When setting up access rights, one must determine what type of person will need access in various situations, and what type of person should have access inhibited in these situations. For example, contract workers may have their access to a lab area denied if there is a chemical spill in the area. If the access right assigned to a contract worker has a default threat level set at normal [5], and the threat level is set to 10, the system denies access to the contract worker, but it allows access to everyone whose access right is configured with a threat level of 10 or higher.

The threat level for the area could be further increased to 15. This would restrict access to everyone with an access right and threat level of 14 and below. It would allow access to everyone with an access right and threat level of 15 and higher.

Inhibiting those assigned an access right with a threat level below the active threat level, while granting access to those assigned an access right with a threat level above the active threat level represents the normal mode of threat level operation for an access right. An access right may also be set to be active only at a specific threat level, or to be active in reverse mode. In this mode, the meaning of the scale flips. Reverse mode grants access when the assigned access right’s threat level is below the active threat level, and prohibits access with the access right’s threat level is above the active threat level. You may use this type of action for non-internal emergency responders that need access for certain situations (Fire fighters need access to the fire. Normal workers need to flee the fire.)

Access rights are based on a schedule that specifies where and when a person may enter a building. To support threat levels, each access right should also be configured with a unique threat level group. When a person attempts to gain access using an access right configured with a threat level group, the system compares the currently active threat level with the threat level contained in access right’s threat level group. If the threat level group validates, the system authorizes the person to enter the building.