An accessible transformation at Burnley Football Club!

A new access control system based on products from Siemens Building Technologies and installed by Thorne Access & Security, is playing a key role in the transformation of an under-used executive suite at Burnley Football Club.

Part of Pennine Lancashire’s No Limits programme, the suite will become a vibrant Enterprise Haven that provides accommodation and support for fledgling businesses.

By working with partners, including Burnley FC’s community trust, No Limits is planning to regenerate Pennine Lancashire through enterprise and business development. When Burnley FC got involved in the project they saw an opportunity to make better use of the previously void space that forms part of the club’s Jimmy McIlroy Stand by transforming into the Enterprise Haven.

The idea was to convert the area into two conference and education suites and 14 small offices, which could be offered on short-term leases to start-up companies. The development has also incorporated a suite of computers for ‘hot-desking’ for communities and new businesses to utilise.

An essential element in the conversion was, however, ensuring that the individual offices would be secure and well protected against unauthorised access. This was particularly important as the remainder of the executive suite was still to be used for its original purpose on match days.

Asked to develop an access control system that would meet these requirements and also be easy to work with, Thorne Access & Security decided to provide an installation based on the SiPass Entro access control system from Siemens Building Technologies.

Designed for easy networking, the SiPass Entro system features an intuitive Windows-based user interface that makes it simple to manage, combined with the capacity to cope with up to 512 doors and 40,000 users.

In this application, the main controller is used in conjunction with SR34i segment controllers that can carry on operating even if the connection to the main controller is interrupted. Each of the 20 doors covered in the initial configuration is fitted with a DC-12 door controller, and readers with Hands Free technology.

The major components of the installation are linked by Category 5 network cabling, which is inexpensive and convenient to install, yet supports high communication speeds.

“We chose Siemens products because our past experience has shown them to be versatile, easy to install and dependable, as well as offering excellent value for money,” said Hadrian Thorne, Managing Director of Thorne Access & Security. “We also knew that the SiPass Entro system is very easy to work with, yet offers extensive facilities.”

“We were, for example, able to set the system up so that the validity of the access tags corresponds with the lease period for each office,” he continued. “If a former leaseholder returns with an old tag, therefore, they will automatically be denied access.”

In use, the system has been very well received. Burnley FC Community Sports Trust facilities management team needed less than half a day’s training to learn how to use the installation, and the leaseholders of the individual offices, in what is now officially titled Turf Moor Enterprise Haven at Burnley Football Club, are happy to have a high level of office security using only convenient access tags rather than bulky keys.

The new SiPass Entro access control system is complemented by an existing CCTV installation.  This incorporates 12 PTZ cameras and ten Siemens Solaris domes, with images from around the site being recorded 24 hours a day, every day.

“Our faith in Siemens Security Products has been more than justified by our experiences at Burnley Football Club,” said Hadrian Thorne, “as I can honestly say that both the CCTV and access control systems have been completely free of problems for the entire period that they have been in operation. We really couldn’t ask for more!”

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