EDIT 50 years psi july21_PSI_mar15 28/06/2021 18:06 Page 2
INSTALLER INTERVIEW
A lifetime in security This year, Nigel Greenberg of Solo Security commences 50 years in the industry. PSI caught up with him to find out about the early days and how things have changed f you started a security company in 2021 it wouldn’t be until 2071 that you would be able to claim 50 years in the business. That puts into perspective the longevity of the career and the experience of Nigel Greenberg of Solo Security in Liverpool who this year commences on his Golden Anniversary year in the industry. PSI caught up with Nigel to find out about how he started in the sector and to discuss a lifetime in security and began by asking him how he first got into the security installation business: “I trained as a radio and audio engineer and was a co-owner of the recording studio at Liverpool's World famous Cavern Club (where the Beatles started) from 1964 – 1966,” remembers Nigel. “I then spent a number of years living and working in the recording industry in Israel, returning to England in early 1972. I took a job selling commercial security products to industry on the strength of having lived and worked in the most security conscious country in the world, however, it soon became apparent to me that there was a market for domestic security systems that none of the big alarm companies were targeting.” In those early days there wasn’t a host of systems manufacturers with ranges of security systems and technologies to choose from, it was very much a case of “if you need something, make it yourself ” as Nigel recalls. “I designed a domestic alarm system from scratch and started installing them in friends’ and contacts’ homes in April 1972. Detection devices were flush mounted magnetic contacts and under carpet pressure mats which were positioned in front of the display cabinet in the lounge where the family silver was displayed. Slim pressure mats were also positioned under the carpet on the stairs. The first movement detectors were ultrasonic units which detected all movement and were a constant source of false alarms until PIRs came along. “We eventually progressed to commercially manufactured panels by such firms as A & G, K J Bentley, Grahame Lowe and Geoff Gardiner. All
“I designed a domestic alarm system from scratch and started installing them in friends’ and contacts’ homes in April 1972. Detection devices were flush mounted magnetic contacts and under carpet pressure mats”
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of these firms seemed to be concentrated in the Chadderton area of Manchester. We would purchase plastic bell boxes and have our own logos printed on self- adhesive vinyl stickers to stick on to them. “Who remembers tube and wire frames on windows and lace wire under hardboard to protect doors? What about window foil on shop windows? We had mortice locks with shunt switches on front doors before the advent of timed entry exit circuits on control panels. “For those of us brave enough to embrace police calling systems, we first had to apply to be listed with our local Force on their register of approved firms. We had to be approved by the Force’s Chief Crime Prevention Officer (remember them?) before acceptance. Once accepted, we then would apply to the GPO (General Post Office) the forerunners to British Telecom for them to install a block terminal to the client’s telephone line for us to connect to. We used speech diallers to dial 999 and relay the message to the Police Control Room. “Being approved by one of the alarms inspectorates then became the ultimate criteria as to who could install police calling alarms. NSCIA became NACOSS then, finally NSI. The smaller Inspectorates like AISC all eventually merged into SSAIB and that is where we are today.” If you have been in any industry for 50 years you will have seen systems evolve right in front of your eyes and you’ll have fitted many of the developments as they came on board. So what innovations does Nigel consider to have had the biggest impact on the security industry?
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