Access Control, Cards & Fobs: What a Full Installation Actually Involves
Installing a keycard or fob entry system is not simply mounting a reader to a wall. A proper access control system installation begins with a site assessment — our technicians evaluate the door frame, existing mortise lock hardware, door thickness, strike alignment, and power source availability before a single hole is drilled. For commercial properties, that assessment also covers how many credential holders need access, whether certain zones require time-restricted entry, and whether the system will be networked or stand-alone. Getting these details right upfront is what separates a system that works reliably for years from one that causes headaches within months.
On the hardware side, the mortise lock is often the mechanical foundation of the entire setup. An access control mortise lock combines an electrified latch or deadbolt mechanism with the reader and controller, all housed inside the door stile rather than surface-mounted. This makes the assembly far more tamper-resistant than a simple cylindrical lock with an add-on reader. Our technicians work with mortise lock access control configurations across a wide range of door types — wood, hollow-metal, aluminum storefront — and select components that match the door's existing prep or modify the prep cleanly, with damage-free installation practices wherever the door allows.