Description:

With a latch definition, you can achieve that the readers in a reader group are put in a certain reader mode during a certain time zone.
For example, during business hours, you could have the reader of the main entrance set in the mode open. The door is then open during those times and everyone can enter without the use of his or her card. Outside office hours, the reader will automatically fall back into automatic mode at the main entrance (access is granted to valid passes) or Confirm (access is granted after door or administrator confirmation). With a latch definition, you can also let the mode of the readers in a reader group respond to the activeness of a particular input. For example, you can set all doors to be automatically opened in case of a fire alarm so that everyone can go outside.
Setting up a latch is not difficult. It is important that you think carefully about what exactly needs to be done and when or in what circumstances.

Essentials:

All iProtect versions

Configuration:

Creating a latch definition

Creating a latch definition comes down to combining a reader group with a source and a latch type. The source is the fact that serves as a signal for iProtect™ that the mode of the reader group needs to change. There are four sources in iProtect™ four sources:

Time zone Readers of a reader group are put in the chosen mode during the selected time zone.
Input Readers of a reader group are put in a mode when the selected input is active. Which inputs you can select depends on the configuration of your system. This can be a fire alarm, but also the active of the intercom on a boarding terminal.
Active The latch is activated immediately.
Inactive The latch is deactivated with this.

When you select the Time Zone or Input resources, an additional field appears in which you select the time zone or input to respond to. You can choose from five latch types:

Confirm The administrator gets a message on the screen that someone with a valid card is trying to get access to a particular reader. The administrator must manually open the reader (via a Pulse command).
Locked The doors of the reader group are completely closed, and no one can go in or out.
Normal Valid cards are granted access.
Open All readers in the reader group are open. Anyone can go in.

Preparation: reader group and time zone

A common application of a latch is to automatically open the main entrance of a building.

We want the main entrance to be opened during business hours, so that everyone can go unhindered to the reception. This is of course only allowed if the reception is staffed. Outside of those times, the main entrance is closed and only people with a valid card get access.

If we want to program this in a latch definition, we need a reader group with only the reader of the main entrance.

Only readers who are in the Automatic mode can be controlled by a latch definition.

There is more information about the priority and functionality described in IPROTECT Access - Latch mode priority - Knowledge Base - Confluence (atlassian.net)

Checking reader mode

Go to the menu Installation | Hardware | Reader.
Go to the right reader.

Look in the Reader mode field. Is it the 'Automatic' value?
If this is not the case, click on the roll-off dart behind the field and select the correct mode.
Save any changes and close the Reader window.

Check and possibly create reader group

Go to the menu Access | Settings | Reader group.
Open the different reader groups and see if the desired reader group exists that only contains the reader in question.
If the reader group does not exist, create a new reader group.
Right mouse key in the left frame
Fill in a clear description.
Select the reader group and click open the plus for the reader group, then click reader list, and add the correct reader.

Save the data and close the window.

Create Time Zone

A time zone is required for the latch definition. These are the times when the reception is staffed. It is very likely that this time zone has already been created. But pay attention: you still need to create a new time zone for the latch definition. There are two reasons for this:

It should be possible to change access times and latch times independently.
You want to link a holiday definition to the latch time zone. It is not desirable that the latch also works on Easter Monday or on Queen's Day (weekdays that are considered free holidays). The perhaps pre-existing time zone should probably just work on these days.

Go to the menu Access | Settings | Time zone.
Press the Search button. All time zones are shown.
When there are no present time zones (or no right ones), press the right mouse key in the left screen to add a new one.

Right mouse key in the left frame

Fill in a clear description.
With the right mouse, click the description of the time zone on the left and choose: add time zone element.

A time zone element must be defined per day.
Save the time zone with "Save"
Then check the time zone by pressing the plus of the relevant time zone in the left screen. The days (periods) are now shown one by one.

Create Latch Definition

Go to the menu Access | Settings | Latch mode.
Fill in a clear description.
Click the roll-off behind the Reader Group field.
Select the reader group that contains only the reader in question.
In the Access mode field, select the type of latch. In this case, that is Open (the door must be accessible to everyone between the desired times).
At Source, you decide what to use the latch. Click the roll-off arrow and select the Time Zone option.
An additional field now appears: Time zone. Select the time zone you want here.
Save the data.

The latch definition you just created does the following. During the time zone, the main entrance of the lock goes unlocked. Everyone will have access through this door. Outside of these times one only has access with a valid card. If there were always a doorman present in your organization, you can create an additional latch definition that puts the reader of the main entrance in the Confirm mode outside office hours. Then, outside office hours, one can only access when the administrator gives a pulse via iProtect™ to open the door. Even with a valid card, one will not get in without a doubt.

Holidays

A latch with 'open' mode unlocks an entrance. If it is not desirable that the door is open on days off, iProtect™ allows you to enter exceptions to the usual time zone for certain dates and link these different times to one or more time zones. So also, to the time zone of the latch.

These exceptions to time zones do not necessarily apply to all time zones. For example, you can determine that they apply to the time zones for the benefit of office workers, but not to the Always time zone. Exceptions to the usual time zones are indicated in the Holiday menu.

Go to the menu Access | Settings | Holiday.
Right mouse key in the left frame
In the Detail Holiday field, you enter the name of the holiday. (e.g. Christmas)
Then save the holiday.

The holiday is now displayed in the left frame.

Each holiday must be defined by entering a start date and end date, between which the time zones indicated at the bottom do not apply. Next, you'll need to enter the new start and end time for that data. If you don't want access, or not being latched, choose the option: no activity.

Select the holiday and press the right mouse key.

The following options are shown:

Choose the option: Add holiday period

Then, in the time zone list, check the time zones to be overruled by the holiday.

Save the settings and the holiday settings are created.

Thus, if a time zone of Office Hours is chosen, it will affect each card group that is in an access combination with office time zone as time zone. All cards belonging to such a card group will not be able to access them on that day.

It is also possible to indicate that a different time zone applies during the holiday period. An example of this is the latch of the front door. It opens as standard on weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Now you want to close at 16:00 on Wednesday 24 December. To do this, make the following holiday definition: period 1 24/12/20 09:00 to 24/12/20 16:00 You indicate that there will be different opening hours for 24 December. Finally, at the bottom of the window, specify exactly what time zones should be overruled by this holiday definition.

*How to Latch iProtect™ (Automatic reader control)

Description:

Essentials:

Configuration: