Access Control Terms S

Secure Area: A designated area in which access into and out of is controlled and can be monitored.

Secure Door: A door in which access through is controlled and can be monitored.

Shielding:Providing electrical isolation for a circuit, component, or wire by enclosing or isolating the circuit, component, or wire with a metal enclosure, plate, or foil that blocks any interfering electrical field.

Short Circuit: An unintentional connection that provides a low resistance path between two points in a circuit or between a point in a circuit and ground. A Short Circuit can drastically affect the operation of a circuit. If excessive current flow results from the Short Circuit, a device may be damaged or ruined.

Shunt: 1) Deliberately shorting a portion of an electric circuit. 2) A device for shorting an electric circuit. See Short Circuit.

Shunt Time: The time in seconds that a door-open alarm is suppressed after the door has been opened.

Signature Verification: A biometric identification method using a person's signature characteristics (writing speed, pen pressure, shape of loops, etc.) to identify that person.

Smart Card:An identification card or access control card with a built-in integrated circuit chip. This gives the card microprocessor memory and intelligence to use for storing data. Also Known As - Chip-In-Card.

Spike: A voltage peak of high amplitude and short duration. See Transients.

Standalone: An access control system that makes its own access decisions without communicating with a central controller.

Strike: A plate mortised into or mounted on the door jamb to accept and restrain a bolt when the door is closed. In some metal installations or with a deadlock, the strike may simply be an opening cut into the jamb. (Synonym: keeper)

Strike Plate: A plate, usually made of metal, mortised into or mounted on the door jamb to accept and restrain a bolt when the door is closed.

Status switch: A magnetic contact mounted on the controlled door. It is used to detect door held or door forced.

Suppression: The addition of a device to an electrical circuit that minimizes or prevents transients from affecting the proper operation of that circuit.

Switch:A device used to either connect or interrupt an electronic circuit.