Secure enclosure emergency access mechanism

A access control assembly attachable to an access door of an enclosure, the access control assembly comprising:

• a latch configured to be affixed to an inner portion of the access door and to engage a catch attached to an inner portion of the enclosure when the access door is in a closed position, wherein the latch engaging the catch secures the access door of the enclosure in a locked state;
• an actuator configured to electronically open the latch to open the access door of the enclosure;
• and
• a housing configured to be affixed to an outer portion of the access door opposite the latch, the housing comprising:
• a memory device;
• a latch controller configured to detect when the latch is no longer within a predetermined proximity of the catch;
• and
• an emergency access portal aligned with and providing access through the access door by an instrument to at least the catch to engage the catch, wherein engaging the catch with the instrument releases the access door to provide access to the enclosure and triggers the latch controller to detect that the latch is no longer within the predetermined proximity of the catch, and to register the opening of the latch in the memory device.

A method, comprising:

• providing a catch configured to be affixed to an inner portion of an enclosure, wherein the catch comprises an anchor portion configured to be affixed to the inner portion of the enclosure and a breakaway portion removably coupled to the anchor portion;
• providing a latch configured to be affixed to an inner portion of an access door of the enclosure and to engage at least the breakaway portion of the catch when the catch is attached to the enclosure and the access door is in a closed position, wherein the latch engaging the breakaway portion of the catch secures the access door of the enclosure in a locked state;
• providing an actuator configured to electronically open the latch to open the access door of the enclosure;
• and
• providing a housing configured to be affixed to an outer portion of the access door opposite the latch, the housing comprising:
• a memory device;
• a latch controller configured to detect when the latch is no longer within a predetermined proximity of the catch;
• and
• an emergency access portal aligned with and providing access through the access door by an instrument to the breakaway portion of the catch to detach the breakaway portion from the anchor portion, wherein detaching the breakaway portion from the anchor portion releases the access door to provide access to the enclosure and triggers the latch controller to detect that the latch is no longer within the predetermined proximity of the catch.