Field notes from the front line.
Short, practical answers on access control, video, cabling and fire doors — written for the owners and facility managers who actually have to make these decisions.
Access control
Card, fob or phone? Choosing access credentials.
Older 125 kHz proximity cards are cheap but easy to clone, so most new systems use encrypted smart credentials or mobile credentials on a phone. If you’re replacing readers anyway, choose multi-technology readers so old and new credentials work side by side during the changeover.
Video
Cloud or on-site video? Five questions to answer first.
How many cameras, how long you must keep footage, how much upload bandwidth you have, who needs remote access, and whether you’d rather pay up front or monthly. Long retention across many high-resolution cameras usually favors an on-site recorder; small multi-site setups often suit cloud or hybrid systems.
Cabling
Cat6 or Cat6A for new construction?
Cat6A carries 10-gigabit Ethernet over the full 100-meter channel and copes better with the heat of high-power PoE — which matters for Wi-Fi 6/7 access points, PTZ cameras and PoE lighting. It costs more and is bulkier, so many projects run Cat6A to access points and cameras and Cat6 to desks.
ERRCS / DAS
Does your building need emergency responder radio coverage?
Under the International Fire Code (section 510) and NFPA 1225, many jurisdictions require new and renovated buildings to show adequate signal for first-responder radios. If testing falls short, an amplifier or DAS is needed before occupancy — so test early, ideally before the ceilings close.
Intercom
Video intercoms for multi-tenant buildings: what to look for.
Choose an IP or cloud-based intercom that can ring residents’ phones, ties into your access control so every door release is logged, and supports mobile credentials. In older buildings the existing two-wire runs can often be reused with IP adapters, which avoids a full rewire.
Fire doors
Fire door inspections under NFPA 80: what fails most often.
Every fire-rated door assembly needs an annual inspection. Common failures: doors that don’t self-close and latch, gaps beyond allowed clearances, missing or painted-over labels, and field changes like added hardware or holes. A DHI-certified inspector documents each door and what it takes to fix it.
Have a question about your building?
Send it to us. If the answer would help other owners and facility managers, we’ll add it here.