Proximity system controls access to Citibank's Brazilian headquarters >BY Staff

Feb 1, 1997 12:00 PM

An Indala proximity system, backed by CCTV cameras, replaced guards at critical entrances and complemented the building's architecture. Housed in a landmark, 22-story, blue building on prestigious Avenida Paulista in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Citibank headquarters for Brazil posed difficult access control problems. The nature of banking requires open contact with customers. An international firm such as Citibank deals with executives and white-collar clients who are unaccustomed to having their access controlled. More than 1,000 visitors enter Citibank headquarters every day and go through several access points.

For years, the company relied on guards to control access. There were as many as six guards in the all-marble lobby and at least one on each of the upper and lower ground floors. There were also guards in a four-level, subterranean parking structure. Controlling access to the building was slow and expensive. Citibank began looking for a better solution two years ago.

When presented to Ansett Tecnologia Ltd., an access control supplier in Sao Paulo, Citibank's specifications called for Wiegand swipe cards and readers. Citibank had decided Wiegand cards could provide sufficient security without upsetting white-collar customers. But Ansett director Alberto Croso suggested an alternative solution - a proximity card and reader system backed by CCTV cameras. Citibank decided on a proximity system based on Indala technology.

To demonstrate the effectiveness of proximity access control systems, Croso highlighted more than 25 large companies in Brazil that use the technology, including Xerox Corp., the French glass manufacturer St. Gobains and the Brazilian headquarters of ABN Amro Bank, one of the largest banks in the Netherlands. Citibank became convinced. The company required access control not only through its main lobby, but also into its parking garage, on all 22 office floors and into several specially secured office areas such as computer facilities, accounting, security offices and executive suites. An additional requirement was that the access system's appearance blend with the architecture of the landmark building.

The proximity reader system Indala proximity readers transmit a 125kHz signal to a proximity card, about the size of a credit card, which houses a plastic encapsulated antenna and an integrated circuit. The card's wound flat antenna gathers energy from the transmission and converts it into electricity usable by the integrated circuit. When activated, the card's integrated circuit transmits a unique random number preprogrammed in its read-only memory (ROM) back through its antenna at 62.5kHz to the reader. The reader sends the number along a communications link to the system access control panel. The system panel determines whether the card has been authorized access to the location guarded by the reader.

If everything is proper, the access control panel releases the turnstiles, door locks or traffic barriers at the reader site. If anything is wrong, the computer linked with the panel activates the CCTV cameras at the location and triggers an alarm for security personnel.

Readings usually take a fraction of a second. Because the cards do not touch the readers, they are durable. They operate in any position near the readers and are unaffected by soiling, scratching, chemicals and magnetic fields. Cards do not have to be inserted, so there are no such user errors and frustrations. Citibank's system

Given the building's landmark status, Ansett had to design an access control system to be consistent with the all-marble main lobby. Ansett used polished, stainless-steel turnstiles equipped with Indala ASR-503 Slimline readers. The readers are positioned so employees do not have to remove their cards from their purses or wallets to activate the turnstiles.

Receptionists use four terminals in the main lobby for all visitor access control. Connected to the system computer - which is housed with security - the terminals are used to issue cards, limit access for each card to specific areas and set time for which access is authorized. Card access can be limited to a specific floor during working hours. A janitor's access can be limited to after hours in specific areas of the building, but the system also provides multi-floor access for specific hours ranging over several days, if a visitor requires it.

Indala card readers are located at the vehicle access barriers to the parking garage, at the entrance to the main lobby and on all office floors. Citibank uses more than 160 readers throughout the building and in its underground facilities. New readers are added to accommodate evolving needs.

At the entrances to the parking garage and to the main lobby, Ansett installed Indala ARK-501 Pin Prox readers (ASR-503s with a keypad). When employees forget their cards, they can enter a personal identification number (PIN) through the keypad to gain entrance to the garage and to the lobby where a receptionist can issue temporary cards.

Cards grant access through the lobby turnstiles to the elevator banks. Upon exiting from the elevators, employees and visitors must use proximity readers to open the glass elevator lobby doors to get into office areas. Jimmying or breaking the doors automatically activates the security system cameras and alarms.

Ansett Tecnologia obtains the system's cards and readers through Apollo Inc., Newport Beach, Calif., an access control system manufacturer and remarketer for Indala. Ansett receives its card and reader technical support directly from Indala.

Cost-effectiveness Because the system reduces user errors and users require virtually noassistance, Citibank has been able to eliminate guards from all floors except the lobby and most guards from the parking area. Because the cards rarely require replacement and the readers require little maintenance, those costs have also been eliminated. The system easily handles the 50,000 access requests per day - and the cost savings have paid for it.

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© 2008 Penton Media Inc.

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