Access Control Accessories

Having the right access control system is vital for companies to ensure their building is secure and to reduce the risk of unauthorised access. Having a reliable access control system enables you to identify and authenticate personnel before entering a building, office or factory. Along with access systems, there are many essential accessories needed to complete your system.

How Access Control Hardware Works?

An access control system operates as an interconnected loop of hardware components, each playing a defined role in verifying and managing entry. When a user presents a contactless proximity card or fob to a reader, the device transmits encoded credential data wirelessly to the access control panel. The panel verifies the credentials against its authorised user database and, if approved, signals the access control relay to trigger the door strike or magnetic lock for a configured opening period.

Throughout this process, LED indicators mounted at the entry point provide immediate visual confirmation of the door status, displaying red for locked and green for open. Power supplies underpin the entire system, ensuring panels, readers, locks, and accessories receive stable, uninterrupted voltage at all times.

Access Control Equipment Types

Proximity Cards and Fobs

Proximity cards and fobs are used in conjunction with access control readers. The cards or fobs are encoded with unique information that can’t be changed or updated. The cards and fobs are contactless and can be waved in front of the reader.

Access Control Relays

Access control relays are small relays mounted on a PCB board. They are used for controlling opening times to door strikes and magnets. They are an essential accessory to your access control system as it is vital that doors are opened and closed properly.

Robust Linear

Robust linear components provide the structural backbone for cable management and system wiring within an access control installation. Designed to handle low-voltage signal and power cabling in demanding commercial and industrial environments, they ensure wiring runs are organised, protected, and compliant with installation standards. Their robust construction makes them suitable for both indoor and exposed building fabric applications.

Power Supplies

Power supplies are an essential accessory for your access control system. The power supplies ensure your panels, keypads, locks and strikes receive enough power to work properly. The power supplies are usually supplied in a robust wall mounting enclosure for easy installation.

Mounting Brackets

Mounting brackets are L shaped metal brackets that are attached to a wall or surface. They are used to mount access control door magnets. The metal brackets are easy to install and require separate fixings.

LED Indicators

LED indicators are devices used to provide a simple visual indication to show if a door or a gate is locked. Red for stop or closed, green for go or open. The digital LED units are housed in a robust enclosure with stainless steel faceplates.

Applications of Access Control Parts

Access control accessories are deployed wherever the security of people, assets, and sensitive areas cannot be left to a basic lock and key. The right combination of hardware ensures that only authorised personnel can enter defined areas, and that every access event is logged, controlled, and auditable.

• Corporate Office Buildings: In busy office environments where hundreds of employees, contractors, and visitors move through the building daily, access control systems manage entry to reception areas, server rooms, boardrooms, and restricted floors. Proximity cards and fobs allow access rights to be assigned, modified, and revoked quickly as personnel and security requirements change.
• Manufacturing and Industrial Facilities: On production floors where hazardous materials, valuable equipment, or sensitive processes are present, access control systems prevent unauthorised entry and ensure that only trained and approved personnel can access specific areas. Robust hardware rated for industrial environments is essential in these settings, where dust, humidity, and physical impact are routine considerations.
• Data Centres and Server Rooms: Data centres require some of the most stringent access control measures of any commercial environment, with mission-critical infrastructure that must be protected against both physical intrusion and insider access. Multi-factor authentication, relay-controlled magnetic locks, and comprehensive LED status indication combine to create a tightly managed access environment where every entry and exit is controlled and recorded.

How to Install Access Control System Accessories

A correctly installed access control system depends on methodical setup of each component in the right sequence. Follow these steps to ensure a reliable, interference-free installation:

1. Plan the Wiring Layout: Before mounting any hardware, map out the full wiring pathway from the power supply through to the panel, readers, locks, and accessories. Plan low-voltage signal cable runs to keep them physically separated from high-voltage mains wiring, as proximity to high-voltage lines can introduce interference that affects reader and panel performance.
2. Mount the Power Supply: Use a drill and fix the power supply unit in a secure, ventilated wall-mounted enclosure in a protected area such as a plant room or comms cupboard. Ensure the enclosure location provides adequate airflow around the unit and is accessible for maintenance and battery replacement where applicable.
3. Install Mounting Brackets: Fix L-shaped mounting brackets to the door frame or wall surface at the correct position to ensure flush, accurate alignment between the magnetic lock body and the armature plate on the door leaf. Misalignment at this stage directly reduces the holding force of the magnetic lock and compromises security.
4. Fit the Magnetic Locks and Door Strikes: With brackets in position, mount the magnetic lock or door strike and connect the wiring to the access control relay. Confirm that the lock seats flush against the armature plate across the full face of the magnet before securing all fixings.
5. Connect the Access Control Relay: Wire the relay module between the panel output and the lock hardware, confirming that the configured opening time and fail-safe or fail-secure setting matches the security requirements of the door being controlled.
6. Install Readers and LED Indicators: Mount card readers and LED indicators at the correct height and position at each entry point, running signal cables back to the panel along the planned low-voltage pathway. Ensure all cable terminations are secure and correctly labelled for future maintenance.
7. Commission and Test the System: Power up the system and test each access point in sequence, verifying that credential presentation triggers the correct relay response, that the door opens and closes within the configured time, and that LED indicators display the correct status at each stage of the access cycle.

How to Choose Access Control Products

Selecting the right access control accessories requires matching each component's specification to the electrical, mechanical, and environmental demands of the installation. Work through the following before specifying your system.

• Voltage Compatibility: Verify that the voltage output of the power supply is compatible with the operating requirements of the panels, locks, readers, and accessories in the system. Mismatched voltage across components is one of the most common causes of unreliable system performance.
• Mounting Bracket Load Ratings: Assess the weight-bearing and shear force requirements of the mounting application and confirm that the bracket specification meets or exceeds those demands. The bracket must maintain correct alignment under the dynamic forces applied when the door is in regular use.
• Credential Frequency Matching: Confirm that the proximity cards or fobs you are sourcing operate at the same frequency protocol as the existing or specified reader system. Mismatched frequencies will prevent credential recognition regardless of how the cards are encoded.
• Environmental Rating: Determine whether components will be installed in indoor, covered, or fully exposed outdoor locations and specify enclosures and hardware with the appropriate IP rating for the environment. Internal installations typically require IP44 or above, while external or washdown environments may demand IP65 or higher.
• Fail-Safe vs Fail-Secure: Determine whether each door should default to open or locked in the event of a power failure, and specify locks and relays accordingly. This decision has both safety and security implications and should be made in consultation with the relevant building and fire safety standards.

Buy Access Control Accessories Online from RS

RS Australia is a trusted manufacturer, supplier, and distributor of access control accessories, stocking a comprehensive range to support security engineers, electrical contractors, and facility managers across commercial, industrial, and institutional projects of every scale.

Our product range covers proximity cards and fobs, access control relays, power supplies, mounting brackets, LED indicators, and robust linear components, featuring reliable commercial-grade products from the RS PRO line alongside leading global security manufacturers including HPM, Legrand, and Yale1. With options spanning entry-level commercial hardware through to heavy-duty industrial-rated components, you will find the right specification for your project without compromise.

Ordering is straightforward through the RS Australia website, with fast dispatch to keep your commercial facility upgrades and maintenance projects running on schedule. For full details on shipping options, lead times, and delivery to your location, visit our delivery page.