Light Emitting Diode—an electronic device that lights up when power is applied. These devices are used as various status indicators.

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Magnetic Stripe Cards—use the same technology that is employed in credit cards, and are probably the most common type of card in use. There are two types of magnetic cards, low-coercivity and high-coercivity. The high-coercivity type are less prone to accidental erasure and damage. Magnetic stripe cards require that the card come in direct contact with the reader head causing wear and a shorter life span. This direct contact requirement also can cause misreads due to dirt and debris accumulation in the reader. Certain access control systems allow the user to utilize their existing credit cards, eliminating the need to purchase cards. The cards are low in cost but are easily duplicated, are affected by outside magnetic fields, and the readers require occasional cleaning to remove any dirt buildup on the read heads.

Masonry—includes all stone products, all brick products and all concrete block units, including decorative and customized blocks.

Motorized Gate—consists of those gate parts where the energy required to drive the moveable elements is provided by motors.

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Newel Post—a tall post at the head or foot of a stair, supporting the handrail; often ornamental.

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Parity Card Field—a field on an access card allowing the a PC to confirm that a reader read the card correctly. This field is relevant only to Wiegand and proximity access cards. See also wiegand.

Photo Eye (or Sensor)—a device that uses a beam of light which when broken will trigger an event. There are 2 parts to a photo electric eye, the transmitter, which sends out the light, and the receiver which "sees" the light. The light used in these today is not visible.

PIR—a device that uses Infra Red energy to detect motion within the premise

Proximity Reader —the most common type of reader. These systems use cards or tokens as a means of identification. As the name implies, no direct contact is required between the card and the reader for the system to operate, the card must only be in the proximity of the reader. The read range will vary depending upon the card/token and the type of reader, from 1/2 inch to up to 33 feet. The reader generates an RF field which causes specially designed wires in the card to resonate, transferring the card information to the reader. These cards are immune to electromagnetic and RF interference, and they can offer "hands free" operation.

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Reader—a physical device that interacts with an access control card.

Remote—"clicker", "remote control" or just "remote" hand held or keychain radio control that activates the automatic gate operator; press the button and the gate opens or closes.

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Semi-automatic Operation—denotes when only one direction of movement (either opening or closing) is attended. The other direction of movement is automatic.

Shunt—to ignore an input.

Site Code—field on an access card that identifies the site for companies that have several sites.

Steel—iron with a small percentage of carbon. The amount of carbon determines the steel's hardenability. The more carbon the harder the steel can be made by heat treatment. Almost all steels contain some alloying ingredients (other metals) but are not called alloy steels unless the addition is significant or added on purpose.

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Timer to Close—allows the gate operator to automatically close after a predetermined amount of time.

Transmitter—"clicker", "remote control" or just "remote" hand held or keychain radio control that activates the automatic gate operator; press the button and the gate opens or closes..

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UL - Underwriters Laboratories—a non profit organization that sets standards for security devices, the installation of security systems, and the monitoring of security systems.

UL 325—the chapter that governs the classification and installation of automatic gates.

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Wiegand—a card-reading technology which uses coils of special wire imbedded in a card to generate a unique electrical pattern when the card is run through a magnetic sensor. Wiegand devices are access control devices that employ this technology.

Wiegand Card—a swipe card which incorporates wiegand technology. Cards are essentially magnetic field effect devices. As the card is inserted or swiped through the reader an electromagnetic field generated by the reader induces a voltage in the card causing it to transmit its code. Unlike some insertion type systems, wiegand readers are completely sealed against weather conditions and as a result have a long life span. These cards are difficult to duplicate, highly damage resistant, and offer a high level of security, but as with proximity cards are expensive, and generally can only be programmed by the manufacturer.

Wrought Iron—decorative ironwork that is made of any metal including wrought iron, steel, cast iron and aluminium. Wrought iron is also used to describe low carbon steel pipe.