PG and Hostel Security: Card Locks, Cameras, Attendance and Fire Safety
Short answer: a 20-bed PG or small hostel can secure its main door with RFID key tags, cover the gate, lobby and corridor with three Wi-Fi cameras, and put in Wi-Fi smoke alarms, a gas leak detector and two fire extinguishers for about ₹28,000. Add a face attendance terminal that logs resident entry and staff attendance and the total is about ₹37,000. All prices below are our live website prices, include GST, and delivery across India is free.
Running a PG means handling many keys, residents who move in and out every few months, late-night entry rules and parents who ask about safety. The setup below solves the daily problems first: no more copied keys, a record of who came in, and early warning of smoke or gas.
What does a PG or hostel need, and why?
- Key tags instead of main door keys. A keypad and RFID reader on the main door with an electromagnetic lock means each resident gets a tag. When someone leaves, you delete that tag. No lock change, no copied keys floating around.
- Cameras on the gate, lobby and corridor. Not inside rooms. Cameras in common areas settle most disputes about lost parcels, guests and late entry.
- A smoke alarm on every floor. Residents run heaters, irons, chargers and extension boards. A SMK-TY Wi-Fi smoke alarm sounds locally and pushes an alert to the owner's phone through the app, so you know even when you are not on site.
- A gas leak detector in the kitchen. Shared kitchens are the biggest fire risk in a PG. The Tuya Wi-Fi gas leak detector monitors LPG and natural gas, alarms locally and sends a phone notification.
- Fire extinguishers on each floor, where residents and staff can reach them.
- An entry log (optional but useful). If you keep a night entry time or parents ask for one, a face terminal records who came in and when.
Shopping list with prices
We assumed 10 rooms on two floors, about 20 residents plus 3 staff, one main entrance door of wood or aluminium, and one shared kitchen.
| Item | What it does | Qty | Unit price | Line total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combo-CN57: RFID/PIN reader, 600 lbs EM lock, L bracket, K80 supply, exit button, 10 tags | Main door entry by tag or PIN | 1 | ₹5,350 | ₹5,350 |
| KCT-125 RFID key tags, pack of 20 | One tag per resident and staff, with spares | 1 | ₹599 | ₹599 |
| CP Plus CP-Z43Q 4MP Wi-Fi pan-tilt camera | Lobby and corridor | 2 | ₹3,499 | ₹6,998 |
| CP Plus CP-V48A 4MP Wi-Fi bullet camera | Outdoor camera on the gate | 1 | ₹2,899 | ₹2,899 |
| SMK-TY Tuya Wi-Fi smoke alarm | One per floor corridor and one near the electric meter | 3 | ₹1,799 | ₹5,397 |
| Tuya Wi-Fi gas leak detector | Shared kitchen | 1 | ₹2,699 | ₹2,699 |
| Flame Secure ABC fire extinguisher 4 kg | One on each floor | 2 | ₹2,000 | ₹4,000 |
| Core setup total | ₹27,942 | |||
| Biomax BM-70W Pro Wi-Fi face attendance and access control | Logs resident entry and staff attendance, up to 1,200 users | 1 | ₹9,000 | ₹9,000 |
| Full setup total | ₹36,942 |
Cable, memory cards for the cameras and an electrician are extra. The smoke alarms and gas detector are Wi-Fi devices, so they need a good Wi-Fi signal where you fit them. Most Tuya devices use the 2.4 GHz band, so keep it switched on in your router.
How does tag entry work on a PG main door?
- The EM lock holds the door shut with magnetic force while it has power.
- A resident shows a tag or types a PIN on the reader outside. The reader cuts power to the lock for a few seconds and the door opens.
- From inside, anyone presses the exit button to go out.
- When a resident leaves the PG, you delete that tag from the reader. Lost tags are handled the same way.
Keep the K80 power supply on an inverter line. An EM lock releases when it loses power, which is safe for fire exit, but it also means the door is open during a long power cut without backup. Our power supply and battery backup guide explains the options. For lock types, read the door access control guide.
Do you need an entry log or attendance?
A tag reader opens the door but does not keep a time record. If you run a hostel with a night entry time, or want staff attendance for your cook, cleaner and warden, add the Biomax BM-70W Pro. Its listing gives 1,200 face users, 5,000 fingerprints, a 1,50,000 log capacity and Wi-Fi. It supports access control, so it can open the same EM lock, with the tag reader kept as a backup or moved to the terrace door. Faces cannot be lent to friends the way tags can. For more models, see the attendance machine price guide.
Optional upgrades
- Energy saver switch per room: the SES-15 card switch (₹1,200 per room) turns room power on only while a card sits in the slot. It helps stop ACs and geysers running in empty rooms, which is a real saving when electricity is included in rent.
- Card locks on room doors: a hotel-style RFID card lock (₹4,500 per door, check availability for larger orders) runs on 4 AA batteries and reads Mifare or 125 kHz cards. You also need a card encoder. See the hotel door lock price guide.
- Locks for residents' cupboards: the MFCL-200 hidden RFID cabinet lock, pack of 3 (₹5,950) fits inside wooden cupboards and opens with a card.
- Smoke alarm for the electric panel area: more SMK-TY units if you have a separate meter room or a third floor.
Browse solutions for hotels and PGs, RFID card access control and fire safety, or put together a door kit in the Access Control Kit Builder.
FAQ
What security does a PG need in India?
At minimum: controlled entry on the main door, cameras on the gate and common areas, a smoke alarm on each floor, a gas detector in the kitchen and fire extinguishers. Our list for a 20-bed PG costs ₹27,942, or ₹36,942 with a face attendance terminal.
Is RFID tag entry better than keys for a PG?
Yes, for a building where residents change often. Each resident gets a tag, and when someone leaves you delete it from the reader instead of changing the lock. Extra tags cost ₹599 for 20.
Can I keep a record of when residents enter at night?
A tag reader does not keep a log. A face terminal with access control, such as the Biomax BM-70W Pro, records each entry with time and can open the same door lock.
Can I put CCTV cameras in a PG?
Use cameras only in common areas such as the gate, lobby, stairs and corridors, never inside rooms or bathrooms. Tell residents where cameras are.
Where should smoke alarms go in a PG?
In each floor corridor and near the electric meter or panel. Do not put a smoke alarm inside the kitchen, where cooking smoke causes false alarms. Use a gas leak detector there instead.
Does the EM lock open during a power cut?
Yes. An EM lock releases when it loses power, which is safe for escape. Keep its power supply on an inverter or add battery backup so the door stays locked during cuts.
Prices are NavKar Systems website prices on 27 October 2026, inclusive of GST, and may change.
