You have options with expiring ID badges. So how do you know which solution provides the most security and is best for your business or educational facility?
First, let's look at the different options and when you might need them.
Expiring badge options
- Manual badges. Just like the familiar, "Hello, my name is…" badges we're all used to, you can also manually issue expiring badges. You or your guest can hand-write their name on the sticker, and when their time is up, it's obvious to the casual eye that it's expired.
- Printable badges. If you want something a little more formal than a hand-printed sticker, choose printable expiring badges. You can run them through any printer for a nice, professional visitor badge. And it's still obvious when the badge has expired.
- Pre-printed badges. You can choose self-expiring badges pre-printed with the user's designation. For example, you might use pre-printed expiring badges with Visitor, Volunteer, Temp, Substitute, or Contractor. If your visitors fall into singular categories, these are an easy, inexpensive way to identify them.
- Incremental badges. Sometimes, you might need to distinguish visitors not by type, but by how long they're allowed on site. For example, you can choose badges that expire after half a day, a full day, one week, or even one month.
- Expiring stickers. If image is important and you issue professional badges with headshots to everyone on-site, it might make sense to use expiring stickers. You keep the appearance of a professional ID but add the visual element of expiration at a glance.
Common self-expiring badge misconceptions
While the science behind expiring badges is interesting, it's not like flipping a switch. For example, if you choose 24-hour expiring badges, the badge doesn't stay vibrant and valid for 23 hours, then suddenly at hour 24, change to "void." Rather, what it means is that the badge will subtly change over a 24-hour period until at the end, it is obviously expired.
Another point to take into consideration is that temperature affects the timing of the expiration process. For example, heat makes the badges change quicker. So if your visitors or guests are in a hot manufacturing facility, their badges may expire faster than someone in an air-conditioned office building.
Body heat also affects the badge's expiration change. Someone who wears their self-expiring badge on a thin t-shirt close to their skin will experience a quicker change than someone who wears it on a suit jacket removed from their body heat.
What you can count on
A self-expiring badge will always expire, leaving no doubt that it's void and the wearer's time is up. Some might expire quicker than others, but they will be "void" at the end of their term. This means your self-expiring badges can never be reused at a later date to gain access to your office or facility.
Anyone in your building, facility, school, etc., can tell immediately when someone has permission to be on site. There's absolutely no way to get around an expiring badge.
You can also count on self-expiring badges to remove the need for front desk personnel to collect visitor badges at the end of the day. Your guests and visitors can simply throw their expired badges away when done, relieving your staff from worrying about collecting badges from everyone on-site. If you have a high number of visitors, guests, etc., or have a busy front desk, this time-saver can be a cost-effective option.
Finally, self-expiring badges are wonderful at deterrence. Who would try to sneak on-site with an obviously expired badge? They would be exposed immediately. Even your most seasoned security professional would agree that deterrence is the best first line of defense in a secure environment.
When you need to call a professional
With all the options available, it might get confusing which is the best solution for your program. If you're struggling to identify the best option for your business and its security needs, consider talking to a professional ID expert. They have years of experience helping companies just like yours create effective and efficient secure environments for employees, students, guests, visitors, and more.
ID experts also know security best practices and can guide you to the solution that makes the most sense based on what is most effective for your business, your industry, and your security levels. And with so many expiring badge options, don't risk your security by making an uninformed choice. Best to talk to an expert and get a professional opinion.
Final thoughts
The ID Experts at Idesco are ready and waiting to help you choose the right expiring badge for your security needs. We'll help you navigate the waters of the most effective expiring badge coupled with what solution best meets your business needs. We have over 75 years of experience advising companies just like yours on the best way to keep everyone safe and to protect your business interests.