UNDER floor heating manufacturer Wamafloor GB Ltd has chosen fingerprint entry' biometric access systems to control doors at its new hi-tech Hampshire head office and warehouse.

The 20,000 sq ft development in Fareham will be among the most environmentally friendly in the UK with a zero rated' carbon footprint thanks to state-of-the-art insulation and a heating/cooling system that relies upon a ground source heat pump.

Rainwater will be harvested' from the building and used as grey water' to flush toilets and wash vehicles.

Entry to the building will be con trolled by hi-tech finger print scanners from Bournemouth based UK Biometrics.

UK Biometrics Southern Regional director Sally Glover said: "All internal doors are accessed using a networked biometric system which recognises employees' fingerprints.

"Our system will make working life a little easier for Warmafloor personnel."

UK Biometrics systems scan the fingerprint, recognising between 20 and 70 minutiae points. This pattern is then subject to military level encryption and stored.

Biometrics mean an end to large bunches of keys, expensive swipe cards or proximity fobs.

One fingerprint can open one door or as many doors as is required with new users added to, or deleted from the system in seconds.

Warmafloor sales manager Malcolm Jaques said: "Our new head office and factory is an opportunity to install the latest energy-saving technology as part of our commitment to protecting the environment."