Map access points before counting boards
Begin with a simple plan showing where someone presents a credential and what should happen after permission is granted. A door, vehicle barrier and elevator button are different interfaces, even when the resident uses the same card.
| Point | Typical planning question |
|---|---|
| Building entrance | Which residents, staff and visitors may enter, and how do people leave? |
| Shared room | Does access depend on membership, validity or opening hours? |
| Garage or parking barrier | Where can drivers safely present a credential, and which command opens the equipment? |
| Technical room | Which maintenance personnel need access, and for what period? |
| Elevator | Which floor requests should the credential authorize? |
Name points clearly, such as “West entrance” or “Basement parking.” These names simplify permission changes and support calls.
Separate identification, permission and the control signal
The reader receives the card or fob. The master applies its configured permissions. An output interface sends the permitted command to the relevant door or gate equipment. The lock supply, motor controller and mechanical hardware perform their own jobs.
Master Lite provides four local SSR contacts; Master Premium provides two local SSR contacts and two independent isolated CAN channels. Node8 adds eight contacts where additional outputs are needed. These are signal interfaces for compatible electronic inputs, not power outputs for locks, motors or mains loads. Compatibility includes signal voltage, current, polarity and the equipment's accepted command behavior.
For a door, assess the lock, frame, closer and release arrangement together. ASSA ABLOY's explanation of electric strikes and closers illustrates their separate roles: one permits opening, while the other controls closing. A valid card cannot correct a door that fails to close or latch properly.
One modular arrangement across the building
A current AXON modular master can sit inside the elevator cabin or outside it. An outside master can serve compatible landing readers, entrances and garage access while cabin output nodes share the supported communication lines. The installation does not need a different master type solely because an access point is inside the cabin.
The current masters support up to 240 addressed subordinate readers and nodes, with up to 1,000,000 stored cards per master. Node8 supplies eight outputs; other node variants have their own capacities. Device locations, cable layout and power provision need a site-specific plan. How AXON works explains the architecture.
Set rules for residents, visitors and shared facilities
Define user groups around real responsibilities. Residents may need their entrance and assigned areas; a cleaner may need common spaces during service hours. Visitor credentials can have defined validity and permitted points, avoiding a permanently shared card that nobody takes responsibility for.
AXON supports schedules and validity rules. Where a payment or subscription rule applies, the administrator chooses which points are restricted after expiry, and residents receive advance phone notifications. The policy should name the affected shared services explicitly and explain how access is restored.
Connected masters distribute changes in real time. An administrator can also disable a selected reader or subordinate unit remotely. A disconnected master receives remote changes when connectivity returns, so the response to a lost credential must account for the connection state of affected equipment.
Keep emergency exit and equipment protection independent
On emergency doors, AXON access restrictions apply only to entry. Escape and emergency release remain free; neither card validity nor payment status should prevent someone leaving. The door arrangement must be selected around that requirement. Allegion explains why a lock's response to power loss and its exit operation are separate characteristics.
At a garage gate or barrier, the access command must leave the equipment's protective functions intact. The Nice MC424L manual distinguishes movement-command inputs from photocell and stop inputs. The installer must check the installed model's instructions; a card-authorized command does not replace obstacle detection, motor control or emergency release.
Check the existing installation before ordering
Ask the installer to record:
- The door lock or gate-controller model and its documented control input.
- The required signal characteristics and command timing.
- Existing exit hardware, emergency release and protective devices.
- Power supplies, cable routes, enclosure space and network availability.
- Reader placement, weather exposure and the completed enclosure's rating.
- The number of credentials, user groups and separately controlled points.
An existing push button does not prove any contact can connect across it. Involve the equipment contractor when adapting an elevator, automatic gate or specialist door interface. Use the RFID reader selection guide to check credential compatibility separately.
Budget for the defined scope
AXON publishes a starting price of €100+ for an access system for one elevator and €3+ per authenticated card or fob in wholesale quantities. These are not fixed prices for every door or garage. The pricing page explains the starting figures and separately quoted extras.
A proposal for entrances or parking should identify readers, master, output interfaces, door or gate adaptations, cabling and installation work. The AXON installation service covers site-specific planning, mounting, configuration and handover. Ask for a point-by-point scope so future additions can be discussed against the same plan.
Frequently asked questions
Can one card cover the entrance, garage and elevator?
Yes, with compatible credentials and readers. Each point keeps its own permission rules, so a parking user does not automatically receive access to every floor or shared room.
Can Node8 power an electric lock or barrier motor?
No. Its eight SSR outputs handle compatible electronic control signals. Lock power, motor switching and any required interface equipment are specified separately for the installed hardware.
What should the administrator receive at handover?
An access-point list, user groups, issuing and withdrawal procedures, the configured schedules and support contacts. Demonstrate permitted and refused access, expired credentials and the agreed behavior during connection interruptions, alongside the equipment contractor's release and protection checks.