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Best Practices - Wiring a REX to your Avigilon Alta System

Owned by Chad Fay
Last updated: Oct 10, 2024
2 min read

For fire safety and building code compliance in many areas, a Request to Exit (REX) device is required to ensure unrestricted egress. It is essential to consult the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) for all relevant building code requirements, including those related to REX devices and their integration with access control systems like Avigilon Alta.

While it's possible to wire a REX directly to the Avigilon Alta (formerly Openpath) ACU, as with most access control systems, the recommended best practice is to wire the REX in series with a maglock or other fail-safe hardware. This approach ensures there are no points of failure in the egress path.

If the REX device is connected directly to the REX input on the ACU, Avigilon Alta can either shunt forced-open alarms or both shunt alarms and trigger the relay to unlock. In the event of a complete power loss, the lock hardware specified by the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) will determine whether the system defaults to a Fail-Safe or Fail-Secure state.

  • Fail-Safe - When power is lost, the door will result in an unsecured position (unlocked). 

  • Fail-Secure - When power is lost, the door will result in a secured position (locked). 

REX with Video Reader Pro and Video Intercom Reader Pro

Since these devices lack REX input, a remote ACU can be used to manage door peripherals such as the door lock relay, door contact, and REX device. A LAN connection to the remote ACU is required to control all assigned peripherals for the Video Reader Pro or Video Intercom Reader Pro entry.

In some cases, we've observed that the Video Reader Pro and Video Intercom Reader Pro may go offline. If the REX is not wired in series with the lock hardware, the REX at the entry will not trigger the remote relay. To ensure reliable operation during network interruptions, maintenance, or firmware updates, it is crucial to follow the best practices and diagrams provided in this article.

Note: To wire the REX in series with the lock hardware refer to the examples below.

Note: These are example wiring diagrams. Make sure you always follow the installation instructions of third-party hardware for cable type, power requirements, and manufacturer-specific configurations (e.g., dipswitch config).

Example 1: Remote REX on SDC with Video Reader Pro / Video Intercom Reader Pro

Example 2: Remote REX on OP-EX-4E with Video Reader Pro / Video Intercom Reader Pro

To further improve reliability, Avigilon Alta will be implementing changes that will engage the remote relay for the entry when the REX is triggered even if the associated video device is unavailable. The controller for this relay should have a battery backup or be wired in a fail-safe configuration for maximum reliability.

Note that in the reporting, a REX event on Video Reader Pro and Video Intercom Reader Pro entries will appear twice due to these changes. This duplicate can be safely ignored.

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