Face recognition access control is worth it in London when fobs keep going missing, codes get shared or you need a clear record of who comes through a door. A Dahua FACT reader handles that quickly and accurately at a sensible cost, as long as there is a card or PIN option for anyone who does not want their face used and the ICO's steps are followed first.
Face readers suit very different doors: the staff entrance of an office, the communal door of a mansion block, the side gate of a family house. The technology is the same in each, but the reasons and the rules differ. This guide is meant to help you decide whether a reader belongs on your door at all, and if it does, how to do it properly.
Is face recognition access control right for your door?
Run through these questions before spending anything:
- How many people use the door? Under five, a good keypad lock may be enough. Above twenty, fob admin becomes a real cost and a face reader starts to pay back.
- How often do people leave? Staff turnover, tenants moving out and short contracts are where fobs get lost and access lingers.
- Do you need a log? Insurers, landlords and some clients want to know who entered and when.
- Is there a less intrusive way? If cards on their own would do the job, the data protection case for faces is weaker. Be honest about this; the ICO expects it.
How the Dahua FACT readers perform
Dahua's FACT range of contactless readers combines access control, time attendance, an intercom and an IP camera. The current box shows a slim 4.3 inch unit with a narrow bezel and a card reader built in below the screen. It lists fast face recognition, liveness detection and privacy masking among its features.
| Feature | What it means day to day |
|---|---|
| Recognition in under 0.3 seconds | People walk up and walk in; no queue at the morning rush |
| Liveness detection | A photograph or a video on a phone will not open the door |
| Built in card reader | Visitors, contractors and anyone who opts out of face recognition use a card at the same reader |
| Copes with masks, hats and glasses | Commuters do not need to take anything off at the door |
| SmartPSS Lite, DSS Pro and the DMSS app | Add or remove people and check the log in the software; open the door and get alerts on your phone |
| Wiegand output on the larger models | Can feed an existing access control panel instead of replacing it |
Those figures come from Dahua's published leaflet for the series. In practice, the speed and the card fallback matter most: the door just opens for the people who should be there.
What the ICO expects first
A face template used to identify someone is biometric data and special category data under UK GDPR. The ICO's guidance on biometric data for time and access control is clear on three points for employers:
- You must carry out a data protection impact assessment before you start using biometrics to identify workers, and record why less intrusive options are not enough.
- You should offer a non biometric alternative, such as a swipe card or PIN, without disadvantaging anyone who chooses it. The ICO says it is likely to be very hard to justify biometric access control without one.
- If you rely on consent, it must be freely given, and people can withdraw it, at which point they need another way in.
The ICO notes that this guidance is being reviewed after the Data (Use and Access) Act, so check the current version when you plan. The same thinking applies to residents of a managed block and to members of a gym or club. For a private family home, the household use is lighter touch, but we still keep the faces on the device and set it up so they can be deleted at any time. This is general guidance, not legal advice.
Wiring and installation
A reliable install depends on what is behind the reader:
- A lock to suit the door: electric strike, maglock for glazed doors, or a motorised lock for a front door, with a release that meets the building's fire strategy.
- An exit button and a door contact on every controlled door.
- A network cable back to the comms cabinet and a backed up power supply. We often do this alongside a Wi-Fi and network installation in London.
- Mounting at a height where faces are seen straight on, away from bright backlight through glass.
In a period house or a mansion block, cable routes take some thought; we plan them so cornices and stone stay untouched.
Bringing it into the rest of the building
A door reader can do more than unlock. In a home it can be part of your home automation in London, turning on lights or disarming a zone of the alarm when the family arrives. In offices it sits on the same network as meeting rooms and screens, which our AV installers in London look after too. For the wider picture, see our home automation page, or book a consultation and design visit.
Questions we are often asked
Do we have to use face recognition for everyone?
No. The built in card reader means anyone can use a card instead, and for employees the ICO expects that choice to be offered.
Can it work with our current fob system?
Often, yes. The larger Dahua readers have a Wiegand output for an existing panel. We check the panel and cards on a survey.
What happens in a power cut?
That depends on the lock and the backup supply we design in. We agree with you whether each door fails locked or fails open, in line with the fire strategy.
Where is the face data kept?
On the reader, or on your own management server if you use one. We do not set up shared cloud storage for templates.
How much does an engineer visit cost?
A survey or consultation visit is charged at £90 an hour plus VAT, with a four hour visit at £360 plus VAT, as on our booking page. A full installation is quoted once we have seen the doors.
Considering face recognition access control for a London office, block or home? We will help you decide if it is the right fit and install it properly if it is. Book a consultation or call our head office on 01344 937999 (London office 0208 064 0196).
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