Paxton’s Solo replaces legacy access control for student accommodation

Client Homes for Students provides 235 student accommodation properties across the UK and Ireland. Recently, JPR Fire, Security and Data provided the security system for the company’s One London Road site located in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Prior to the introduction of Solo, the accommodation was secured using a classic standalone access control solution requiring no network infrastructure. However, the existing system was becoming somewhat difficult to manage, with so many students present across five blocks, including the on-site gym.

Registered students gained access either by entering a valid access code or presenting their fob, but site managers were constantly having to replace lost fobs, thereby introducing additional running costs for the system.

Mike Gater, department manager at JPR Fire, Security and Data, visited the premises after attending Paxton’s Tech Tour launch event showcasing Solo and immediately saw the opportunity to upgrade the site to a more modern solution.

Introducing Solo

Solo is a smart, convenient and connected access control system. Exhibiting the simplicity of standalone combined with the power of a networked solution, Solo is designed to make access control a simple and cost-effective option where a smart phone is used to administer the system and gain access to the premises.

Thanks to the free Paxton Solo app, the site management team members at Newcastle-under-Lyme can administer access to the premises from anywhere via their smart phones. For the students, this means never having to remember an access code or carry a fob as they simply use their smart phone to gain access to their building.

When a smart phone with appropriate access permission is presented to a Solo-controlled door, the phone communicates to the Solo controller using Bluetooth Low Energy frequency and instructs it to open. If there’s minimal Wi-Fi on-site, the phone uses mobile data to confirm appropriate access permissions are available for that door. Where no network connectivity is available at all, the credential can be stored in the phone for three-to-four hours in order to allow access even if the phone happens to be offline.

By running Solo alongside the existing standalone system for a set period of time, students were migrated across to Solo in a phased approach. The access code for the legacy system was changed to prevent access via this means once all residents were up-and-running with the Paxton Solo app.

Mike Gater commented: “As soon as we viewed the Solo system, we knew it would be a great fit for our client at One London Road. The premises doesn’t have network infrastructure so a standalone system was always going to be a requirement. With approximately 500 students on-site, the client stood to benefit from more features offered by a centralised system.”

Gater added: “We know that Solo is very new, but given that it’s a Paxton product, we had complete faith in it right from Day One. We also know that Paxton products are reliable. If necessary, the Paxton support team members are always there for tech support.”

Extensive experience 

As a Paxton Platinum Partner, JPR Fire, Security and Data has extensive experience of working with the company’s products and, as such, felt very confident in proposing an innovative solution to meet the requirements of what is a highly valued client.

Gater continued: “Aside from the benefit of Solo being cloud-based with no network infrastructure requirements, the other real selling point for our customer was the price. The upfront cost of the Solo kit is very affordable. Even with the ongoing cost of the door subscription, our client would see a cost saving when compared to extending its previous standalone system.”

With Solo, only students in residence with the appropriate access permissions can access the Common Room by presenting their phone to the Solo DoorTag.

Tallulah-Mae Moran, general manager at Homes for Students, informed Security Matters: “Paxton’s Solo system has reduced the ongoing costs of replacing fobs and the time spent on that task. The ability to see the date and time of who accessed which door and when is extremely useful for us and allows us to manage the site to a better standard, providing accurate information when investigating any issues. It also allows us to authorise users and manage this process remotely rather than provide and collect physical fobs. Solo is a worthwhile investment and will continue to be effective in the years to come.”

Going forward, JPR Fire, Security and Data is keen to continue proposing Solo as a solution for all those clients in search of a standalone access control system.

*Further information is available online at www.paxton-access.com

**Security installers can attend a free two-hour Solo training session with Paxton. Every company that engages with the training will walk away with a free Solo one-door kit such that they can then trial the system and demonstrate its use to customers