Commercial intercom entry panel with numbered call buttons

Commercial Intercom & Door Entry Systems

Secure Communication Solutions for Modern Buildings

DACT is an SSAIB accredited commercial intercom and door entry contractor, designing and installing audio, video and IP entry systems for facilities managers, main contractors and building owners across the UK. We have installed and maintained commercial security systems since 2012.

An entry system governs who gets through the door and how a visitor is identified before release. On any new build or major refurbishment it also has to satisfy Approved Document M, with BS 8300-2 giving the detailed design guidance for entry controls and audible communication at the entrance.

Entry systems are usually specified alongside the wider security package. Where you need credential management, permissions and audit logging rather than visitor communication, see our commercial access control page.

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Entry System Types

Entry systems differ in how a visitor is verified and how the system is administered. The choice is usually driven by tenant count and whether the site has staffed reception.

  • Audio entry. Speech only between panel and handset. Suitable for single-occupier premises and smaller sites where visitors are expected rather than screened.
  • Video entry. Adds visual verification before release, so staff can identify a caller rather than trusting a name. Standard on multi-tenant and higher-risk sites.
  • IP entry. Panels and handsets on the building network rather than dedicated cabling, sharing containment with structured data cabling. Simplifies multi-building and multi-entrance sites.
  • Multi-tenant systems. One entrance panel serving many units, with per-unit addressing and call routing. The norm on apartment blocks and serviced offices.

Which is appropriate depends on entrance count, tenant numbers, whether calls route to reception or to individual units, and what the specification requires for visitor records.

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Commercial intercom system panel installed at a gated entrance

Accessibility & Privacy Requirements

Two compliance obligations sit on every commercial entry system, and both are usually caught at handover rather than at design stage.

  • Accessible entry controls. Approved Document M sets a mounting height range and set-back for external entry controls, so panels have to be reachable from a wheelchair and clear of the return corner.
  • Usable without fine motor control. BS 8300-2 covers call buttons and controls that can be operated without a tight grip or precise pressure.
  • Audible and visual confirmation. A caller needs to know the call has registered and the door has released, which matters for deaf and hard of hearing users.
  • Video entry is data processing. A system that records images falls under UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, the same framework covered on our commercial CCTV page.

We design entry systems to meet these requirements from the survey onwards, and issue the commissioning records that Building Control and your access audit will ask for.

Installation Process

Entry systems fail at handover for predictable reasons: panels sited where they cannot be reached, call routing that does not match how the building is actually occupied, and no record of either.

  • Survey and design. Entrance positions, cable or network routes, call routing, and panel siting checked against the accessibility requirements before anything is ordered.
  • Installation. Panel and handset mounting, cabling or network configuration, lock interface and fire alarm release wiring.
  • Commissioning and handover. Every call path and release tested, staff briefed, and the results issued as documentation rather than a verbal sign-off.

Once handed over, entry systems can be covered under the same maintenance and response tiers as the rest of your building’s systems, with scheduled PPM and 24/7 emergency callout.

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Integration Options

An entry system is rarely standalone. The integrations that matter most on commercial sites are:

  • ● Access control. The entry panel handles visitors; access control handles staff credentials and permissions on the same doors.
  • ● CCTV. Entrance coverage from the wider CCTV system gives you a record of the approach as well as the call.
  • ● Fire alarm interface. Electrically locked entrance doors need to release on fire alarm activation so escape routes are not held shut. This is coordinated with the fire alarm system.
  • ● Communal building services. On apartment blocks and mixed-use sites, entry is commonly installed on the same programme as communal reception systems and other low voltage services.

Delivering these together avoids a second contractor re-opening the same doors and containment weeks later.

Contact Us

Need help with your security systems? We’re here to assist! Whether you have questions about system design, require expert installation, or need reliable repairs and maintenance, our team has the knowledge to help. Fill out the form or give us a call for friendly advice and support.

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