Page 48 - Security Today, April 2018

PRODUCT SOLUTIONS
By Bruce Czerwinski
INTEGRATORS LOOK AT VIDEO INTERCOMS
ystem integrators count on video intercoms to secure vir- tually any facility, whether it’s a remote water pump sta- tion, a pharmaceutical manufacturing plant or a multi- tenant apartment building. Intercoms add a valuable layer of security by letting employees or residents control who
enters their facilities.
Three veteran integrators recently shared why they see video in-
tercoms as an important security tool they turn to often.
Don Beres, senior physical security specialist for Fremont, Calif.-based Ojo Technology, said he regularly installs video inter- coms in the vertical markets his company serves: education, trans- portation and public facilities such as police departments, city halls
and water districts.
“In the past 12 to 18 months, virtually every one of our new proj-
ects had a video intercom specified in the plans,” Beres said. “When we present an access control solution, we nearly always include a video intercom in the proposal. They’re reasonably priced and add another camera that provides a view of the entry and people in the immediate area.”
When Beres started in the security industry in 1979, he installed audio-only intercoms. He said he still installs a few of those units, but video intercoms have become the standard. Customers like the added sense of security that comes with seeing visitors wanting to enter a building.
And, Beres said, intercoms are not limited to just the front door. Ojo installs them at delivery bays and employee entrances, as well at inside doors to sensitive operations such as IT and cash rooms.
He said the introduction of IP-based video intercoms opened up new markets for Ojo. One example was a remote, unmanned water district pump station. Only a few years ago a district employee would have to drive to the site to open the vehicle gate for contractors. Now, with a networked video intercom in place, a district employee can remotely unlock the gate. That saves the district time and money.
Jason Beardsley, managing partner of Security 101—San Diego, agreed with Beres that video intercoms have become nearly universal in commercial applications. Beardsley estimates at least 90 percent of his projects include one or more video intercoms.
Security 101—San Diego recently installed systems for a Class A pharmaceutical manufacturer looking to limit unapproved visitors to its engineering and manufacturing facility. Master stations were placed on the desks of receptionists on the building’s first and second-floors. Intercoms were also installed at the shipping and receiving dock and some sealed interior areas open to only approved employees.
“This company has covered the mission-critical points of the fa- cility with intercoms,” Beardsley said.
He said he recalls intercoms of more than 20 years ago being basic door-release systems, but many of today’s IP-based systems integrate with existing CCTV cameras and connect to a VMS to record events.
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