Touchless Access Control On Campus This Fall
As colleges and universities reopen this fall, living and learning on campus will look exponentially different than years passed. While many students have opted for virtual learning, there are still many students who will be engaging in in-person and blended learning as they resume coursework in the fall. As campuses are evaluating and innovating their infrastructure to help minimize the spread of germs and bacteria, one aspect of campus that can be easily overlooked can be a hotspot for spreading germs; doors.
The Icky Facts
The truth is, door handles can be one of the top places where germs are spread. Joseph Eisenberg, Professor and Chair of Epidemiology at the University of Michigan discusses the research showing that germs can survive on and be transmitted by inanimate objects in the world around us – like doorknobs, elevator buttons, and cellphones. One study found that COVID-19 could survive for 24 hours on cardboard and up to three days on plastic and stainless steel - both nonporous surfaces, such as the case with doorknobs and handles.
Temporary Fixes Can Be Risky Try Touchless Access Control On Campus
Cleaning: Manually disinfecting doors or leaving cleaning wipes at access points may seem like a solid option, but this option requires, time, additional costs, and supplies.
Propping Doors Open: While campuses may seem like a safe place to be able to leave doors open or unlocked, it is important to remember that many college and university campuses are open to the public. Additionally, campuses have areas that require higher access control protocols including residence halls, university archives, and employee/faculty-only areas where doors simply cannot be left open.
Touchless Access for Door Locks
Card or Fob Readers: Many college campuses have implemented the use of student and faculty IDs where the user waves their badge or fob in front of a touchless reader in order to gain entry.
Bluetooth Readers: This option may be a more cost-effective and efficient way for users to access buildings on campus. Campuses can minimize supplies by eliminating IDs altogether, and students won’t need to worry about losing them. As with the card or fob reader option, the user simply waves the Bluetooth enabled device in front of a touchless Bluetooth reader in order to gain entry.
While there are several options for campus touchless access control available, we specialize in finding the right solution for your unique needs.
