Access Control Systems
BAFE-certified engineers with over three decades of combined experience. London and Kent. Updated September 2026
Key facts
- BS EN 60839-11 & BS 7273-4 Compliant
- NSI Gold Accredited
Professional access control systems in London and Kent
Smartec is a specialist in access control systems, providing professionally designed, installed and maintained solutions that help businesses protect their people, premises and assets. With expertise in advanced access control technology and a strong commitment to quality and compliance, Smartec delivers solutions aligned with BS EN 60839-11 and BS 7273-4 standards. As an NSI Gold Accredited company, Smartec operates to the highest recognised standards of professionalism, competence and security, giving clients complete confidence that their access control requirements are being handled by a trusted and accredited specialist.
At a glance
- Designed to BS EN 60839-11, the UK standard for electronic access control systems
- Fire escape door integration built to BS 7273-4, never retrofitted as an afterthought
- Doors on escape routes fail-safe automatically on fire alarm activation
- Maintained at least annually, in line with NSI Gold accreditation requirements
- Biometric access data handled as special category data under UK GDPR where used
- Guaranteed under-4-hour emergency dispatch, 24/7/365, for contract clients
What is an access control system?
An access control system restricts entry to a building or specific areas within it, using card readers, fobs, PIN codes or biometric readers in place of traditional keys. Every access event can be logged, giving a full audit trail of who entered where and when.
Access control and fire safety: the requirement that overrides everything else
System design & components
BS EN 60839-11
Covers system and component requirements, plus installation, commissioning and maintenance guidelines for electronic access control systems.
Fire escape door release
BS 7273-4
Code of practice for the actuation of door release mechanisms on fire alarm activation, working alongside BS EN 179 and BS EN 1125 exit hardware.
How Smartec does this
Our engineers design access control to BS EN 60839-11 with fire escape integration to BS 7273-4 built into the architecture from day one, not retrofitted afterwards. As an NSI Gold accredited company, systems are maintained at least annually in line with the relevant standards. Every visit and access log is available through your Digital Logbook on the Smartec Client Portal.
What does installation involve?
Site survey to assess the building layout, escape routes and refuge point locations
System design, setting the number and position of outstations and the EACIE panel location
Installation of the panel, outstations and fire-resistant cabling
Commissioning, with a full system test and sign-off documentation
Handover, with certification and the system added to the Smartec Client Portal
Who needs this?
Mandatory under the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022
Mandatory under the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022
Housing associations & councils
Managing high-rise residential stock across multiple sites
Developers
New-build high-rise residential schemes, designed in from the outset
Accountable Persons
Under the Building Safety Act 2022 higher-risk building regime
PROJECT
13-15 Fitzroy Street
Smartec designed and installed the access control system at 13-15 Fitzroy Street, with fire escape door integration to BS 7273-4 built in from the outset and ongoing maintenance tracked through the Smartec Client Portal.
FAQs
- What is BS 7273-4?
- The code of practice governing how electronically locked doors must release automatically when a fire alarm activates.
- Can a fire alarm override an access control door?
- Yes, and it must. Any door on an escape route needs a fail-safe override hard-wired to the fire alarm panel.
- What's the difference between fail-safe and fail-secure locking?
- Fail-safe locks unlock on power loss or fire alarm activation, required on escape routes. Fail-secure locks remain locked on power loss, used where security outweighs escape considerations.
- Is biometric access data covered by GDPR?
- Yes. Biometric data such as fingerprints is special category data under UK GDPR, requiring explicit consent and a Data Protection Impact Assessment.
- How often is an access control system maintained?
- At least annually, in line with NSI Gold accreditation requirements and BS EN 60839-11.
- What happens if access control isn't integrated correctly with the fire alarm?
- Non-compliant installations can result in Building Control refusing a completion certificate, making the building legally unoccupiable.