ESSENTIAL SECURITY
SECURE YOUR PEACE OF MIND WITH FULL INTEGRATION Karl Brett, security product manager at smart home distributor Invision UK, talks about the importance of integration for the future of security. Across the year spanning between July 2019/ july 2020, 348,291 household domestic burglary cases were reported in the UK to the police1. Even though there was a 28% decrease between March and May, (during lockdown) – the easing of restrictions in June saw an increase in recorded incidents in 20202. With high burglary figures, protecting your home and family is top priority - so how do we ensure that as installers we are increasing the longevity of security while assisting our customers to stay safe? Homeowners expect more for their money, with traditional intruder alarm systems often a reluctant expense where value is not immediately apparent. Often, it is not a purchase which excites them like the latest iPhone or a new car, it’s an investment but one that is entirely necessary to protect both their property and family. System integrators have both an opportunity and responsibility to enlighten their customers about the various aspects and possibilities of a security system, considering all different technologies, to provide the perfect solution while delivering maximum protection for the home. The security industry is increasingly developing environmental detectors to add an additional layer of protection for the home, beyond the simple intruder detection. These include; smoke, heat, water / flood and carbon monoxide detectors which are often being added to security systems as standard. If system integrators are going to offer security systems to their customers, then the two obvious questions arise regarding integration. Is there an intruder alarm system which integrates with X? Should we integrate an intruder alarm system? The answer to both questions is of course, yes. SATEL INTEGRA is the popular choice of many integrators because of the sheer volume of integrations available for it - Control4, Crestron, Crestron Home (due Q2 2021), KNX, RTI, Fibaro and Comfort Click. This hybrid intruder alarm system gives integrators the
essentialinstall.com
@Install_mag
opportunity to offer their customers the holistic solution they increasingly request. For example, a wired or wireless solution for detecting intruders, smoke, heat, water leaks, gas leaks and more with control and notifications in a single ecosystem incorporating lighting control, AV control et al. If homeowners are engaging with you to deliver a smart home control system then their expectations are already confirmed - one system to rule them all, a single interface where they can do everything. Therefore, the question of should you integrate the security system answers itself. Another product range that integrates well is LILIN’s STARVIS cameras. Using Sony STARVIS sensors, these cameras provide a clear image in ultra-low light environments and integrate with RTI, C4, Crestron, AMX, Savant, Satel and Fibaro. This allows the user to control their security programmes and build in other actions without having to use multiple apps. Security manufacturers have also added considerable smart home functionality to everyday systems like intruder alarms. These include intruder alarm systems which support touch screens with customisable user interfaces, wired and wireless 230V switching as well as both temperature and lux detection which all contribute to automation and control
/Essentialinstall
around the home. This is a continued trend both the security and smart home industries are witnessing of a convergence - integrators in both camps are often being asked to offer the full package of smart home control and security, and manufacturers are responding. The future of the security sector is in integration.
Integrators
and
end-users
increasingly expect intruder alarms, CCTV, access control and of course smart home control systems to work in total harmony. For example, an outdoor motion detector in the garden picks up an intruder, the smart home system switches the garden lights on automatically, the camera on the patio starts recording footage, the siren starts sounding 100dB and the owner receives one notification on their phone informing them of the entire situation. The combination of a high-class alarm system with versatile automation is a perfect solution for the most demanding customers whose expectations go beyond basic functionalities. Data taken from Police.uk crime data July 2019 – July 2020
1
Data taken from Police.uk crime data March 2020 – July 2020.
2
MARCH 2021 29
