When you talk about safety and security for your business, one of the first things that should come to your mind is integrated life safety and security for your employees and your facility. Life safety involves several components including fire suppression, fire alarm, egress, emergency lighting, and communication. Fire alarms, fire suppression, and burglar alarms are all monitored systems by a third-party security company. A monitored alarm system is an advanced security system that provides a higher level of protection for your home or business. With this system, alarms are not only triggered but also monitored by a central station 24/7, providing immediate response to potential emergencies.
Here are some of the key benefits of monitored alarm systems:
- Quick Response Time: In the event of an alarm activation, the central monitoring station will immediately respond and take appropriate action. This can include dispatching the police or contacting the homeowner to confirm whether it is a false alarm or a genuine emergency.
- Improved Security: Monitored alarm systems provide a higher level of protection as they detect and respond to potential threats faster than traditional, unmonitored systems.
- Peace of Mind: Knowing that your home or business is being monitored 24/7 by professionals can provide peace of mind, especially when you’re away or traveling.
- Central Monitoring Station: The central monitoring station is staffed by professionals who are trained to respond to emergencies. This ensures that your property is protected even when you’re not there.
- False Alarm Prevention: Monitored alarm systems often come with features that help prevent false alarms, such as two-way voice communication, entry delay, and alarm verification.
To expand, it’s all about integration and how electronic solutions like public address, video surveillance, and access control can operate in conjunction with each other. Access control can be integrated with the fire alarm system to release the doors in case of a fire emergency, but public address and video surveillance are not currently life safety solutions. With full integration of all the network solutions, you will have the capability to monitor and control live events during an emergency.
With network solutions today over cat6 POE, there are numerous ways to enhance your electronic security. For example, we can install a Telecor e-Series public address system along with an Avigilon enterprise surveillance system and access control manager and integrate both manufacturers to use the same type of technology to function. This integration is easily accomplished if all components are IP-based solutions. If they are not IP-based, this task can still be completed but some of the functions are less available if using the legacy analog systems.
Of course, both manufacturers have a wide range of products and security levels. Choosing the right technology, the right products, and the right budget is key to your business. Express-Tek can assist you with a security assessment that will fit your requirements. Here is how we can accomplish this task and have a satisfied customer who will keep us on their speed dial.
Using the Telecor public address system as our platform, we can install an eCI (control interface protocol) that will allow you to link the Avigilon cameras or access control through ASCII protocol. If there is an event that needs security attention, the intercom will link with the door controls and camera in that area to give you total command from your mobile device or the monitoring service in real-time. This will allow you and the first responders to have more visibility and be able to make the right decisions when it counts. The programming will be done to meet local codes and your business security requirements.
Telecor has several integration products such as the eSIP which will establish sip trunks with your VoIP phone system. The eNODE device is a POE module that provides 4 monitored inputs and 4 relay outputs, expandable to 16 inputs and outputs for alert lights, sirens, sensors, lockdown/panic switches, gas detection, metal detectors, vape sensors, and of course access control. The eTBU-MI allows the integration of manufacturers’ peripheral and analog devices. Telecor also offers a district-wide paging mass notification resource that can be used as an additional layer for centralized offices to notify facilities such as K-12 or higher Education of an emergency. Now this same technology can be in reverse by using Avigilon products as the platform as well to interface with Telecor or any other public address system to command and control the emergency event that is taking place.
There are many ways to integrate systems with other systems with the technology that is progressively expanding every day. Using these types of solutions will greatly expand your safety and security needs. Express-Tek can provide recommendations, consult, install, and commission all types of low-voltage solutions like Fire Alarms, Access Control, Intrusion Alarms, Public Address, Mass Notification, and Surveillance Cameras.
Written by Ross Ritenour, Director of Construction, Southeast Region
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