Choosing access control for a condo or apartment building
A practical guide for condo boards, strata councils and property managers in Alberta and BC.
The quick answer
For most condo and apartment buildings, the right system controls every exterior door, the parkade, elevators and amenity rooms from one place; uses encrypted fobs or phone credentials that can be cancelled the same day; works with your video intercom; and lets the property manager add and remove residents remotely. Plan for backup power, the fire alarm tie-in and who will run it day to day.
Decide these first
| Decision | Options |
|---|---|
| Credentials | Fobs, cards, phone credentials or a mix. Encrypted fobs are much harder to copy than older proximity fobs. |
| Management | Cloud-managed from a browser or app, or software on a computer in the building. |
| Visitors and deliveries | A video intercom at the front door, with courier access tied to parcel lockers or the mailroom. |
| Parkade | Fobs, long-range readers or plate recognition at the gate, on the same system as the doors. |
| Elevators | Limit residents to their own floor and the shared floors. |
| Amenity rooms | Schedules for the gym, pool or party room, and the ability to suspend access. |
Fobs or phones?
Fobs and cards
- Simple for every resident, including those without a smartphone
- Each credential has a cost, and lost fobs need replacing
- Choose encrypted fobs for a new system
Phone credentials
- No fobs to cut, hand out or collect at move-out
- Residents need a compatible smartphone
- Usually runs alongside fobs, so people can choose
Move-ins, move-outs and lost fobs
Most of the day-to-day work is adding and removing people. Make sure the property manager or concierge can do it from a browser or phone, cancel a lost fob the same day, set temporary access for movers and trades, and see who used which door when there’s a problem.
Safety, power and privacy
Doors in the exit path must let people out and release when the fire alarm activates, and backup power keeps doors controlled through short outages.
Door logs and intercom video are personal information. Set who can see them and how long they’re kept: Alberta’s PIPA and BC’s PIPA both apply to condo and strata corporations. For BC buildings, see our strata camera guide. Not legal advice.
Systems we install for multi-family buildings
We install and fully support Kantech, Genetec Synergis, Avigilon Alta, HID, CDVI, Dormakaba, ICT and Inner Range for access control, and ButterflyMX and 1VALET for video intercoms. Comparing? Read Kantech vs Avigilon Alta and ButterflyMX vs 1VALET.
Planning a new system or replacing an old one?
We’ll walk the building with your board or manager, look at every door, gate and elevator, and give you a written quote.
Access control near you: EdmontonCalgaryRed DeerKelowna. See also parcel lockers and video intercom
Stuck with a system nobody will fix?
We repair and take over cameras, access control, intercoms and alarms installed by other companies, when your current provider has fallen short.
Guides: Replacing an EnterphoneDoor fob or card reader not working?Security cameras for parkadesSnaile vs Luxer One vs 1VALETStairwell re-entry and crossover floorsWashroom access and vape detectionSwitching security companies: how it worksTender-ready security system designElevator access controlMobile and cloud access controlVisitor managementSecurity cameras and privacy in AlbertaSecurity for condo boards and property managers
Questions
What’s the best access control for a condo building?
It depends on the building, but most do well with one system for doors, parkade and elevators, encrypted fobs or phone credentials, and a tie-in to the intercom. We recommend after a site walk.
Can the property manager add and remove residents?
Yes. With remote or cloud management, they can add residents, cancel lost fobs and set schedules from a browser or phone.
Should we switch to phone access?
Phone access saves cutting and collecting fobs, but some residents prefer fobs. Most buildings run both.
Our fobs are easy to copy. Can that be fixed?
Yes. Moving to encrypted fobs or cards makes copying much harder. It can often be done in stages, starting with the exterior doors.
Will it work with our intercom and parcel lockers?
In most cases, yes. We plan access control, video intercom and parcel lockers together so visitors and couriers are handled in one flow.
Do we need a vote to change systems?
Check your bylaws and with your condo or strata manager. In BC, some changes and some spending need a 3/4 vote; our BC strata camera guide explains more.
Can you take over our existing system?
Yes. We take over and fix systems installed by other companies, regain admin access where you own the system, and support it.
More answers: Access control questionsGlossary: credentialfail-safe vs fail-secure
Get a condo access control quote
Tell us about the building: doors, parkade, elevators and number of suites. We’ll follow up to book a site walk.
Call and a real person answers, 24/7 for emergencies.