Don’t buy and install a no name, generic access control system, full of security holes jeapordizing your tenents, work colleagues and other users integrity, as well as the risk of a burglary! Not to mention the actual ease of use! By following BS EN 60839, an access control system and its users benefit from it, because this specific standard turns a broad security promise into something structured and verifiable. Instead of simply asking whether a card reader works, it asks a better question: does the whole Electronic Access Control System, or EACS, identify users correctly, control access reliably, record important events, protect information and behave predictably under realistic conditions?
For buildings, construction sites, manufacturing facilities, warehouses, automotive workshops and safety-sensitive workplaces, this matters greatly! Access control is not only about keeping unauthorised people out. It is also about helping the right people move smoothly, documenting who entered where and when, supporting safety routines and reducing avoidable risk.
In short, BS EN 60839 gives manufacturers, installers, consultants, building owners and end users a shared technical language. That is often the difference between “we think this is secure” and “we can really explain how this is designed to be secure”.
What does BS EN 60839 focuses on?
Imagine a building is a giant lunchbox full of important things. Some people may open it. Others may not. An access control system is the grown-up version of deciding who gets the key.
From cards to facial recognition!
Todays access control may include keycards, PIN codes, mobile credentials, biometric readers, electric locks, controllers, software, time schedules, event logs and alarms.
Now imagine every manufacturer invented its own definition of “safe”. One system might record every entry. Another might not. One reader might handle cold, dust and moisture. Another might fail in a tough environment. One controller might react predictably during a fault. Another might do something weird, which is exactly what nobody wants from a security system.
We decode BS vs EN vs 60839
That is where BS EN 60839 comes in. The “BS” means British Standard. The “EN” means European Standard. The number “60839” belongs to a family of standards for alarm and electronic security systems. The most relevant access control part is usually BS EN 60839-11-1, which deals with electronic access control systems and components.
In plain English, it is a technical rulebook for how access control systems should be designed, described, tested and evaluated.
BS EN 60839 and electronic access control systems
The standard BS EN 60839 is very important because access control is often underestimated. A reader beside a door can look secure, but the real security sits behind the scenes.
Real identification and up-to-date
How are users identified? Are permissions updated when employees change roles? Are visitors handled correctly? Are failed access attempts logged? What happens if the network connection drops? What happens during a power fault?
A proper EACS is not just a gadget on a wall. It is a system of hardware, software, credentials, permissions, logs and procedures. BS EN 60839 supports that system-level view and encourages buyers to look at the complete access function rather than isolated components.
Some subcategories are always in place
The most relevant access control parts are usually understood through two main documents.
EN 60839-11-1 focuses on system and component requirements. This is the more technical part. It concerns what the access control system and its components should be capable of doing.
EN 60839-11-2 provides application guidance. This is more about how electronic access control systems should be planned, installed, commissioned, documented, operated and maintained in real buildings and protected areas.
That distinction matters. A product can be well designed but badly applied. A strong access platform can still create risk if permissions are poorly managed. A secure door can become insecure if staff prop it open because the workflow is annoying.
In practical terms, BS EN 60839 touches areas such as identification, authorisation, event logging, environmental performance, communication, power conditions, system behaviour, component testing and information control.
How does an EACS actually benefit from this standard?
An EACS benefits from BS EN 60839 because the standard supports consistency, reliability and technical clarity. It helps turn “we need secure access” into better questions: secure for which doors, which users, which risks, which operating conditions and which audit needs?
This is valuable where safety, continuity and accountability matter. In manufacturing, access control can protect production zones and sensitive equipment. In warehouses, it can protect stock, loading bays and staff-only areas. In automotive workshops, it can help manage access to tools, vehicles, keys and hazardous materials. In building management, it can support contractor access, phased handovers and after-hours security.
The result is not just better security. It is better control. A standards-based approach can make systems easier to compare, specify, install, audit and maintain.
Smooth for the users, without exaggerating!
Users, such as tenents benefit when security works without becoming a daily irritation. If an access system is too awkward, people find workarounds. They share cards, hold doors open, borrow credentials or write down PIN codes. Once that happens, the clever technology starts losing the fight against ordinary human behaviour.
A good EACS should let authorised people move efficiently while still enforcing rules. The right people should get access quickly, and the wrong people should not. Access rights should match actual roles and important logs should be available when needed (let’s say a burglary has occurred).
For users, that can mean fewer access problems and clearer permissions. For managers, it means better oversight. For safety teams, it can help ensure that only authorised or trained people enter certain areas.
Trivia: What a European Standard is, anyways
A European Standard, often written as EN, is a standard developed and approved through the European standardisation system. The goal is to create common technical rules across countries.
Instead of each country having completely different requirements for the same type of product or system, European Standards create a shared reference point. That helps manufacturers, installers, consultants and buyers compare solutions more easily.
When a European Standard is adopted nationally, it receives a national prefix. In the UK, that prefix is BS, meaning British Standard. That is why the same underlying European Standard may appear as BS EN, DIN EN or SS-EN depending on the country.
Does the European Union decide on them?
Not directly! European Standards are developed by recognised standardisation organisations, mainly CEN, CENELEC and ETSI. The European Union can request standards to support legislation or policy, but the detailed technical work is handled by standardisation organisations, committees and experts.
So, the EU may influence the need for certain standards, but it does not usually write every technical detail itself.
Companies are not legally required to follow BS EN 60839 or any other standard
In many cases, standards are actually voluntary. A company is not automatically breaking the law simply because it does not use one specific standard.
However, standards can become PRACTICALLY necessary through contracts, insurance requirements, procurement rules, building specifications, safety obligations or sector expectations. If a company claims that an access control system is suitable for a high-risk environment, it may need to show how that claim is justified.
Following recognised standards can help demonstrate that reasonable technical practice has been considered. Ignoring relevant standards may be harder to defend after a security incident, insurance dispute or safety review.
Does the USA have its own standards?
Yes, they most certainly do. The United States has its own standards and certification ecosystem. One important access control standard is UL 294, which covers access control system units and is used to evaluate access control equipment in relation to construction, performance and operation.
UL 294 is not the same as BS EN 60839, and the two belong to different standardisation environments. Still, the basic idea is similar: access control equipment should be assessed against recognised technical requirements, not only marketing claims.
Summary: So, is your access system actually safe?
BS EN 60839 does not magically make a building secure. No standard replaces a proper risk assessment, competent installation, good maintenance or sensible daily procedures.
But it provides a serious technical framework for electronic access control. It helps organisations look beyond the reader on the wall and consider the full system: identification, authorisation, logging, environmental performance, system behaviour, documentation and long-term maintenance.
The key point is simple: an access control system should not merely open doors. It should control access in a way that is secure, traceable, reliable and practical for the people who use it every day. That is why BS EN 60839 matters.