SECURITY
Barcode Access Control in Health Care and Education

At a time where the economy has become the hotbutton issue of the day, facility managers and building owners everywhere are scrambling for ways to improve and possibly expand on their access control systems without breaking their already-depleted banks. This holds particularly true for facilities such as hospitals or schools, where the type of occupancy warrants more careful monitoring of certain areas, which can turn out to be expensive depending on the technology they choose.

A barcode system can be a convenient, inexpensive solution to obtaining the
peace of mind that a reliable parking access control system can provide.

The Importance of Parking Access Control
One of the most important areas to consider when it comes to access control is parking. Whether a college or a health care facility, being able to control who goes in or out of a facility’s parking lot is vital for the convenience and safety of those working or studying there. Alone it can provide effective parking access control, but when incorporated into a more elaborate access control system, it can become an indispensable tool, providing convenience and peace of mind.

Consider, for instance, what would happen if there was no access control in a hospital parking garage designated for hospital staff only. Personnel would constantly deal with violators, especially in small or high-traffic hospitals. They would then have to waste valuable time looking for a parking spot.

The same applies to some universities where, with classes in some cases reaching the hundreds, time and efficiency become a factor. For example, a college professor would be understandably irate if he had to park across campus when he has a class to teach, just because the faculty designated parking has been filled with student commuters.

The Economy vs. Access Control
In these difficult economic times, finding the balance between effective and inexpensive methods of access control can be a daunting task. As systems become more intricate, their effectiveness is clouded by the high costs of installation, execution, maintenance or all of the above. This makes it difficult for facility managers to put in place access control solutions that are both practical and within their allotted price range.

One type of system that has been successful in fulfilling both of those stipulations is barcode access control. While there are many access control systems out there — from swipe cards to RFID tags — that offer their own set of advantages and disadvantages, barcodes have been found to be an inexpensive, versatile and effective alternative for parking access control.

Barcodes Yesterday and Today
Barcodes have been used for decades as a means of identifying retail products. They were first introduced and patented in the 1950s, but it was not until the 1970s that barcodes really took off as a means of product identification. Barcodes have come a long way since then; they are not only a standard in retail, but their use has expanded as far as scientific research. Now also being used as a cost-effective solution for vehicle identification and access control, barcodes have been implemented in many places, from military bases to gated communities.

Barcode vs. RF-ID
RF-ID
For many years there has been much talk about ongoing developments with radio frequency identification, also known as RF-ID, in security and access control. While RF-ID tags have some things in common
with barcode decals, there are significant differences to consider when choosing one of the two for vehicle identification.

Most people’s first-hand interactions with RF-ID tags generally happen at the store, specifically with items such as CDs or makeup. These small tags are largely used to deter shoplifting; when a shoplifter picks up tagged item, the tag in the case activates an alarm at the front door, alerting store security that someone is trying to steal something.

Similarly, a type of RF-ID tag can be attached to a vehicle as part of a parking access control system. As the vehicle approaches, the tag sends a signal to the RF-ID reader at the gate. The reader detects the tag and opens the gate. RF-ID tags are also used on many toll roads as a way to automatically deduct payment.

There are many problems with RFID technology. Radio interference between the reader and the tag often creates problems; other times, the tag has to be mounted onto the car, requiring additional labor costs and causing damage to the vehicle.

The need for a low-maintenance, reliable access control
solution that is easy on the budget has never been more
prevalent, especially in these turbulent times.

The most significant drawback that comes with the RF-ID system however, is in the cost. Tags retail at around $25 a piece and are high compared to the reader itself. At a small corporation with just a few employees, this is not a big deal; however, in a place like a hospital or a college campus, where there is a much higher instance of traffic going into the parking lots, the cost becomes a much more significant part of the equation.

Barcode
How Barcode Systems Work
Both access control and vehicle identification are about controlling  who can come into a restricted area. Barcodes can be quickly and easily implemented for that purpose as part of any facility’s monitoring system. In the case of vehicle identification, a unique number is assigned to each car through a barcode. When the barcode is scanned, the number connects to an internal database that matches the number with corresponding information about the car.

In areas of high traffic such as health care facilities or schools, barcode automation can be one of the most reliable forms of vehicle identification. Not only are barcodes simple to use, but implementing a barcode vehicle identification system within a large network can be done in little time and with little effort.

Why Barcodes?
There are many reasons why barcodes are a smart choice for access control, particularly for places such as schools and health care facilities, which tend to experience a heavy flow of traffic.

• Barcode decals are non-transferable because of the material decals are made of, they are very difficult to remove from a car window in one piece. In other words, unless the vehicle itself is stolen, a person cannot just peel off the decal and place it on their car.
• Barcode readers will not read photocopies.
• Barcode automation makes it easier to keep track of who is allowed in. For instance, if an employee no longer works at a hospital, rather than uninstalling equipment or trying to recover an RF-ID tag, the barcode decal can simply be deactivated from the system.

Still, the main reason why many facilities choose to use barcode automation over other access control systems is the lower cost per vehicle. While the cost per vehicle of RF-ID tags can be at least $25 per tag, the cost of decal per vehicle is significantly lower at $3 each. This enables facility managers and owners to meet their access control needs in a costeffective manner.

The need for a low-maintenance, reliable access control solution that is easy on the budgets of both health care and educational facility managers or property owners has never been more prevalent, especially in these turbulent times. A barcode system can be a convenient, inexpensive solution to obtaining the peace of mind that a reliable parking access control system can provide.

Katherine Norris is the public relations specialist for Barcode Automation, Inc. Located in Winter Springs, FL,. BAI began operations in 1997, soon becoming the leading manufacturer of barcode readers and decals in the industry. Their readers and decals are used by many facilities throughout the country as their primary vehicle identification and access control solution.

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