Fraud is surprisingly common in health clubs. It can take various forms: tailgating, lending a membership card to other people, or continuing to go to the club when the membership has expired or is in arrears. Lower grade fraud might involve paying up for a basic membership, but then nipping into a class or facility that isn’t part of the membership package, going at peak times on an off-peak membership, or maybe just helping yourself to a towel.

The general public will easily find a way of justifying their actions to avoid feeling guilty about these little transgressions: they have been paying their membership but haven’t managed to get there, so why can’t their spouse have the benefit? A lot of the time they might be small incidents, but added up it could be costing your club thousands of pounds over the course of the year – at least enough to install an access control system.

Which leads us to the next question: what sort of access control system? Should gyms install turnstiles or do they create a barrier to entry, making the gym look officious rather than friendly and welcoming? How about having access control systems in other parts of the club – systems that, for example, would prevent someone who’s only paying for a gym membership from sneaking into the wet facilities? Is this taking it too far and spoiling the atmosphere, or is it protecting the club – and those members who don’t take advantage?

When it comes to access control systems, what technology is currently available, what’s coming soon, and what are the pros and cons of each option? We ask the experts for their thoughts....