Monitor, view and speak to visitors at any time, from anywhere.
Versatile, robust and convenient, the Pyronix HomeControl DoorbellCam is our new outdoor, wirefree doorbell camera that offers main-entrance protection and two-way communication.
The battery-powered doorbell camera comes with Full-HD video, 130 degree wide-angle view, motion detection, real-time notifications and push to talk function. With these helpful features, users are able to see exactly what’s happening on the doorstep and can answer the door, even when they’re not there.
Open the door to new sales opportunities with the Pyronix DoorbellCam.
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At this time of year we make plans to better ourselves that tend to last no more than a fortnight so we are stuck with an unused year’s gym membership to make us feel guilty when we hit the chippy. But speaking of chips...
This month we run our usual New Year predictions editorial Panel feature in which we ask industry experts for their thoughts on the next twelve months. A long contribution we didn’t have space to fit in this month (so look out for it next time) came in from Neil Patel of D-Link who had some potential good news to share concerning microchip supply chain issues. He said: “A recent report by Accenture predicted that the supply chain challenges – including the microchip shortage – could result in a potential massive cumulative loss to the gross domestic product (GDP) across the Eurozone by 2023, arising from the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Lead times for some advanced chips needed for medical devices, telecommunications and cybersecurity systems has reportedly extended to approximately 52 weeks, compared to a previous average of 27 weeks, according to data from Everstream – and this doesn’t, of course, factor in product manufacturing time.
“In addition to impacting the ability to produce and meet the demand for existing products, the lack of chip availability has meant a reduction in the capacity to develop new products. Older generations of chips that are used in the manufacture of white goods, for example, are made using equipment that has been used for several years. Innovative new components that run AI models and render graphics in the latest smartphones and computers, however, require cutting-edge technology to manufacture.
“While this all paints a challenging picture, things may be looking up. With the cost of chips being reduced and consumer spending cooling down for a myriad of reasons, supply may yet catch up with the demand in 2023. While there are immediate challenges to navigate, we are likely to see the pressure taken off the microchip industry next year.”
Which would be welcome news for a technology driven economy like the security sector, which is closely following the consumer market in its drive towards ‘smart’ products that need the very latest chips - or a steady supply of the existing ones.
We know that the buying might of the major electric car manufacturers has essentially strangled supply of chips across the board recently however according to Auto Trader the demand for EVs has dipped by 12.6% in the last twelve months so that may also work in favour of those waiting for supply.
And that news reflects the largely positive nature of the comments we received for the article, so be sure to have a read of the opinions and keep fingers crossed that 2023 will be a better year than we’ve had so far in the 2020s. Happy New Year!
Bromsgrove-based security and monitoring solutions company Ecl-ips has revealed the news that its Managing Director, Aaron Kernaghan, was a winner in the 2022 North Worcestershire Business Awards.
Aaron won Business Leader of the Year; a
Qognify announces its acquisition by Hexagon from Battery Ventures
Qognify, a provider of Physical Security and Enterprise Incident Management software solutions, has announced that it is being acquired by Hexagon AB from Battery Ventures.
Qognify was formed in 2015 when Battery Ventures acquired the physical security
Coventry security firm commits to invest £1m in R&D
Safetyflex Barriers has committed £1 million into research and development and outlined plans to open second premises in Coventry on the back of continued growth. The research and development drive will be focused on furthering its crash-rated street furniture range, with the company subsequently looking
category sponsored by business management consultancy, Biz Smart. This recognised his leadership in delivering successful growth this year offering integrated solutions to a range of clients including schools, commercial organisations and high-net worth individuals.
Aaron, who expressed surprise at his win, said: “I am still in total shock. It was amazing to be nominated but to win, totally unexpected.”
The Ecl-ips MD was up against two other experienced local business leaders: Dr Lizzy Bernthal of Release Your Potential, who provides specialist business coaching, and Andrew Baker, Director of Eureka Financial Solutions. The winners of this, and all the categories in the awards, were announced at a blacktie awards ceremony held at Hogarth Stone Manor. The awards were organised by the North Worcestershire Business Leaders networking group and the Worcestershire Economic Development and Regeneration (NWedR) organisation, which is a collaboration between Redditch Borough, Bromsgrove District and Wyre Forest District Councils aimed at promoting growth and development across the area.
division of NICE Systems, thus creating a new brand in the market. In 2018, Qognify acquired On-Net Surveillance Systems Inc. with its brands OnSSI and SeeTec.
“The acquisition creates a solid basis for continuous growth and development, from which also existing customers and partners will benefit,” says Steve Shine, President and CEO at Qognify.
for new design engineers.
Director Rob Gerrard said: “We have been keen to grow our footprint in the city we call home for some time, and we are pleased to confirm we have now actively started looking for a second premises in Coventry to provide additional warehouse, manufacturing and office space.
“Coventry has always been a fantastic city for innovation and we see this as the natural next step for the business as we aim to continue our proud record of year-on-year growth.”
Safetyflex recently added to its street furniture line with the launch of the Crash Bench 40, which is completely surface mounted and requires no foundations, pinning or fixings. The company’s crash rated range is manufactured or part-manufactured in Coventry and crash tested to PAS68 and IWA14 standards.
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Hikvision Android Indoor Monitor takes a whole new approach to security. Along with video intercom, it also serves as a home or office management center featuring visualised interfaces. With the built-in Hik-Connect App, users will enjoy the simple control and flexible linkage among various Hikvision devices. And it’s all managed with a simple tap on the touchscreen! What’s more, it features easy integration with third-party Android applications, adding new levels of convenience for users.
• 2N has announced that all of its intercoms and access unit readers have become Secured by Design (SBD) accredited. SBD is the UK police initiative to help ‘design out’ crime through the use of products and processes. In order to achieve SBD status, the 2N Access Unit 2.0 and the 2N Access Unit M had to adhere to test standards required by the police which assessed their resistance to forced entry.
Eurotech is named as Nittan Elite Partner of the Year
Nittan has announced that Eurotech Fire Systems has been recognised as the Nittan Elite Partner of the year. This is in recognition of not only their excellent sales performance, but also
their clear commitment to the Nittan brand and exceptional customer support.
Michelle Agius, Managing Director of Eurotech, said: “We take immense pride in knowing our product range inside out so we can provide our customers with the best advice, product choice and technical support to complete their projects. We are delighted to receive such a prestigious award from Nittan and proud to support the Nittan product range.”
Lee James, General Manager, Product Marketing, Nittan Europe said: “Our Elite programme identifies those distributors that demonstrate loyalty to Nittan and have taken the time to invest in the brand by undertaking rigorous training on the full product range. As a manufacturer our end user contact is minimal; these customer facing companies are often the first experience people will have of Nittan, so their product knowledge and commitment to Nittan is exceptionally important and deserves to be recognised. The key benefit for Elite members is that we can direct new customer enquiries to them as we know they are a safe pair of hands!”
• Mayflex has signed a distribution agreement with AVA to distribute the cloud-based security solution. Simon Steer, Security Director at Mayflex commented: “With its advanced analytics and ease of install the AVA solution provides a serious alternative to current systems on the market and can also be integrated with legacy cameras so that you can take advantage of the revolutionary AI capabilities, via a hybrid cloud. The cameras have features and benefits that we know our installer partners will appreciate and provides our customers with the opportunity to earn re-occurring revenue. Security is at the forefront of the system with video being encrypted in transit and at rest ensuring an extremely secure end to end system.”
2023
announced by Abloy Academy
Abloy UK has announced its new schedule of Academy Foundations and Foundations Plus CPD courses for 2023, which offer attendees insight into emergency and panic escape compliance.
The free courses are designed to train installers, security managers, end users and specifiers, giving them the skills and knowledge to ensure maximum safety and security while helping to save lives in an emergency.
The Foundations course is designed to help delegates understand the minimum legal performance criteria for access control locking applications for fire and escape doors, BS EN 179 and BS EN 1125 and help attendees to specify only compliant solutions. They also include the new BS EN 13637 standard on electronically controlled exit systems for use
on escape routes.
For individuals who complete the first course, the Foundation Plus course is an advanced add-on, going one step further in educating delegates on in-depth industry standards and compliance terminology. This provides attendees with the knowledge to specify products that are suitable for both the application and door type.
Both courses are led by Pat Jefferies, Commercial Director at Abloy UK, an expert in locks and door opening solutions.
Pat explained: “Evolving legislation means that it’s also important to stay up to date with the latest best practice.
“It’s not just standards for standards sake. Ultimately, if an emergency escape system is not compliant then lives are at risk, so I take great pride in knowing that the Academy is doing its part in helping people escape safely from a building if they need to.”
The government has announced that new legislation will be published in spring 2023 to improve security at venues in the aftermath of the Manchester Arena bombing.
Security consultancy Lodge Service is advising the operators of public venues and spaces on the implications of the proposed anti-terrorism legislation. Known as Martyn’s Law or the Protect Duty, it will mandate tougher security measures to protect against terrorist attacks.
The new law will affect venues with a capacity of more than 100 people or that employ more than 250 people, even if they work across multiple sites; also any outdoor or public spaces where people may congregate, such as parks and squares. With legislation planned for publication in the spring, venue owners and operators should start preparing now, as the training and security measures required will take some time to implement,” says Judy Atkinson, director at Lodge Service.
Out of an estimated 650,000 crowded places in the UK, only 0.2% are currently prioritised to receive direct support from the Government’s network of counter-terrorism experts. Lodge Service is advising operators of venues and spaces as they plan their counter-terrorism measures.
Venues and local authorities need to have clear response plans, says Lodge Service, including efficient ways to guide people safely within a location in the event of a security alert, communicate with visitors and the emergency services, ensure staff know how to enact appropriate steps, and make provision to shelter people where necessary.
• The Protector Group has been acquired by the Argenbright Group. It will join Amberstone Security under the Argenbright umbrella retaining its own identity and will complement Amberstone by providing security monitoring services and IoTenabled integrated security solutions into the construction and critical national infrastructure sectors.
Argenbright will utilise Amberstone Security and The Protector Group as its portfolio companies, both delivering services across varied industry sectors, whilst also enabling the cross pollination of people, services, and solutions to protect and nurture both brands’ loyal, and growing client base.
This month Simon Banks looks through the most memorable quotes from the Bottom Line interviews of the last 12 months.
“My advice to my peers in the industry would be to act now to avoid any disruptions to your business. Although the ultimate closure is in 2025, the switchovers are happening right now with many millions of lines already completed!”
John Piggott, Managing Director at Atlas Fire & Security.
“The opportunity to develop our team of young, talented individuals who have been educated, not only on all systems but also understand our culture and how important they are to the success of the business, is really exciting for us.”
James Twigg, Chief Executive Officer and Sharon Garton, HR Manager at TIS.
“By ensuring companies are fully engaged with us we can work together on standards and codes of practice, meaning our members are playing a pivotal role in shaping their part of the industry.”
James Gribben, Chief Commercial Officer at the BSIA.
“Every day is different and there is so much to learn. I can safely say that I’ve never had a boring day and I enjoy the variety.”
Luke Wadsley of PWP Fire & Security
“If they currently have a system that relies on PSTN, we know that at some point this will fail. The increased demand for us to react quickly to get their system back up and running will naturally cause delays.”
Sarah Humphreys, Sales Director at Premier Alarms Ltd
“We have a known skills shortage in our sector and for a large provider like Marlowe, it can be difficult to find the engineers, particularly the multidisciplined engineers we require. We want to combat this by investing in our people and growing a sustainable workforce.”
Luke Gunn, Technical Training Manager at Marlowe Fire & Security Group
“The characteristics of fire and security companies appeal to many investors, particularly as many continued to trade, or have managed to recover, after the recent pandemic.”
Mark Brophy, Chief Executive Officer at Fortus
“Ultimately, it will be end-users who will benefit from ECHO as they will experience a vast improvement in response times. We also believe this will also be a useful tool for Installers, as a unique selling point and benefit over Apps to 999 systems”.
Paul Miller, Managing Director of National Monitoring
“M&A offers a great opportunity to realise the value of your life’s work. Business owners need to have a succession or exit plan as they look towards retirement or to be able to explore other interests.”
Shaz Hussain, M&A Director at CSL Group
“Upgrading customers can sometimes be a challenge, especially at a time where costs are rising in other areas. It was vital for us to speak directly and openly with our customers to ensure they understand the potential ramifications if their connectivity stopped working.”
Dominic Gundry-White, Managing Director of Cannon Fire & Security
“It’s vital that all companies are encouraged to support the goal of Skills for Security to provide a sustainable supply of skilled engineers across the sector so that businesses can prosper and compete, not only in the UK market but strive for world-class competency and quality.”
Arevika Stepanian, Director of Corporate Relations (Non-Executive) at Skills for Security
“CSL are a great firm. Love working with them for my security!”
Peter Jones – Google Review – 19 November Tweet
Reducing unwanted alarms at the perimeter Magos Systems has introduces new features to reduce false alarms at the perimeter and help to streamline security operations at a variety of different types of sites. The introduction of Blue Force GPS and speed and direction based filtering to the Magos perimeter detection solution provides facilities with increased situational awareness of their site, while reducing nuisance alarms that add to the operator’s information overload and distract them from responding to actual events.
Blue Force tracking leverages GPS technology to recognise authorised personnel as “friendly forces” when their presence is detected by the Magos radar. This feature is particularly useful for facilities that require security staff to regularly patrol the premises. magossystems.com/
Following the EMEA roll out of its FlipX Standard indoor sensors in September, Optex has announced the launch of the Grade 3 FlipX Advanced series.
The FlipX sensors feature a bespoke pyroelectric sensor for increased performance that adapts to the human shape, and a lens that can be ‘flipped’ to provide both wide and narrow detection in a single sensor. By rotating the lens through 180°, the sensor can be used to protect narrow or long areas such as a corridor or warehouse aisles up to 24m, or a wide, open area like a lobby or a high-value retail store to 15m at 85°.
In addition, to provide a higher level of security, the Advanced models feature IR-Antimasking, which protects both the PIR and microwave sensors, generating an alert if they are covered. It’s also equipped with additional algorithms to ensure stable detection and to reduce ‘false’ alarms. Double conductive shielding means nuisance alarms caused by changes of light, temperature or Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) can be avoided. optex-europe.com
i-PRO has announced its new NUSeries network video recorders (NVR), NDAA compliant with intel CPU. The new models are the successors to the NX100 and NX200 models, and are available in 4, 8, and 16 channel configurations with in-built PoE(+) power and a slim form factor for easy installation.
With a focus on creating a plug and play as well as easy recording for smaller businesses, the NU-NVRs work with i-PRO or any other manufacturer cameras, and simply need to plug in to the HDMI monitor to begin security operations. The NU-NVRs also bring AI-based analytics to small and medium businesses, flexible to suit many uses. Organisations seeking simple yet accurate AI-based analytics such as human and vehicle object detection (AIVMD) can eliminate the need for a PC with the NU-Series NVRs, which are capable of receiving alarm notifications and playback without additional hardware and software. i-pro.com/global/en/
3xLogic has announced the release of new edge-based analytic cameras, adding to its line of IP cameras.
The Outdoor Dome, Edge-based Analytic camera comes equipped with edge analytics functionality built in for deep learning object detection and people tracking. The camera’s onboard analytics can be combined with features in the 3xLogic Vigil Server’s reporting engine to support a range of security and surveillance applications, such as object detection, people counting and dwell time.
3xlogic.com
Videx has enhanced its door entry system, the VX2300, adding a desk mount concierge unit for small to medium sized installations of the twowire video system.
The CST2310 unit can be used for up to 200 apartments, offering both handset and hands-free speech and a back lit touch control keypad along with a 3.5” LCD display with on screen information relating to both entrances and apartments and the stage of a call when in progress. It can also be used to receive or intercept calls from entrances, make and receive calls from apartments and activate outputs, open doors and gates and receive alarm calls from apartments. videxuk.com
The security industry is busy and complex, so it’s easy to miss new products and services as they get lost in day-to-day
Union has launched a range of padlocks that enable a variety of internal and external locations to be secured, and work as part of the company’s new master key cylinder range, keyMASTER.
Compatible with all Union cylinders, the new Shield high-security padlock range has attained BS EN12320:2012 from Grade 4 up to the maximum Grade 6, in recognition of its physical security and the number of combinations it allows for.
Conventional open, closed, and long shackle variants are available depending on requirements, while the insert/snowman cylinder is interchangeable across the complete range, meaning customers who wish to upgrade their security at a later date can simply change the padlock housing. uniononline.co.uk/uk
Doorbell camera and chime added to smart home portfolio
Pyronix has announced some new smart home products to its HomeControl2.0 app.
The DoorbellCam is an outdoor, wire-free doorbell camera, offering main-entrance protection and two-way communication, while the DoorbellChime is a battery-operated sounder, designed to deliver full audio coverage throughout a property when the doorbell is pressed. The battery-powered, Wi-Fi connected DoorbellCam comes with Full-HD video, 130° wide-angle view, motion detection, realtime notifications and push-to-talk function. The device pairs with HomeControl2.0 to deliver instant notification when someone is at the door; and with its inbuilt mic and speaker, welcoming visitors and directing deliveries has never been easier.
Installation is flexible as there’s no need for a 240VAC supply and all fixtures and fittings are included with the product, so it can be installed wherever it’s preferred. It also features fast pairing with the DoorbellChime, operating through its own RF channel. Over 3000 minutes of attention-catching videos and captured photos can be saved, played back and examined with an inserted 32GB SD card, so users will never miss a thing.
The DoorbellCam can be integrated with other Pyronix smart home products to deliver a complete solution that makes life safer and easier for users.
pyronix.com/uk/
activities. Here are a few recent launches that caught our eye.
and audio connections. A suitable grommet and waterproof glue are provided to ensure a moisture seal where the cables enter the pendant. The pendant’s connector panel is hinged to allow access to the individual connections and is then clipped in place. The main dome assembly can then be fitted to the pendant; this entails aligning the dome so that its 25-way D type connector can mate and then pushing up and rotating to the right so that the three fixings engage with the pendant’s keyhole slots. Once in place, three Allen screws secure the dome. A safety wire with quick release hooks, is supplied to link the dome to the bracket.
The IDIS website gives access to copies of the quick guide, the installation manual and the operation manual.
With power supplied from the PoE++ injector, or a 24v AC source, the dome begins with a start-up calibration routine to load default settings and configure the PTZ position datums. This takes around 90 seconds to complete and then the camera is ready to configure or operate.
The DC-S6286HRXL is an IP66, IK10 rated external PTZ dome utilizing a ‘Lightmaster’ 1/2” CMOS 2MP high sensitivity sensor, a 36x zoom lens and integrated infrared illumination. It has overall dimensions of 402mm height by 242mm diameter including the pendant mount with a weight of 6.7kg. Operating temperature range is -40°C to +55°C.
The mount adaptor must first be fixed to the top pendant to which the dome attaches. This is held in place by three M6 crosshead screws, a channel in the mount ensures these cannot slip free if secured correctly. This mount adaptor has a thread to match the wall mount (supplied separately) or alternatively a ceiling mount can be used. Pole and corner mount brackets are also available.
Cables are fed through the wall mount into the pendant. These can include the network cable, power if not using PoE, alarm
While the specification calls for a 75W capable PoE++ source the dome generally had a demand of less than 30W. The IDIS supply has LEDs indicating 30, 60 and 90W being drawn and in all cases stayed within the 30W range. Measurements showed a demand of 29.2W during start-up dropping to 20.7 when static. PoE voltage of 53.4 volts using all four pairs. The internal heater was not activated even when the camera was operating in a temperature of -7°C so the maximum demand could not be measured. These readings are in line with the specified PoE power demand of 23.6W with heater and IR off to 35.6W with heater and IR both on.
The camera can be accessed using a web browser, but ideally you should first download the IDIS Discovery program. This will identify any IDIS devices on the network and allow them to be initialised, set up and managed. A strong password must be entered when first connecting. Chrome WebGuard is used to display the image window and from here you can call up the camera’s remote setup and this is shown in a separate browser window. Alternatively, the IDIS DirectIP feature of IDIS NVRs can be used to simplify the connection and setup process.
A powerful highperformance PTZ dome with excellent low light image performance that is easy to install and manage
(continued from p14)
A small cover plate, held in place by two captive crosshead screws gives access to the micro-SD edge storage card (up to 512GB), a reset switch is also included here, allowing a full factory reset to be performed.
The camera has 8 alarm inputs and 2 alarm outputs using a 15-way in-line connector within the pendant. A 6-way connector is used for audio input and output along with a CVBS video output that is NTSC / PAL selectable from the browser menu. A 3-pin connector is available for 24v and earth, then an RJ45 for the network completes the physical connections.
The remote set-up menu window is clearly laid out with the options down the left-hand side of the display with a menu tree consisting of:
Quick Setup: - basic setup options System, Network, Video, and Audio settings.
System: - General, Date & Time, and User / Group settings.
Network: - IP Address, FEN (DNS), Port / QoS, Bandwidth control, Security, IEEE802.1X.
Video: - Camera, Streaming, Webcasting, MAT (Motion Adaptive Transmission), Privacy Masking.
Audio: - Input / Output, Codec and volume settings.
Event Actions: - Alarm Out, E-mail, Remote callback, Audio alarm, FTP Upload, and Record.
Event: - Alarm In, Motion Detection, Trip Zone, Audio Detection, Tampering, and System Events.
Each of the menu options show an Overview page with the current settings for that section. A Save button beneath the settings pages is used to store any changes.
OSD settings can be set from the browser windows, these display on the browser display and when used with IDIS recorders, but possibly not with third-party recorders.
ONVIF is supported with good control from compliant third-party recording systems.
UK format Date and Time displays are supported with straightforward NTP server allocation.
Alarm audio messages can be stored as WAV or MP3 files for event use.
The zoom lens has a 36x range (6mm to 216mm) giving a field of view from Wide 57.36°(H), 33.12°(V) to Telephoto 1.92°(H), 1.08°(V).
Pan and tilt speed is controllable from 0.02 to 180°/s with preset calls at up to 240°/s. Up to 256 preset calls are supported and the preset accuracy was extremely impressive. Auto tracking has not been included in this model, but patterns and tour are available.
The very high sensitivity sensor (0.02 lux quoted) provides an HD 1920 x 1080-pixel image with very good video detail and colour rendition and a true wide dynamic range of 120dB.
The Smart IR illumination, which is specified to 350 metres, utilises motorised lenses that track the viewing lens zoom level to provide a wide to narrow angle infrared beam to suit the scene. This makes it ideal for illuminating distant subjects and prevents scene flooding when viewing at wide angle with close objects.
An image stabiliser function is included for extreme or exposed locations where camera shake may be a problem. In operation this removes approximately 12% of the view width and height to allow the digital position correction.
Up to 8 privacy zones can be allocated and these track the PTZ position well.
Motion and audio level detection along with trip wires and tampering detection are straightforward to configure and can be scheduled for a range of event actions.
A powerful high-performance PTZ dome with excellent low light image performance that is easy to install and manage.
NOTE: This PSI Product Test was carried out by an independent third party, not editorial staff. The manufacturer had no input in the review or the final result
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The build quality of this TI-BEP200 unit is fantastic and more than suitable for external and industrial applications
What’s in the box?
TI-BEP200 Unit
Quick Installation Guide 3 x IP67 weather rated cable glands Wrench Wall mount fixings
The 2-Port Industrial Outdoor Gigabit Active/Passive PoE+ Extender, model TIBEP200 from TRENDnet enables installers to extend up to two PoE+ signals an additional 100m for a total PoE distance of 200m or up to 500m with daisy chained units.
The industrial outdoor PoE+ extender conveniently extends a PoE, PoE+ or Passive PoE network connection and is the latest addition to the company’s Industrial PoE product line.
The build quality of this TI-BEP200 unit is fantastic, and more than suitable for external and industrial applications. The unit itself is of metal construction that is durable with
all Ethernet connections being recessed and encased within the housing.
The unit is fully IP67 rated when the IP67 weather rated cable glands are used appropriately at installation, with operating temperatures of -40° to +75°C. During testing, this unit was mounted externally in -6° to -14°C and exposed to snow and frozen rain.
The unit is an unmanaged POE extender and is powered inline from an existing POE switch or power supply. The unit does not require any external power connections nor does it have the availability for external power. The unit can easily be used on a standard POE, POE+ or POE++ switch to extend the range by another 100m providing a 200m distance from the switch to your connected device. Depending on the input to the injector will depend on the maximum POE watt budget available. To achieve the maximum consumption budget the required input watt must be from a POE++ switch providing an input of 90W.
The TI-BEP200 can be daisy chained with up to 4 extenders from the switch giving up to 500m of data transmission using full duplex
The unit is suitable for industrial application where external installation is required as it is constructed of heavy-duty material, enamel coated and IP67 rated with built in 4kV surge protector and surface earthing clamp
allowing for cameras, POE speakers, microwave transmitters etc to be connected to transmit data across this installation. With each unit connected there is diminishing returns on maximum watt output connected at the furthest point for example with a 90W input: at unit 1 there is 30W available, at unit 2 there is 24W available, at unit 3 there is 15W available and at unit 4 there is 9W available.
The unit was tested using a 90W input for maximum performance connected to multiple network devices. The unit allowed quality data transmission that was reliable when connecting this device to a network PTZ camera on the passive POE (LAN2) connection and a microwave radio transmitter utilising the POE+ (LAN3) connection on the device. The data transmission through the unit allowed for full control of the PTZ with no delay and wireless communication through the microwave transmitter when pulling 3 additional IP cameras.
The unit is suitable for industrial application where external installation is required as it is constructed of heavy-duty material, enamel coated and IP67 rated with built in 4kV surge protector and surface earthing clamp. This unit would also work well in other applications where inline network extension is required providing a suitable wattage output to power multiple different devices for example POE speakers, radio transmitters and PTZ cameras among other network based devices but consideration must be taken when daisy changing multiple POE extenders due to the diminishing wattage output and total wattage budget is also dependent on the input to the device.
What does 2023 have in store for the security and fire markets? What is in the pipeline for installers, distributors, manufacturers and end users over the next twelve months? PSI asked industry experts for their thoughts
The last twelve months have certainly been eventful with global supply chain problems, economic pressures and energy shortages as well as a winter of strikes in UK and weather that is either too hot or too cold. Despite all of this the security and fire sectors have continued to protect people and property and we’ve seen plenty of technology innovations come onto the market.
So what will the next twelve months bring us and what will be the technology trends? We asked industry experts for their take on what’s in store for 2023:
2022 has been a really encouraging year for the fire and security sector, with the industry again demonstrating solid resilience and buoyancy to various challenges. As we move into 2023, our industry faces one of the most critical periods that has been witnessed in recent times, with the final years before Openreach turn off the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).
By now we are all aware of December 2025 as the final deadline, however, there are already 650+ exchanges currently in or due to enter
‘stop sell’ in the coming months, with over six million premises being impacted. Once an exchange enters ‘stop sell’, the communication providers (BT, Sky, TalkTalk, etc) can migrate end-users to their new digital voice platforms at any time and this will happen much sooner than December 2025. Installers and end-users are already seeing the impact, as well as ARCs having to manage increased levels of PSTN line faults.
The fire and security sector is already suffering from a skills shortage – we need over 30,000 engineers just to continue to operate efficiently as an industry – and the longer legacy PSTN signalling devices are left installed, the bigger the challenge will be to get these legacy systems upgraded.
2023 must be the year that our sector puts in solid plans to migrate away from these legacy signalling devices, to ensure the continuation of service for over 500,000 premises that currently rely on PSTN for their alarm signalling. Failure to plan now will result in chaotic scenes and potential insurance challenges to claims, unless end-users have been made aware of the risks of not upgrading. 2023 can be the year of calm and investment if upgrades are planned on upcoming maintenance visits.
As we move into 2023, our industry faces one of the most critical periods that has been witnessed in recent times, with the final years before Openreach turn off the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)
PANEL
I believe there will be three major trends dominating the security and fire industry during 2023. These are:
Increased digitalisation –more and more systems will need to integrate efficiently. Historically, integration has relied heavily on the IT departments support, but as consumers demand more digital autonomy, the low code/no code smart home solutions in this sector will only grow further and drive the expectation from the user that making systems ‘talk’ to each other should be easier.
A continued focus on identity management – through mobile key solutions. Our physical security industry follows trends in the cyber security space and identity verification has been a leading trend in that area, this has come through threats of identity theft which come in the form of theft of a password. In our world a password is a credential, be that a key or a card. An extra step is required which is driving mobile based solutions.
Sustainability & compliance – compliance is essential and most people when asked will say that sustainability is important; the 2 should actually complement each other, and as businesses look to address potential impacts of the current energy crisis there is an opportunity to put in place the correct/best solutions not just for today but also for our future environments.
IoT and cloud-based/digital solutions will continue to be the key driver. Professional installers no longer need to be restricted by the limited functionality of basic, nonnative connectivity. As systems providers increasingly provide robust platforms for directto-cloud connections, these provide installers a wide and growing toolkit that helps them to make more money and run their businesses more effectively. These platforms give installers more power to remotely service their customers, better manage their connected estates, simplify system installation, and provide unified digital applications for both end users and installers. They drive efficiency and customer service gains across both commercial and residential applications.
In terms of what will be in the pipeline for installers, distributors, manufacturers and end users over the next twelve months, speaking from a manufacturing perspective, we see a continuing trend towards systems integration at system level. Where we anticipate there will always be a place for dedicated specialist systems, we do anticipate that the lines between intrusion, access and video will increasingly blur. The power of connectivity and cloud applications helps this, as does the market demand for solutions that accurately and instantly detect and deter. One “pipeline’ to the cloud now facilitates control and information flow across the entirety of stakeholders –instantly connecting the end users, the service providers and the expert response teams at any point action is required.
Security teams have been maximising the power of AI to reduce the frequency of false alarms from video surveillance or run effective forensic searches on object attributes. 2023 will see more advances in the use of AI to deliver insights to inform business decisions. More devices now have edge AI which is expanding the value that video cameras can bring outside of security operations.
The data generated by AI cameras creates meaningful business intelligence to help organisations gain a better understanding of their operations as well as their customers. For example, AI-based video solutions not only allow the detection and classification of objects and their attributes (e.g. a car versus a truck or bicycle) but also provide statistical data, such as the analysis of road usage by vehicle type during specific hours of the day, to assist infrastructure planning. Edge AI is now so advanced that it can also learn and classify specific properties or behaviours to answer individual customer needs - giving even more valuable insights.
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to intelligently adjust the environment based on occupancy. Given the increasing push for organisations to “go green,” the ability to reduce energy consumption is a major initiative within today’s environmentally conscious businesses.
The Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) in video surveillance combines the best of two worlds - AI video analytics and the Internet of Things - to turn CCTV cameras into smart devices that are no longer limited to security applications but instead help deliver answers to some of the world’s biggest challenges.
As we look at 2023, I think it’s important to address the macroeconomic ‘elephant in the room’. Right now, you have 90% of business executives who are concerned about market conditions, more than any other issue facing organisations today. As a result, they are balancing cautionary moves with smart investments that will enable their businesses to grow and improve efficiency.
For installers, this poses some unique challenges. Business leaders want their video technology to do more for them, beyond security. Talking about the value-adds an intelligent video installation can bring, is
a compelling argument for investment in uncertain times. Core to this next-level installation is an open platform that brings all other parts of the security ecosystem (and its data) together. Open platforms can integrate video with access control, perimeter control, and other IoT devices like heating and ventilation controls. It also works with legacy infrastructure, so installations can be done in stages, when time, and budgets allow.
The data collected by consolidating a building’s systems in entirety is what enables value-added insights into a site’s usage, busy routes, vehicles, or people entering and exiting, queues forming, and so forth. Business leaders in various departments can use this to inform their maintenance and cleaning, site or store layouts, to proactively improve the customer experience, to plan staff rotas, and minimise machinery downtime by predicting potential breakdown.
It is applicable in many industries including healthcare - where video can be used to improve patient outcomes - to logistics, where integration with IoT sensors can give insights on delivery times and package conditions. In this way, video becomes a core part of all business operations and not just a security tool. It gives business leaders accurate, real-time insights on what’s happening on-the-ground in their organisations. Something that’s vital in today’s climate.
Security leaders will increase their focus on cyber resilience. While protecting organisations against cyber threats will always be a core focus area for security programs, we can expect an increased focus on cyber resilience, which expands beyond protection to include recovery and continuity in the event of a cyber incident. It’s not only investing resources in protecting against cyber threats; it’s investing in the people, processes, and technology to mitigate impact and continue operations in the event of a cyber incident.
Security teams need to protect against increasingly sophisticated spear phishing and social engineering attacks. The sophistication of recent spear phishing and social engineering attacks make attribution of threat actors increasingly difficult, which makes it more challenging for organisations to properly defend against them. Next year, expect to see more sophisticated social engineering attacks utilising emerging deep-fake and AI technologies.
Continuing instability across the software supply chain will provide a rich environment for large-scale attacks. We’ve seen major supply chain attacks over the past few years and the software supply chain has only grown in importance. A recent executive order on the security of the software supply chain for government vendors is a step in the right direction. But we need to see more companies focus on strengthening their security practices, from considering a zero-trust approach to further securing infrastructure services (e.g., code signing, PKI, and hardening the release process). Increasing dependencies on third parties will also require more focus on security controls throughout the software supply chain, such as instituting third-party risk assessments, identity and access management, and timely patching.
Increasing reliance on cloud vendors could expand companies’ attack surfaces. With the flexibility offered by the cloud, more organisations are layering cloud technology into new places and enabling unique use cases with cloud technologies. However, in doing so, they’re also expanding their attack surfaces and will also need to come up with new strategies to deploy cloud security technologies and protection strategies. IT leaders will also need to have a strong process in place to evaluate these vendors and understand the technologies they use on the backend.
“Given the increasing push for organisations to “go green,” the ability to reduce energy consumption is a major initiative within today’s environmentally conscious businesses”
(continued from p25)
Justin Hawkesford –Comelit-PACWe are in a constantly evolving industry and in the year to come, we will see many changes, led by end user preferences, in our approach to product development, installation, integration and remote monitoring.
This is for the majority led by the transition to ‘hybrid’ working, which may be attractive to the workforce, but it creates security vulnerabilities and may delay digital transformation projects.
TRansomware attacks themselves are already an individual’s and businesses’ nightmare. This year, we saw cybergangs threatening to publicly publish their targets’ data if a ransom isn’t paid, and we expect this trend to only grow in 2023. This puts people’s personal memories at risk and poses a double risk for businesses. Both the loss of sensitive files, plus a data breach, can have severe consequences for their business and reputation.
For businesses, successful ransomware attacks can quickly ramp up to millions of dollars in recovery costs caused by a pause of operations, reimaging devices and incident response programs, and operational costs with hospitals not being able to conduct surgeries or factories halting their production. New global sanctions introduced this year could put businesses affected by ransomware in a sticky situation, as they face potential prosecution if they pay ransom demands to groups listed on sanctions lists, for example, ransomware groups based in Russia.
We’ve been living in a scamdemic for some time now, and there are no signs of a slow-down. Cybergroups go to many lengths to tap into people’s worst fears to deceive them into sending money or giving up personal data because it is easier to make people vulnerable than hacking their devices. Next year, we expect to see attacks playing with people’s economic and environmental concerns. Scams are not just flooding people’s inboxes in the form of phishing emails, but are bombarding people’s text messaging apps, and are keeping their phones ringing.
With constantly improving techniques, the person becomes the weakest link. One trend expected for 2023 is social media account takeovers leading to impersonation attacks on online friends.
Avast researchers further predict the already professionalised business of cybercrime will become more sophisticated. Cybercrime has been a growing business for years, but we have started to see open-source malware become more readily available and distributed on platforms like Discord. People, including young people with less technical knowledge, can now get their hands on malware and may be more inclined to join the dark side given current economic hardships. We have also seen criminal groups recruiting and paying people money to carry out DDoS attacks, or install ransomware on their employers’ devices, for example. Not only will we see more malicious activities thanks to software as a service, the distribution of software to carry out DDoS attacks, and easily accessible open-source malware, but this could be steppingstones towards a career as a cybercriminal.
Over 80% of UK firms adopted this way of life in 2022, but their technology and security struggled to cope with the switch. Despite this, securing the hybrid workforce is low on the to-do list, and we have a duty of care to highlight the need to prioritise.
Upgrading from legacy technologies is an important factor in ensuring a business is equipped for hybrid working. Companies should be concerned and be mindful of the growing link between physical, security and cybercrime, and have the latest systems in place to mitigate any threats.
Our security industry needs to proactively demonstrate the solutions available, to help businesses improve their security measures, both from a physical and cyber perspective.
It’s important to note for our customers that these changes do not need to be costly or involve major disruption. Small changes can make a significant difference, and often flexible work programmes can be designed to incorporate bespoke requirements.
By example, cloud based services are rapidly growing, helping businesses improve scalability, promote growth and facilitate agile choices. And again, in a world of hybrid working, this moves away from a reliance on devices on site, and instead can focus on being able to monitor activity using any device, from any location.
As part of this development journey, if plans do not include mobile, they are not finished.
There is also greater use of AI technology, especially with visual surveillance systems and intruder alarms – these all becoming more advanced to cut false alarms – allowing optimal time to evaluate a risk, respond, remediate and potentially avoid evacuation, damage or loss.
What this all amounts to is even more of a focus on the integration capability of products and services as we move into 2023, in security and fire safety. Together, it increasingly allows systems to communicate and act intelligently in a networked fashion.
Cities, towns and buildings alongside Facility and Security teams who manage sites are becoming more responsible. As an industry we need to support them, and constantly work in partnership to deliver security in design through installation to management and maintenance support, ensuring buildings and their occupants are safe and secure, both in the physical and virtual world.
“Companies should be concerned and be mindful of the growing link between physical, security and cybercrime”IT SECURITY
(continued from p26)
In 2023 we’ll see a lot more integration with third party products that are within or complimentary to the access control and security market.
Whether that’s CCTV, visitor management, business information or fencing systems, biometric readers or face recognition technology, the integrations will be streamlined so that third party products can communicate more effectively.
The simplification of end user interfaces will be an important factor in this development so that multiple systems can be controlled easily from a single point. If an operator can see everything that’s going on without having to look in lots of different places, not only is it more cost-effective but it will save time.
Being able to communicate with systems that aren’t connected directly to us is an important part of integration technology. The provision of more consolidated platforms, allowing more devices to be controlled securely, opens up a lot of possibilities when looking at how customers can use our products as part of their businesses. The data could be used in relation to energy savings or monitoring office capacity, for example.
A lot of customers run multi-tenanted offices and the continuation of the touchless end user experience for security and access is something which we will see expand. People will be able to walk into a building, open doors, use the lifts, and access areas using biometrics without physically having to touch anything.
Enhanced remote support for customers will also continue and integrators will have all the information they need to fix any problems before they have even entered a building, making for a quick and seamless service so that any disruption is kept to a minimum.
There is a positive outlook for the physical security technology and fire safety industries as we move into 2023, still seen as two disciplines with increasingly integrated opportunities.
From a security perspective, as professionals in those very supply chains will know, it’s a market that evolves remarkably fast.
The presence of artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), the cloud, and biometrics is now such that we are moving on to the next stages of utilising technology for wider business operational purposes. Some more than others as we have seen the significant growth for networked cameras.
Much like the systems being installed, security is moving away from its silo and integrating itself into wider business operations.
A continuing trend in physical security projects is the integration of atypical sensors into AIoT (Artificial Intelligence of Things) ecosystems. Companies are looking to generate and benefit from data generated from video sources.
While traditional security systems do not natively include nonvideo-based environment sensors, there is a growing demand from endusers for additionalw sensors to be integrated into cameras and video management systems (VMS) to measure data such as temperature, humidity, smoke, particulates, water and carbon monoxide. Arguably, the divide between building, city, and video management is shrinking.
In fire safety, the significant focus and implications of the Fire Safety Act in 2021, followed swiftly by the Building Safety Act 2022, will continue to be felt. This is particularly as the expectations and requirements for compliance come into effect on 23 January 2023.
With the importance of fire safety across all properties, both domestic and non-domestic, comes the increased demands and expectations on responsible persons. Here the need for qualifications to ensure they are competent at what they do, will gather apace in the year to come.
Aside from the physical and compliance trends, blurring from our personal aspirations as ‘belief-driven buyers’, influences from sustainability initiatives and targets are now impacting upon and driving decisions.
Leaders across disciplines are increasingly exercising practices to support their own or corporate sustainability strategy, encompassing environmental, social and economic sustainability. Certainly from our perspective, we are taking a holistic approach to act across every aspect of our business.
We have already seen how small changes, including use of LED lighting at our head office, or switching our engineers’ vehicle
“Much like the systems being installed, security is moving away from its silo and integrating itself into wider business operations”
We have all seen it – a mugshot shared on the news asking ‘have you seen this person’ but the image is fuzzy, hard to make out and it’s not very clear to anyone who it actually is.
Across the UK, many of the Public Space CCTV cameras that are found within our streets are no longer fit for purpose. It’s not just about crime reduction and supporting police with ongoing cases – although that is a big part of it – but it’s also about how we can create greener areas that are built around the needs of residents and communities.
Many of the cameras that are currently installed across the UK work on a manual basis where an operator needs to assess what appears on screen and move the camera in a bid to capture an event occurring. This relies on the operator spotting an event taking place with no lapse in concentration –something we cannot guarantee.
Additionally, most of the CCTV cameras currently in place do
the police, and create an opportunity to upskill operators removing manual, repetitive processes. This trend is likely to continue into 2023.
The multi-sensor cameras monitor a full 360-view of the area with a clearer image achieved through enhanced sensors and use enhanced built-in AI technology to increase functionality and decrease the total cost of ownership over having multiple cameras and hardware carry out the same operation. The cameras also provide analytics for both councils and private operators, allowing them to make informed decisions on issues such as rerouting traffic and improving public spaces to engage with visitors and accessibility.
The cameras can integrate with smart city platforms and other technologies, such as footfall monitoring, air quality sensors and intelligent camera analytics to monitor low emissions zones. Likewise, the cameras can detect times of the day when traffic on particular routes is heavy, meaning steps can be taken to allow for diversions, easing traffic flow and reducing carbon emissions.
has expanded its PAC Access Control Range with the 511DCi IP One Door Controller. This feature-rich access controller comes with high security as standard
After listening to installers, distributors, and specifiers who were all explicit in the need for an alternative single door controller Comelit-PAC has launched a new controller that allows them to be more competitive in today’s challenging market conditions with a solution that can deliver superb features, strong reliability, and high security as standard.
The solution is quick and easy to design, quote, and install. It also means PAC can be utilised both for new installations and the retrofit of any other existing systems utilising the existing cabling and reader infrastructure. All of this, says the company, delivered with a price point that will certainly make security installers pay attention.
PSI caught up with Steve Riley, Division Director Comelit-PAC, to find out more about the technology and the benefits for installers and their customers:
Why did you develop the new controller? This is a significant launch, in delivering a product that comes with the renowned quality that is to be expected from PAC, the company that pioneered proximity access control.
The significance of the new controller is that it can deliver true intelligence to every door, that will continue to evolve in its integration capability, software and range to meet the expectations of our discerning customers.
Made for the digital IP world, it supports a distributed access control architecture, and combines the localised assurance of a door access decision with the ability to scale in numbers to support any application.
There are clear benefits for the designer, installer and distributor, especially with regards to offering a product that will reduce cost of design, specification and install time, which is all welcome news in the current climate.
What would be a typical use case for this unit?
Ideal for commercial properties, key features of the DCi one door controller include its expansion capability via either additional network points or by utilising PAC’s 485 Bus
with 512 DC controllers, allowing up to 47 doors from one IP point locally.
Overall, a PAC Access Control System can support more than 2,000 Doors, and 75,000 Cardholders, making it suitable for any installations from a single door all the way through large enterprise level systems.
What are the main benefi installers and why should they specify it?
The new PAC 511 DCi Single Door IP Access Controller has been designed with equal capability of the unrivalled 512 DCi 2 door controller, with the innovative advantage of supporting one door rather than two, on either a read in/read out or read in/ request to exit basis.
Available installation-ready in either an enclosure with a highly efficient 50W PSU, or as a DIN Mount option, it is fully integrated into a PAC eco-system. This allows for flexibility of installation where controllers can be centrally located, be semi-distributed to “wings” of a building, or fully distributed to each individual door – and a combination of all three on a single system.
This makes for an efficient systems design allowing the most cost-effective of installations. It also means that in a retrofit scenario, it doesn’t matter what type of existing system is being replaced, the current cabling can be reused, which is fundamental in lowering the installers cost on such an installation.
It is designed to simply plug into the ethernet and sit discretely on the wall above the door or in the ceiling space. Furthermore, cabling between reader and controller can be standard alarm cable which is 3-4 times lower cost than some of the Belden cables required on other access control systems. This is a huge bonus where controllers are centrally located in a server room, or plant room etc.
Comelit-PAC
“The significance of the new controller is that it can deliver true intelligence to every door, that will continue to evolve in its integration capability, software and range to meet the expectations of our discerning customers”
As standard, this one door controller comes with PAC’s exclusive One Touch Test feature to allow single engineer commissioning, and a 5 second test confirming all cabling between the controller, reader, and lock is correct and working.
What are the main benefits for customers? The real benefit for customers is the focus on high security as standard, especially with its secure enclosers and tamper alarms. Even after work programmes are complete, we have ensured monitoring capability to guarantee continued high security.
The 511 DCi 1 Door Controller also supports a vast range of reader, card and token formats, including PAC OPS – PAC’s market leading AntiCloning Technology.
It has been designed with inbuilt intelligence for offline working continuity, presenting powerful reliability, backed with a long-life and five year warranty.
It’s capability to design round the clock security is also a key feature, with a quality power supply with battery back-up.
The added advantage of the door controller is its flexibility and scalability to grow as work programmes and arguably budgets allow. It can support a wide range of integrations with third party products and readers and has been specifically designed to work with alarm, fire safety, video surveillance and building management systems.
There are also a wide range of features included in our software as standard such as Card designer, Occupancy Management, Managed Entrance, and Guard Tour.
Is IP integration the future of access control linking it to alarm, fire and building systems?
It’s already here for some, and for others, certain smart IP integration between systems remains the future of security.
In a world that has shifted past the ‘new normal’ into the general adoption of hybrid working it makes a significant difference with a new expectation for a seamless security experience, once that can
be securely accessed remotely via mobile phone or smart technology from anywhere.
Here, integrated solutions play an integral part for executives searching for more efficient cloud-based security processes across their organisation. It is up to our sector collectively, to be proactive and have the solutions ready.
Equally where an on-site or self-hosted deployment makes more sense for an organisation - but they don’t have the requirements to go to a PSIM solution - the Access Control Platform becomes the ‘glue’ that integrates the various disparate systems onsite into a consolidated building and security system.
It becomes a ‘single pane of glass’ application for the majority of system operator and management functions.
Comelit-PAC for one is constantly looking to the future. Innovation through continuous investment in technology finds an outlet in the design of new solutions, dedicated to improving the quality of an integrated everyday experience by maximising simplicity and functionality.
As the practice of security integration becomes more sophisticated, the term will likely come to indicate an even more comprehensive approach to linking different systems and disciplines.
Evolving technology means that today, cloud based services can be combined with an integrated approach that will lay the foundation for a more secure future, with resilience built in so that offline capabilities are such that a combined systems operation is unaffected. It’s critical to keep an eye toward the future when implementing and integrating new security technologies.
Within this planning and design phases, adoption of an app, such as MyComelit, which is carefully designed to support users looking to remotely manage security and fire safety systems from a single cloud platform will prove most useful.
In considering each of these technologies as part of a long-term strategy in the new world, we can work with organisations to understand requirements for integration, for simple installation solutions that can provide operating efficiencies. This must be achieved without compromising on an ability to offer essential peace of mind security and fire safety, on a continuous and remote basis.
“The 511 DCi 1 Door Controller supports a vast range of reader, card and token formats, including PAC OPS – PAC’s market leading Anti-Cloning Technology”
What would be a typical project for you?
Typical projects would include control room upgrades or centralisation projects encompassing the likes of CCTV, Access Control, IP Intercoms, Fire Detection and Wireless Networking as well as LAN and WAN.
I am also responsible for open tenders, managing the bid team, the overall quality response and the final commercial sign off. Rather than open tenders, I much prefer working directly with client and end users; albeit there may be third party involvement such as an external consultant. Our approach is to work with the client in a true partnership to ensure that their requirements are met whilst still trying to deliver best value; particularly in the current climate which is seeing increasing product and labour costs.
It is important to separate best value from simply being a cost driven exercise. As through collaborative working, we gain a greater insight into what truly matters to the client from an operational perspective. We strive to ensure that these are fulfilled. Ultimately, this often leads to organisational savings through utilising the technologies available.
Do you have any ‘go to’ technology and manufacturers?
We try and remain relatively manufacture agnostic however, we don’t try and be everything to everyone. From experience, we have found that working with a smaller number of enterprise level manufacturers and key supply chain partners, not only leads to enhanced project implementation but it also ensures that we can maintain high level maintenance and service support as engineers are fully trained and experienced in the solutions we deliver. We are always investigating the market to ensure that we are offering optimum solutions and this had led to new partnerships particularly in the field of cloud solutions.
What is the best thing about working in this industry?
As a technology driven industry, things are constantly changing. I enjoy the challenge of taking on board previously undeliverable objectives where technology has advanced and now allows a viable solution to an otherwise unachievable obstacle. I have a short attention span and the fast paced and dynamic nature of the industry means that you can’t stand still and I’m always interested in liaising with key partners. It is also interesting how the industry
Security life with Kieron Stead of Reflex Systems in South Yorkshire
Name: Kieron Stead
Job title: Commercial Director
Time in security/fire: Over 20 years
Company: Reflex Systems Location: South Yorkshire
Areas of expertise: Qualified design and delivery of integrated fire and security solutions with ongoing service support and maintenance
Certifications: NACOSS NSI Gold, BAFE, ConstructionLine, Chas, SafeContractor. Also part of the BSIA and FIA
is moving away from traditional security deliverables and we are seeing the technology being deployed in different environments and being used for things such as health and safety and business process management.
Is third party certification beneficial? Third party certification is important as it demonstrates that certain minimum requirements have been met and this gives clients confidence that they are dealing with an accredited company that is capable of managing and delivering their requirements. There are a lot of companies out there that don’t hold such certification and often deliver standards way below than what is expected and this gives our industry a bad reputation. I think
“We are always investigating the market to ensure that we are offering optimum solutions”
“My ultimate fantasy security product would be a VMS / PSIM which could magically interface with any security product past or future which had a one-off capital cost. Failing that, something that can clone good engineers would be handy as well!”
third party certification gives reassurances and shows that the business operates at a certain professional level but I also think that this should be in conjunction with manufacturer training and certification as quite often organisations deliver products and solutions for which they have no specific accreditation or skillsets within the business which often leads to issues for the clients.
Do you think there is an engineer skills shor tage? Any trouble recruiting? 100%; I think there is a skills shortage. Due to continued success in the marketplace, we have been looking for additional resources for a number of months now to add to the team. Unfortunately, the higher-level resources available are demanding premium packages which for any business is a balancing act to ensure that you can still remain competitive in the market place. This is why Reflex has chosen to often employ personnel based on transferable skillsets who have the right attitude and aptitude and more importantly fit within our business ethos. We can then develop and offer them the professional training which not only enhances the individual but also ensures that they are working to our high standards.
Are there any common requests from customers that give you problems?
One of the biggest problems we are facing currently is holding prices and quotes for any prolonged period of time. The volatile pricing within the marketplace is making it more difficult for our clients to budget longer term which is why we are trying to work with them as closely as possible and to keep them abreast of any proposed price changes or potential lead times on deliveries which may affect upcoming projects. Despite being in the industry over 20 years, I also find that many clients will often find additional budget late in the financial year and delivering this within timescales can often be a challenge.
What impact has smart/home automation had on your business?
We found it has had very little impact directly on our business apar t from it has made people more aware of relevant technology that is out there. I think as people embrace it more in
their home life it is making them more open to using similar technology in the workplace as they can see the benefits. As people become more accustomed to artificial intelligence within the home, such as Amazon Alexa, people are becoming more confident in using the technology in the security arena. A prime example of this is the advances that have been made in analytics; particularly in the CCTV world; where by the learning technology is assisting operators in being more alarm driven and responsive as opposed to attempting to view a multitude of cameras.
What would make your job easier?
If you could cut me in half - it would make my life a lot easier! But on a serious note, it would be if we could work in an open and honest true partnership with all our clients. To us, communication is absolutely imperative and I have found that engaging with clients often means that minor issues can be quickly addressed & resolved and prevents escalating into a major problem.
What is your ultimate/fantasy electronic security/fire product?
My ultimate fantasy security product would be a VMS / PSIM which could magically interface with any security product past or future which had a one-off capital cost. Failing that, something that can clone good engineers would be handy as well!
What advice would you give to a younger version of yourself?
The best advice I would give a younger version of myself is that “it is impor tant to make mistakes but it is more important to learn from those mistakes”. At the time, it doesn’t always feel like that but I still feel that is the best way to learn. You won’t always be right in the decision that you make but if you can honestly say that you made them for the right reasons then you can learn from the outcomes and as my father taught me, it is important to have integrity and honesty in business.
Will England ever win the World Cup again? Probably not in my life time (and judging by recent performances, probably not in my children’s either) but I’ll be far happier if England win the rugby world cup in my life time again as I am more of a egg shaped ball fan than the round version.
If you won £25,000 what would you do with the money?
If I won £25,000 now, I would book another family trip back to Disneyworld - as I think that is about what it cost me the first time round. Failing that, I suspect it would now be something boring like a new car for my wife.
For many tradespeople, their livelihood relies on a van and the tools stored inside. In response to the rising threat of van theft, Kelly Friel — Digital Product Manager at industrial tool and PPE supplier Zoro — shares her top tips with PSI on how to protect businesses from criminal activity
Whether it’s used as a primary mode of transport, delivery vehicle, or mobile storage unit (or all of the above), a van is an absolutely essential part of tradespeople’s day-to-day operations. As it often carries expensive tools and equipment that most jobs are impossible without, it’s therefore essential that owners know how to prevent such a key asset from being stolen, robbed, or vandalised.
Recent research actually suggests that van theft is on the rise. For instance, Direct Line found that in the six-month period from April to November 2021 alone, more than £46 million worth of tools were reported stolen from vans across the country. Despite this threat, however, 56% of tradespeople admitted to leaving tools in their vehicle overnight and 59% didn’t have specific insurance in place for stolen equipment. So, below we’ve collated some of our top tips for preventing tool theft, and they’re not just for tradespeople: even as a professional security installer servicing clients’ vans, sometimes it’s possible to neglect your own vehicle!
Unsurprisingly, a van’s side and back doors tend to be the most vulnerable parts of the vehicle. They may help tradespeople quickly access tools during a job, but they have also made one technique popular among thieves in recent years: the ‘peel and steal’ method. This involves criminals hanging onto the top of the side door with their fingers, pressing their knee into the door, and slowly bending it back to reveal the tools inside. This method is preferred by many criminals because it requires no tools, meaning if they get caught, they won’t receive extra charges for coming to the scene equipped.
The first way you can prevent the ‘peel and steal’ method is by replacing the van’s factoryfitted locks with high-quality security deadlocks on the top of the van doors. However, it’s also wise to upgrade the rest of the factory-fitted locks in the van, as this helps to protect it from more traditional break-in methods too.
For van owners who are concerned about forgetting to lock up (for example, if they
Direct Line found that in the six-month period from April to November 2021 alone, more than £46 million worth of tools were reported stolen from vans across the country
Classic siren alarms are best for tradespeople who park their van at home or are even concerned about attempted thefts while on the job, as these alert everyone in the surrounding area of a break-in
have to open and close the doors frequently throughout the day) you can also fit a slam lock. This reassures them that their van will lock automatically every time the doors shut. Plus, as slam locks allow different doors to open independently, they’ll be protected from any opportunist thieves passing by too. Just remember to never leave the keys inside!
Locks aren’t always able to prevent thieves from breaking into a vehicle and stealing the contents inside. So, fitting an alarm system creates a second line of defence that can help catch them in the act, and often make it easier to press charges if it comes to it. Classic siren alarms are best for tradespeople who park their van at home or are even concerned about attempted thefts while on the job, as these alert everyone in the surrounding area of a break-in. However, it’s often advised to back this up with a silent alarm that sends an alert to your mobile phone, especially if the van has to be parked at a separate office or any other remote location.
In most van break-ins, the side panel doors and windows act as the key entry points for perpetrators. So, as well as locks and alarm systems, it’s important to protect and conceal the vehicle’s windows. Firstly, tinted windows can prevent potential thieves from seeing any valuable tools left inside, which is often all the motivation they need to attempt an
opportunistic theft. Steel grilles can also prevent criminals from smashing the windows and entering the van this way.
Sometimes, even just the knowledge that you have security systems in place can deter thieves from targeting your van. So, as well as tinting and reinforcing the windows, make sure to add stickers and other signage declaring that the vehicle is fitted with an alarm system, dash cam, or even technology like a GPS tracker should the van be broken into or tampered with in any way. These security devices can be hard for criminals to disarm or remove, which helps to deter them from stealing and selling the van or the tools inside for a quick profit. Parking the van with its back or side doors up against a wall (preferably in a well-lit area with plenty of CCTV) also minimises the chance of opportunist thieves trying the peel-and-steal method.
Setting up immobilisers like a steering lock, electrical engine immobiliser, or wheel clamp can also help to prevent the theft of the van itself. This way, even if a criminal does manage to successfully break in, they won’t be able to make a quick getaway with the vehicle and its valuable contents. Not only this, but even if they find a way to remove or disarm these safety features, they will be slowed down enough for the security alarms to go off and for any onlookers or the owner themselves to call the police.
Finally, as well as reinforcing and securing the vehicle, one of the more obvious yet effective precautions against tool theft is assessing how valuable equipment is stored. Firstly, removing any tools from the vehicle and storing them somewhere more secure overnight instantly makes a van less appealing to thieves. Not only this, but storing tools in a separate location means that even if the van does get stolen, a business can continue its essential duties as the tradesperson still has access to the tools they need.
To make tool storage as easy as possible, it’s best to organise equipment into large, sturdy boxes so they can simply be lifted and transferred to a garage, shed, or storeroom at the end of each day. Using security boxes with a padlock also adds an extra layer of protection to keep the tools as safe as possible, as can keeping a labelled inventory of all your equipment for insurance purposes should the need arise.
The competition aims to help tackle the growing engineering skills gap and attract and retain the next generation of security and fire systems installers
Engineers of Tomorrow is designed to raise the profile of engineering apprenticeships and the opportunities they represent within the sector. Taking place at the IFSEC each year, winners of regional heats compete in a live installation challenge at the show. The process involves two separate competitions – one for electronic security systems, and the other for fire systems.
The winners of Engineers of Tomorrow then proceed to the esteemed WorldSkills UK (WSUK)
LIVE competition – the nation’s premier skills, apprenticeships and careers event. For the first time this year, both the electronic security and fire competitions were represented at WSUK –
As part of this column you can ask David questions directly about training and apprenticeships. We will aim, to publish the question and answer in the next column. If you want to participate in this, then email info@skillsforsecurity.org.uk
How much is the ECS Systems Operative course and card?
At present, SfS is the only organisation offering a systems operative level 2 course, and this is priced competitively at £100 plus VAT. The cards and assessments cost another £150, and this is payable to ECS.
How do I sign up to do the course before applying?
info@skillsforsecurity.org.uk – the team there will give you all the info you need to know
underlining the value of both competitions to the wider UK skills industry.
The competition aims to help tackle the growing engineering skills gap and attract and retain the next generation of security and fire systems installers. While the 2020 competition was unfortunately unable to go ahead, due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, 2021’s competition saw a record number of entries take part, despite the challenges and restrictions of the global pandemic.
Since its conception, we have had over 600 apprentices enter the WSUK and EoT competitions to further their learning experience and career prospects.
The first stage of the competition took place at IFSEC and FIREX in London in May 2022, with the finals taking place in Barking and Dagenham College in November. Winners of the WSUK event were announced at this year’s Security Excellence Awards in the London Hilton Parklane.
David Scott, Managing Director of Skills for Security, said: : “To have both security and fire competitions represented at WSUK this year is another fantastic result for the event and industry. WSUK the gives opportunity to shine a positive light on the security and fire engineering sector as a career of choice, attracting new young talent into the industry. It puts the industry on a pedestal alongside the Navy, BAE, NHS and other major sectors and showcases the industry as a
fun, technology-driven industry where learning never stops.”
The winners of this year’s show were announced live by Channel 4 presenter Steph McGovern on the 25th of November. The winners of this year’s competitions are:
1. Tomas Pavilonis (The Focus Training Group)
2. Cody Moody (Belfast Metropolitan College/ ViS)
3. Gianluca Mori (Banham Academy /Banham Security)
1. Alexander Wallace (South Eastern Regional College / Building Protection Services)
2. Owen Nelson (Skills for Security/EFT Systems)
3. Callen Logan (Skills for Security /Connelly’s Security Systems)
Well done also to those who were highly commended across the two competitions, who
Like all years, there are many sponsors involved in providing a range of support to organise and run such competitions. This year’s sponsors are: Skills for Security, Texecom, CSL, Hik Vision, Apollo, C-Tech, IFSEC, FIREX, BSIA, BAFE, NSI and SSAIB.
Want to become a sponsor and support the
“To have both security and fire competitions represented at WSUK this year is another fantastic result for the event and industry”
An overview of some of the products we have featured in PSI independent test reports over recent months. Manufacturers and distributors have no input in the testing or the final results so you can rest assured that these are genuine reports and not based on external influences.
Part of the Bosch Flexidome IP 3000i IR range, this fixed dome camera is impact resistant to IK10 with IP66 protection rating and has a 1/2.9” 5MP CMOS sensor, 3.2 to 10mm motorised lens and a range of “Essential” video analytic functions. It has a diameter of 137mm and height of 122.5mm. It has an operating temperature of30°C to +50°C.
Review: A very capable dome camera with a wide range of configuration options. Score: 8.5/10
The DC-S6283HRXL dome is an external IP66, IK10 rated, 1/2” CMOS 2MP Lightmaster PTZ ONVIF compliant dome with 36 times zoom lens and long range IR capability.
Review: A well featured PTZ dome with simple setup, excellent optical performance and enhanced IR illumination. Score: 8/10
Promoted as a 5MP WDR Starlight Varifocal IP67 network bullet camera, the unit is based on a 1/ 2.7” sensor with a 2.7 to 13.5mm auto-focus motorized zoom lens giving a horizontal angle of
Review: A versatile solidly built external bullet camera with a wide range of configuration settings. The security settings allow the camera to be suitably locked-down but the lack of a forced “strong” password is a concern; perhaps a future firmware update will remedy this. Score: 8/10
The 3xLogic VX-VT-56 is an IP66 bullet style external thermal camera with a 56° horizontal field of view. It has motion detection including video content analysis and temperature alarm capabilities built in.
Review: A very compact thermal bullet camera that is straightforward to install and set up. t is capable of detecting scene intrusion and creating alarms regardless of light levels and weather conditions. A variety of specialist analytics is included. Score: 8/10
This IP67, 8MP bullet camera is from the Hikvision ColorVu range. It is designed for 24-hour colour imagery with warm-white visible LED illumination support for zero light scenes. A wide 2.8mm lens version is standard with 4mm and 6mm options.
Review: An extremely sensitive 8MP high-resolution camera with advanced detection capabilities, 24-hour colour capability and a wide range of security features.
The Illustra Flex multi-sensor camera provides four 4MP camera views from a single location over a single network cable using just one IP address. The IP66 cameras can be flexibly positioned within the housing for full 360° coverage.
An interesting approach to the provision of multi-camera highly detailed wide-angle views from a single housing with straightforward installation and configuration. Score: 8/10
This internal 360° view camera designed for ceiling or wall mounting, is based on a 12MP sensor and provides a fisheye image with a wide range of configuration options.
Review: A very powerful compact fisheye view camera compatible with a wide range of video management systems with simplicity of installation and good support documentation.
Score: 8.5/10
The DH-IPC-HDW3549H-AS-PV-S3 is a 5MP full-colour fixed-focal eyeball WizSense network camera. It is the latest in the company’s TiOC (three- in-one camera) line which integrates 24/7 full-colour monitoring, active deterrence and AI into one solution.
Review: A very capable Eyeball style dome that has a wide range of features to help detect and deter intruders, with extensive cyber security settings. When used with the Dahua Smart NVR, the camera supports intelligent search capabilities. Score: 8.5/10
Wisenet – PNM-C7083RVD
The PNM-C7083RVD multi-directional camera is a dual dome device that provides two 2MP views that can be individually set to suit locations while requiring only one network lead. The cameras provide AI object classification analytics and low light operation. They are IP66 & NEMA4X environmentally rated with an IK10 impact protection rating.
Review: An impressive and very flexible dual camera unit that is easy to install, configure and maintain. Score: 9/10
The AX Pro can be purchased as a kit or individual components. The reviewed system was a DS-PWA96-Kit1-WE kit with the seven parts as listed. It is a wireless Grade 2 alarm system that can be used stand-alone or integrated into a management system. Additional modules are available to link to home automation products and systems. The DS-PWA96-M-WE panel supports up to 32 areas and 96 zones.
Review: A compact wireless alarm system with extended battery duration and flexible remote management. The product is well suited to central monitoring with a range of protocols supported. A reasonably wide and increasing range of detector types with scope for integration with home-automation systems. Score: 8.5/10
This tamperproof and weatherproof contact extends perimeter protection applications to securing sheds, garages, gates etc, with remote voice push notification alerts via the smart device apps, HomeControl2.0 and ProControl+. Featuring an IP66 rating, this discreet and versatile Grade 2 device is described as easy to fit and calibrate.
Review: The product is constructed very well. The casing is made of a hard polycarbonate with a deep grey (anthracite) finish which makes the door contact look great. The overall performance of the product did not disappoint during testing as it managed to maintain a high signal strength at all times as well as being very responsive. Score: 8.5/10
The Ajax MotionCam Outdoor is an IP 55 rated combined external PIR sensor with inbuilt capture camera for use with the latest Ajax Hubs that support visual verification. The detector has settings for the image resolution and number of pictures sent on alarm. After dark the unit has two high-intensity infrared LEDs to provide illumination for the camera’s monochrome mode.
Review: A very simple to install and manage, extended battery life external PIR detector for Ajax based Hub 2 systems, with the advantage of visual verification. Score: 9/10
Eaton – i-on10 KP
The i-on Compact Security System is a Grade 2 wired intrusion detection panel with 10 zones and up to 10 users and 4 keypads. It is promoted as being suitable for simple, entry-level burglar alarm systems to protect homes and small commercial installations.
Review: A straightforward and engineer friendly grade 2 wired alarm system with a wide range of configuration options and simplicity of installation. Good documentation is supplied with the product. Score: 9/10
MiniAir 2 is a single-path signalling solution that utilises a 4G/LTE-M path to signal an alarm from a protected premises to an ARC. It comes with a standby SIM as a backup to safeguard the system, if the active SIM fails.
Review: The product overall is great. It is a perfect solution to the PSTN switch over/off as it means that existing systems that rely solely on PSTN signalling can continue to do so without the expense of upgrading the customers control equipment. Score: 9/10
Capture motion detectors are intended for use in a wide variety of professional security applications. With a choice of EN Grade 2 wired or wireless connectivity, wall or ceiling mounting, and a choice of detection technologies including dual element, quad element or dual technology sensing, Capture suits a wide variety of security environments.
Review: The ease of connection with a range of switchable, built-in EOL resistor values simplifies the installation process. The potential for device branding will likely be appealing to independent installers. Score: 9/10
The LightSYS+ is an alarm system that can be configured for Grade 2 or Grade 3 systems and supports up to 32 partitions, 512 zones and 500 users. It is structured around an RS485 bus architecture and is supported by a wide range of optional modules including GSM 2G, 3G and 4G, Audio messaging, Listen & Speak units, and VUpoint IP cameras for visual verification
Review: A comprehensive alarm system which can be configured for small to large, single or multiple occupancy installations in residential, retail, or small to large commercial business properties. Score: 8.5/10
The Videoloft Cloud Adapter 8 is an eight channel bridging device which equips new and legacy video surveillance systems with Videoloft’s offsite cloud video solution.
Review: It is a very cost effective solution for those looking to update existing systems, upgrade the overall storage solution, or wanting to connect independent cameras to a recording and viewing platform without the need for a recorder or controller. Score: 8.5/10
The Wisenet TID-600R is a compact IP65, IK08 intercom unit featuring a 1/2.8” 2MP camera with a very wide viewing angle and infrared support up to 5 metres. It supports SIP 2.0 connection, has a touchless call option, edge storage and ONVIF compliance. It measures 165(h) x 49(w) x 48(d) cm with a weight of 490g.
Review: This is an impressive SIP 2.0 intercom unit that can be used in a wide range of situations especially in healthcare, where the touch-free method to initiate a call reduces infection risks. The HD camera and its event recording options can provide excellent evidential
This video intercom features a 10”touch display boosted by the Axis ARTPEC-7 processor, full-HD camera and WaveKey technology. The unit is rated IP65 and IK08, meaning that users can touch the display even if there is any water on its surface.
Review: The unit is easily customisable depending on the project, with ability to customise each resident if used in a domestic setting, and importing business logos and grouping for businesses in a commercial setting – a very elegant solution and great addition to the outside of any building. Score: 8.5/10
The 2023 PSI Premier Awards campaign will soon be underway –and it will be up to you to nominate the entries for the competition
Winners in 2022 included RISCO (above) and Hikvision (below)
Have you used a piece of kit or worked with a supplier that has been mightily impressive over the last twelve months? Do you think that your company’s products and services deserve to be recognised as the best that the sector has to offer? From early Jan 2023 installers and manufacturers can nominate the best products and to tell us who gives the best service, support and training for a PSI Premier Award in 2023.
The annual PSI Premier Awards campaigns have recognised innovation and the highest achievers that the industry has to offer from across a number of disciplines for many years.
In the New Year we will ask for nominations for the products, services and suppliers that those working in the security industry think are the best in the market. After the deadline we will then collate all of the entries and, where necessary, ask a number of installers to give us their opinions on the nominated systems. This will give us a final listing of entries that we know will be the best of the best.
The types of technologies we are looking for are those that are different, not “me too” systems and we want to hear about distributors that go above and beyond boxshifting. The UK security market is brimming with talent so we want to make sure we feature the best new releases of recent times and the suppliers that give the highest levels of support.
The PSI Premier Awards Dinner will be held on 13th July at Luton Hoo Warren Weir following the annual PSI Golf Day.
To make sure that your favourites are featured in the 2023 campaign you only need to visit the PSI website from 10th January and tell us:
1. Your details
2. Name of nominated product/company
3. Award category
There are no costs involved in nominating or voting in the award campaign.
March 2023
www.psimagazine.co.uk/nominate
Once we have compiled the list of the finalists in each category we will run all of the details in PSI magazine and on our website.
Note: Due to the huge number of manufacturers and distributors that we deal with, we can not send out personal reminders for companies to enter. If you miss the deadline, you miss out!
We will be looking for nominations in the following categories. Be sure to read through the definitions to make sure that your entries match the criteria for being a finalist.
THE CATEGORIES ARE:
• CCTV Product Of The Year - Any camera, DVR, NVR, lens etc
• Intruder Alarm Product Of The Year – Any panel, sensor, bell or alarm peripheral
• Access Control Product Of The Year – Any technology for access or perimeter control
• Technology Innovation Of The Year – Any products outside of other technology categories such as HDDs, lighting, tools, communications etc
• Software/Analytics Product Of The Year – Any product that utilises or manages data to improve security, performance or business intelligence purposes such as apps, VMS, analytics etc
• Training Programme Of The Year – Any training courses, facilities etc organised by security systems manufacturers, distributors or associations to educate installers
• Distributor Of The Year - Best performing supplier for support, stock, training, warranties etc
moving and our communities safe, it drastically steps up our capabilities as a Council.
We’ve completely overhauled the technology we use within the control centre and across the city – replacing outdated analogue cameras with internet-enabled devices. This means we can analyse events and traffic in real time. Particularly as our city grows, our investment will support the safety of the public and wider community, deterring and preventing anti-social behaviour and crime like we sadly experienced on Bonfire Night and Remembrance Sunday.
Edinburgh is fast becoming an example of a truly smart city and its thanks to projects like this. We’re also rolling out waste and housing sensors, digital learning opportunities in schools, while exploring an urban management system which is a tool for monitoring traffic flow. The whole operation is much more sustainable and data driven which, crucially, is going to lead to more efficient Council services for the people of Edinburgh.”
The City of Edinburgh Council Leader Cammy Day has officially opened a new City Operations Centre.
The new centre has been delivered in partnership with IT service and solutions provider North as part of a £2.6m contract, funded by the Council and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) 2014-2020 programme known as ‘Scotland’s 8th City – the Smart City’, which is contributing £712k in grant funding towards the project.
Replacing an outdated control centre which was no longer fit-for-purpose, the new smart Operations Centre will be manned and receive real-time data from the CCTV network 24/7. This will integrate other technologies which will help to improve traffic flow, transport infrastructure and city planning - subsequently improving the city’s collective carbon footprint.
Given the accessibility to real-time data, advanced analytics will drastically help the Council and partners respond to emergencies and manage large-scale events like Edinburgh’s Hogmanay and August Festivals.
Council Leader Cammy Day said: “This new operations centre has been years in the making and it’s fantastic to see it live in action. With low-carbon technology designed to keep the city
Scott McEwan, acting CEO at North, said: “Helping to drive positive change through smart technology and improved operational systems across Edinburgh is something that North is incredibly proud of. Working together, the city now has access to real-time data that will influence the future of city planning, improve large-scale events and create a greener environment for generations to come.
We are really excited for the local authority to see the seismic impact introducing smart technologies has on the quality of the environment, and importantly, on the health and wellbeing of people who live in and visit Edinburgh.”
The data is captured by a new CCTV system rolled out across the city which is significantly expanding security coverage. This has included upgrading the city’s digital Video Surveillance System, enhancing video analytic function and data protection capabilities, and replacing analogue cameras with high-resolution IP devices.
As part of the delivery, North also contributed to a number of community benefits to help deliver social value within local neighbourhoods. This included recruiting an Edinburgh-based modern apprentice and an apprentice to assist the roll-out of the CCTV network and the provision of curriculum support activities to local schools and community volunteers.
A Scottish social housing provider has teamed up with Videx to equip 60 supported living flats with a customised solution, across six apartment blocks.
Residents of St Peter’s housing development, managed by Glasgow-based Patrick Housing Association, required an easy to use but secure entry system to enable access for residents and visitors. Working with installer RenRoC, Videx supplied its IPURE IP video door entry system . The IPURE IP door entry system was paired with Videx’s offline proximity access control system, MiAccess.
With the addition of MiAccess, the system provides proximity fob access for not only residents but also housing wardens and maintenance engineers. Using MiAccess, entry fobs can be added offline from a remote location via a PC or laptop, meaning programming can be fully managed offsite if required. Entry fobs can simply be replaced by programming a new fob offsite and then
Pre-tournament estimates suggested that around one million football fans would visit the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar, which took place from 20 November to 18 December. The presence of such vast pedestrian numbers in one of Asia’s smallest countries was expected to introduce traffic flow challenges that the Qatari government wanted to address in advance of the competition. As a result, the country installed 700 FLIR TrafiOne smart city sensors to monitor traffic and control crowd flow. These all-in-one sensors from Teledyne FLIR take advantage of Wi-Fi and thermal technologies to ensure traffic runs smoothly, while enhancing pedestrian safety.
The FLIR TrafiOne identifies pedestrian movement on the pavement and automatically adjusts traffic signal timing accordingly. It is
swiping at a reader on site, once the new fob is swiped, the old fob is automatically replaced with the new, resulting in fewer call outs and reducing the overall carbon footprint for local authorities or housing associations.
Installer Derek Corner, director at RenRoc said: “Residents have peace of mind with ease of access, convenience and security, and wardens can now manage and administer entry tokens with ease, and remotely. What’s more, the system enables device to device communication allowing vulnerable residents to contact the onsite support team without additional hardware being installed.”
The video IP door entry panels at each of the accommodation blocks are also engraved with the appropriate address and button numbers.
Billy Paton, Scotland and Ireland Sales Manager at Videx, added: “Patrick Housing Association needed a solution that offered convenience, security and something that was adaptable and easily modified if required and this is exactly what the IPURE IP system with integrated MiAccess offers.
possible to prioritise signals for pedestrians ahead of vehicle traffic, promoting safer, more effective pedestrian crossings during this festival of football. Importantly, thermal cameras featuring video analytics detect and classify pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles even in complete darkness or adverse weather conditions. As a further benefit, COVID-friendly touch-free sensors eliminate the need for physical pushbuttons.
TrafiOne also generates high-resolution data for measuring travel times to improve traffic flows, reduce vehicle idling times, monitor congestion and enhance safety for vulnerable road users. Data collected by TrafiOne is accessible for further processing by the FLIR ITS-IQ, a cloud-based data analysis solution.
The system received a positive reception from the Qatari authorities thanks to advantages such as smart technology, programmable detection zones and touch-free sensors.
wine industry, substances (such as nitrogen) contained in pressure vessels (cylinders) are commonly used, so particular care must be taken when using them, and the produces must ensure the room can be sealed in an emergency, to avoid explosions and fires.
The new fire detection system was to cover an area of 20,000sqm, divided across four levels with indoor and outdoor areas. The automatic and manual fire detection systems were installed in offices, laboratory, vinification areas, the Barrique cellar, the “sur lattes” bottle ageing rooms and the disgorging and bottling areas. The Hochiki fire detection system also controls the fire doors of the compartmentalised processing and production areas of the building.
The Società Agricola Monte Rossa srl Winery produces 500,000 bottles per year with 70 hectares of managed vineyards. A new Winery a few kilometres from the headquarters includes a fire detection system designed with the support of the installation company Eurodue srl of Brescia and Hochiki dealer.
Just like other wineries Monte Rossa is made up of different buildings for processing, storage, and packaging, which are mostly made of reinforced concrete and masonry.
In terms of fire, the room that is the most at risk is the storage and packaging areas, since copious quantities of combustible materials are often stored in this room. In the
Mul-T-Lock has worked with K.B.O Fire & Security to upgrade the security at Guildford College, creating a dedicated master key suite. Controlled and secure access is a high priority for the Estates and Facilities team, who sought the advice of K.B.O Fire & Security to undertake a security overview. The resulting master key suite was designed and installed using MulT-Lock’s MTL400 patent protected solution.
Sandra Searle, Facilities CustomerProducts chosen to protect the building, contents, staff and visitors include Hochiki’s SCI Sensors which are part of the ESP (Intelligent Range).
Ezio Danese, Project Manager at Hochiki Italia explained: ‘The UNI 9795 standard requires the installation of a short-circuit isolator for each zone in a building. SCI detectors with integrated isolator and various installed devices such as call points and I/O modules with double isolator ensure that the system complies with the regulatory requirements, without having to install additional isolators. This is definitely an advantage for the installer.”
Visual Alarm Devices (VADs) were also installed. These were a key component to the install because they provide a visual indication of an alarm condition, essential for areas where the public might be visiting, or in areas where staff might be wearing ear defenders.
Services Manager at Guildford College, said: “The college is committed to offering staff and students a vibrant, happy and nurturing learning environment. So that we can do this as safely as possible, we ensure the security systems, right from the entrance to the College and throughout the site, are all maintained to a high level.
“K.B.O Fire & Security worked with us to produce a bespoke Mul-T-Lock master key suite that could enable total key management control.
“We are particularly impressed with the advanced protection capability as it means as a team, we can maintain a single key to open all doors as required and maintain differential access to rooms between staff, visitors and students.”
With up to 90 cylinders installed in a scalable design, the master key suite system was installed quickly and efficiently to ensure minimal disruption to learning timetables.
PARTIZAN
Kresomyslova 384/17A, Nusle, 14000 Prague,Czech Republic Tel: +420 608 496 889 www.partizan.global
Integrated Design Limited, Feltham Point, Air Park Way, Feltham, Middlesex. TW13 7EQ Tel: +44 (0) 208 890 5550 sales@idl.co.uk www.fastlane-turnstiles.com
ZHEJIANG UNIVIEW TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD. global.uniview.com info.uki@uniview.com
ONE SOLUTION. ONE COMPANY
RBH SECURITY GROUP LTD
F3 Enterprise way, Vale Business Park, Evesham, Worcs WR11 1GS
Tel 01386 425810 Sales.uk@rbh-access.com wwww.rbh-access.com
BOSCH
PO Box 750, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB9 5ZJ Tel: +44(0)330 1239979 uk.securitysystems@bosch.com www.uk.boschsecurity.com
IDIS GLOBAL
1000 Great West Road, Brentford, Middlesex TW8 9HH Tel: +44(0)203 657 5678 Email: uksales@idisglobal.com www.idisglobal.com
DAHUA TECHNOLOGY UK & IRELAND
Quantum, 60 Norden Road, Maidenhead, SL6 4AY
Tel: +44(0)1628 882210 Email: sales.uk@dahuatech.com www.dahuasecurity.com/uk
Distributor of electronic security systems and solutions for over 250 leading manufacturers, the company also offers an internal technical support team, dedicated field support engineers along with a suite of training courses and services. ADI also offers a variety of fast, reliable delivery options, including specified time delivery, next day or collection from any one of 28 branches nationwide. Plus, with an ADI online account, installers can order up to 7pm for next day delivery.
Tel: 0161 767 2990 Fax: 0161 767 2999 sales.uk@adiglobal.com www.adiglobal.com/uk
SECURITY PRODUCTS AND INTEGRATED SOLUTIONS
HONEYWELL COMMERCIAL SECURITY
Tel: +44 (0) 844 8000 235 securitysales@honeywell.com
WHEN SECURITY IS ART AJAX SYSTEMS
Unit No: OneJLT-06-23, OneJLT, Plot No. DMCC-EZI-1AB, Jumeriah Lakes Tower, Dubai
Tel: +380445381310 Email: support@ajax.systems www.ajax.systems
MANUFACTURER OF INTRUDER ALARM EQUIPMENT
Fortus is a distributor of security and fire solutions. We are the largest privately owned, B2B security distribution company trading across the UK & IRE within the key industry verticals of CCTV, Intruder, Access and Fire products. With more than 20 years’ experience in technology distribution with key brands, we can support you with any size project as well as offering next day delivery.
Tel: +44 (0)1462 708820 www.fortusuk.com
STATE-OF-THE-ART WIRELESS SOLUTIONS
HKC SECURITY LTD
James Hill Street, Littleborough OL15 8AE
Tel: +44(0)1706 373560 Email: ukinfo@hkc.ie www.hkcsecurity.com
WORLD-LEADING MANUFACTURER OF ELECTRONIC SECURITY EQUIPMENT
114 Power Road Studios, Chiswick, London W4 5PY
Intratone is a manufacturer and service provider of GSM door entry technology. Over the past 10 years Intratone has expanded its product portfolio to include a large range of video intercoms, proximity readers and digital noticeboards. Quick installation, no costly handsets, remote management via free cloud portal make our wireless system to a sustainable, real-time solution for all your accesses.
Tel: +44(0)208 0379012 Email: info@intratone.uk.com www.intratone.uk.com
PYRONIX LTD
Secure House, Braithwell Way, Hellaby, Rotherham, South Yorkshire S66 8QY
Tel: +44(0)1709 700 100 sales@pyronix.com www.pyronix.com
SECURITY YOU CAN TRUST
TEXECOM INTRUDER
Bradwood Court, St Crispin Way, Haslingden, Lancs BB4 4PW
Tel: +44(0)1706 212524 sales@texe.com www.texe.com
We lead in specialist recruitment for the Fire & Security, Telecoms, and M&E sectors.
With over 20 years of trading, Technical Resources work with the best permanent and contract staff, helping our clients to deliver their services.
Whether it’s permanent, contract, or larger recruitment programs - we deliver the right candidates to our clients. To do this, we have a great team of hardworking recruiters who know that getting recruitment right the first time is key to the success of the businesses we serve and the professionals we find jobs for. What makes us different? We reference check ALL our candidates.
The projects you have need to be delivered. So, we will only send you candidates that we have previously used or successfully referenced. This saves you crucial time and ensures successful project delivery.
Concerned about compliance? Quality and compliance is in our DNA. Compliance checks are a key part of our weekly processes. And we don’t stop after placing the candidates with you. We run weekly checks on all contractor timesheets and will check in with you and your contractor too.
Rivermead House, Hamm Moor Lane, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 2SF 01932 837 777 info@tecres.uk.com www.technicalresources.co.uk
35+ years of experience in the fire and security industry. Protect homes and businesses with our Next Generation alarm signalling systems. From fast and affordable to best in the business, you can get every customer future ready for all-IP and the PSTN closure with our special offer and marketing toolkit. Simple to install with an OLED display and a choice of fixed IP and wifi connected options. Dual sim and roaming 4G for resilient wireless signalling. All with LPCB third party certification, 10 year guarantee and 24/7 support.
Tel: 0800 800 628
Email address: redcare@bt.com Twitter: @BTRedcare Website: www.redcare.bt.com
SECURE CONNECTIVITY PROVIDERS
CSL GROUP
T: +44 (0)1895 474474 sales@csl-group.com @CSLGroupLtd www.csl-group.com
Challenge Way, Martland Park, Wigan WN5 OLD United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 1942 322744 www.c-tec.com
SECURITY MADE SIMPLE.
PAXTON ACCESS LTD
Paxton House, Home Farm Road, Brighton, BN1 9HU
With 37 years of experience, we design and manufacture market-leading security solutions for a range of buildings. Around 30,000 buildings are secured globally by Paxton products, every year. We utilise the latest technology to provide powerful, yet easy-to-install and use security solutions. Our products are designed for a wide range of sectors including education, healthcare, retail, leisure, commercial, the public sector and more. All our products are manufactured in the UK and are backed by our 5-year guarantee and hassle-free returns policy.
Tel: 01273 811080 support@paxton.co.uk www.paxton-access.com
FIRE & SECURITY MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE
INSTALLERPRO
PO Box 1288, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 9BQ InstallerPro is designed for UK Fire & Security companies. With InstallerPro you will never miss a job, visit, or invoice again. Our system helps keep your business on track and maintain your compliance to BS/ISO standards, SSAIB, NSI, BAFE & GateSafe. InstallerPro comes preloaded with all the tools you need to get working straight away, and because its cloud based, you can work from anywhere. Import your clients from your old software and get started with InstallerPro today. enquiries@installerpro.co.uk www.installerpro.co.uk
YOUR CLOUD. YOUR WAY SEAGATE STORAGE
60 Norden Road, Maidenhead, Berks SL6 4AY +440208 7127 4477 Email: domenico.scordo@seagate.com www.seagate.com
A look at what’s been happening on PSI’s Instagram feed this month (apart from all the sport...) psimagazine
