How to Protect Proximity Cards from Damages

Proximity cards are created to manage and control access to specific areas in the building. Generally, a proximity card will have an electronic chip with the card information and an antenna connected to it. The chip and antenna are embedded into the card when you print them. This helps the reader to decode the information on the card without any physical contact.

There can be many instances when a proximity card fails to function. Yet this usually happens when the connection between the chip and the antenna is broken or if the antenna is damaged somehow. Aside from that, exposing the proximity card to electrostatic discharge can also damage its integrated circuitry. Sometimes, a strong magnetic field can also interfere with the programming on the embedded chip and render it useless.

How to Protect Proximity Cards from Damages

In most cases, the damages to proximity cards happen because of an unintentional action of the user. For instance, the employee could have forgotten to empty his/her pockets, which made the proximity card go through the washer and dryer. Else, the employee may have left the proximity card on his/her car dash, which exposed it to the heat of the sun for a very long time. Both these actions are unintentional but are enough to cause severe damage to the proximity card.

Using proximity cards carelessly can also lead to potential damages. For instance, punching a hole in the card to carry it with the keys, or scrapping ice or paint with the card, can also cause serious damages to the chip and the antenna. Even sitting on the card that bends or twists it can lead to circuitry failures. Therefore, the best way to protect proximity cards is to educate your employees about the factors that can damage them.

Another good option to protect proximity cards is by using a strong and durable ID card holder. This can help to avoid physical damages to the card to a great extent. If your organization requires employees to carry the contactless proximity cards when inside the building, then you can go for a flexible vinyl ID card holder. These are great at offering protection from the UV rays. At the same time, these ID card holders will make sure that the information on the card is visible and readable.

If the proximity cards are usually exposed to more physical use or extreme outdoor conditions, then you will need a more rigid ID card holder. You can go for hard and long-lasting plastic badge holders in such cases.

Businesses or individuals looking for printers with smart card or proximity card functionality can look towards Fargo ID card printers.
Both the Fargo HDP5000 ID Card Printer as well as the Fargo DTC4500e have optional upgrades that allow for smart card, magnetic stripe card, and proximity card encoding.