REDWALL Intruder Alarm Control Panels & Systems

Johnson Controls recently unveiled the findings of its 2018 Energy Efficiency Indicator (EEI) survey that examined the current and planned investments and key drivers to improve energy efficiency and building systems integration in facilities. Systems integration was identified as one of the top technologies expected to have the biggest impact on the implementation in smart buildings over the next five years, with respondents planning to invest in security, fire and life-safety integrations more so than any other systems integration in the next year. As advanced, connected technologies drive the evolution of smart buildings, security and safety technologies are at the center of more intelligent strategies as they attribute to overall building operations and efficiencies. SourceSecurity.com spoke with Johnson Controls, Building Solutions, North America, VP of Marketing, Hank Monaco, and Senior National Director of Municipal Infrastructure and Smart Cities, Lisa Brown, about the results of the study, smart technology investments and the benefits of a holistic building strategy that integrates security and fire and life-safety systems with core building systems. Q: What is the most striking result from the survey, and what does it mean in the context of a building’s safety and security systems? The results show an increased understanding about the value of integrating safety and security systems with other building systems Hank Monaco: Investment in building system integration increased 23 percent in 2019 compared to 2018, the largest increase of any measure in the survey. When respondents were asked more specifically what systems they we planning to invest in over the next year, fire and life safety integration (61%) and security system integration (58%) were the top two priorities for organisations. The results show an increased understanding about the value of integrating safety and security systems with other building systems to improve overall operations and bolster capabilities beyond the intended function of an individual system. Q: The survey covers integration of fire, life safety and security systems as part of "smart building" systems. How do smarter buildings increase the effectiveness of security and life safety systems? Hank Monaco: A true “smart building” integrates all building systems – security, fire and life-safety, HVAC, lighting etc. – to create a connected, digital infrastructure that enables individual technologies to be more intelligent and perform more advanced functions beyond what they can do on their own. For example, when sensors and video surveillance are integrated with lighting systems, if abnormal activity is detected on the building premise, key stakeholders can be automatically alerted to increase emergency response time. With integrated video surveillance, they also gain the ability to access surveillance footage remotely to assess the situation. When sensors and video surveillance are integrated with lighting systems abnormal activity on the premise can automatically be detected Q: How can integrated security and life safety systems contribute to greater energy efficiency in a smart building environment? Hank Monaco: Security, fire and life-safety systems can help to inform other building systems about how a facility is used, high-trafficked areas and the flow of occupants within a building. Integrated building solutions produce a myriad of data that can be leveraged to increase operational efficiencies. From an energy efficiency standpoint, actionable insights are particularly useful for areas that are not frequently occupied or off-peak hours as you wouldn’t want to heat or cool an entire building for just one person coming in on the weekend. When video surveillance is integrated with HVAC and lighting systems, it can monitor occupancy in a room or hallway. The video analytics can then control the dimming of lights and the temperature depending on occupant levels in a specific vicinity. Similarly, when access control systems are integrated with these same systems, once a card is presented to the reader, it can signal the lights or HVAC system to turn on. In this example, systems integration can ultimately help enable energy savings in the long run. Security and life safety systems contribute to help enable greater energy efficiency and energy savings in the long run Q: What other benefits of integration are there (beyond the core security and life safety functions)? Hank Monaco: Beyond increased security, fire and life-safety functions, the benefits of systems integration include: Increased data and analytics to garner a holistic, streamlined understanding of how systems function and how to improve productivity Ability to track usage to increase efficiency and reduce operational costs Enhanced occupant experience and comfort Increased productivity and workflow to support business objectives Smart-ready, connected environment that can support future technology advancements Q: What lesson or action point should a building owner/operator take from the survey? How can the owner of an existing building leverage the benefits of the smart building environment incrementally and absent a complete overhaul? Lisa Brown: Johnson Controls Energy Efficiency Indicator found that 77% of organisations plan to make investments in energy efficiency and smarter building technology this year. This percentage demonstrates an increased understanding of the benefits of smart buildings and highlights the proactive efforts building owners are taking to adopt advanced technologies. There is an increased understanding that buildings operate more effectively when different building systems are connected As smart buildings continue to evolve, more facilities are beginning to explore opportunities to advance their own spaces. A complete overhaul of legacy systems is not necessary as small investments today can help position a facility to more easily adopt technologies at scale in the future. As a first step, it’s important for building owners to conduct an assessment and establish a strategy that defines a comprehensive set of requirements and prioritises use-cases and implementations. From there, incremental investments and updates can be made over a realistic timeline. Q: What is the ROI of smart buildings? Lisa Brown: As demonstrated by our survey, there is an increased understanding that buildings operate more effectively when different building systems are connected. The advanced analytics and more streamlined data that is gathered through systems integration can provide the building-performance metrics to help better understand the return on investment (ROI) of the building systems. This data is used to better understand the environment and make assessments and improvements overtime to increase efficiencies. Moreover, analytics and data provide valuable insights into where action is needed and what type of return can be expected from key investments.

Across the country, law enforcement officers are finding it increasingly difficult to respond to the near overwhelming number of calls coming from security alarms. Police departments commonly define a false alarm as a call, which upon investigation, shows no evidence of criminal activity, such as broken windows, forced doors, items missing, or people injured. While false alarms bog down police, they can also negatively impact customers and integrators. End users can expect hefty fines for false alarm responses, and when these customers receive large bills from the city, many turn to installers, dealers, and even manufacturers expecting them to accept the responsibility and pay the bill. What first brought the issue of alarm verification to your attention? It is crucial to both see a situation and concurrently listen to any corresponding sounds to gain full insight I’ve been aware of the problem of false alarms for about 5 years. I believed audio capture, through microphone deployment, could be an active part of the solution when used as a second source for indicating ‘out of the norm’ activity and as an equal component with the video surveillance technology. In 2015, I found similarly minded security professionals when introduced to the Partnership for Priority Verified Alarm Response. After reading PPVAR’s paper on ‘Audio Verified Alarms Best Practices; [April 2015],’ I knew that the Partnership was on to something important. In our lives, two of the five senses we count on day-in and day-out are sight and sound. It is crucial to both see a situation and concurrently listen to any corresponding sounds to gain full insight. What is the false alarm rate? In 2016, the International Association of Chiefs of Police reported that over 98 percent of all alarm calls in the United States were false. This number is obviously staggering, and something we need to work towards correcting. Why did this issue resonate so strongly with you? When I first investigated this issue, I was sure that the security industry would have already recognised this and was acting to ensure improved alarm verification, preferably through a combination of audio and video technologies. However, I quickly saw that this was not the case, or even close to the norm. I have questioned the rationale behind the lack of adoption and found the deployment of audio is often hindered by the concern of privacy. I’ve spearheaded many initiatives to explain the monitoring policies surrounding audio As CEO of Louroe Electronics, I’ve spearheaded many initiatives to explain the monitoring policies surrounding audio. I’ve had to reassure many security personnel and customers how the law supports the use of audio in public places as long as there is no expectation of privacy. By dispelling fears with facts around deploying and implementing audio sensors, customers can confidently include audio in their surveillance systems and gain a more effective security solution. Who is affected by this? Truth be told, everyone from the end user to the manufacturer is affected by this issue. Not to mention the strain this puts on law enforcement who are tired of ‘wasting time’ and effort out in the field on these nuisance alerts. When an end user receives a bill for their false alarm, many of them will immediately blame the integrator and or the monitoring center for a faulty set up and management and expect the integrator to remedy the situation, including carry the burden of paying the fines. The integrator, on the other hand, will turn to the manufacturer, assuming faulty equipment and installation instructions; therefore, looking for reimbursement for the cost. What is the average false alarm fee? It depends on many factors, and especially your first responder assigned location for responseIt depends on many factors, and especially your first responder assigned location for response. According to the Urban Institute, fees generally range from $25-$100 for the first offense, rising as high as a few thousand dollars per false alarm if a location has a large number in a single year. What’s worse, in extreme cases, alarm systems may even be blacklisted by the police dispatch center if they have raised too many false alarms in the past. Why do you believe audio is the ideal technology for secondary source verification? Video surveillance has been the main option for security monitoring and alarm validation for decades, however industry professionals are realising that video alone is not enough. Video only tells half of the story, by adding audio capture, the responsible party gains a turnkey solution with the ability to gather additional evidence to verify alerts and expand overall awareness. In reality, audio’s range is greater than the field of view for a camera. Sound pickup is 360 degrees, capturing voices, gunshots, breaking glass, sirens, or other important details that a fixed camera many not see. How would a secondary source verification system work with audio? Using a video monitoring solution equipped with audio, the microphone will pick up the sounds at the time a visual alert or alarm is triggered. If embedded with classification analytics, the microphone will send alerts for specific detected sounds. The captured audio, and any notifications are immediately sent to the monitoring station, where trained personnel can listen to the sound clip, along with live audio and video from their station. When law enforcement receives a validated alarm, they can better prioritise the response From here, an informed decision can then be made about the validity of the alarm, along with what the current threat is at the location. If the alarm is in fact valid, the information is then passed along to the law enforcement within minutes. When law enforcement receives a validated alarm, they can better prioritise the response. It also provides more information in a forensic evaluation. Are there any additional resources you would suggest looking into? Yes, we would suggest looking into the following to see a few different perspectives on the matter: NSA Support For 2018 Model Ordinance For Alarm Management and False Alarm Reduction Partnership for Priority Verified Alarm Response Support for the Term “Verified Alarm” and Prioritising Verified Alarm Responses Urban Institute Opportunities for Police Cost Savings without Sacrificing Service Quality: Reducing False Alarms

If you’re responsible for a medium or large-sized office, it’s more important than ever that you have access to a means of ensuring people’s safety, managing risks and fraud, and protecting property. Any security system that you employ must therefore meet the most demanding commercial requirements of today’s offices, and tomorrow’s. This means thinking beyond a basic intrusion system and specifying a comprehensive solution that integrates smart features like access control, video management and intelligent video analytics. Because only then will you have security you can trust, and detection you can depend on. Reliable entry management Access control systems have been developed that guarantee reliable entry management for indoors and outdoors Access control is becoming increasingly important for ensuring the security of office buildings, but as the modern workplace evolves you’re unlikely to find a one-size-fits-all solution. Today, it’s commonplace to control entry to individual rooms or restricted areas and cater to more flexible working hours that extend beyond 9 to 5, so a modern and reliable access control system that exceeds the limitations of standard mechanical locks is indispensable. Access control systems have been developed that guarantee reliable entry management for indoors and outdoors. They use state-of-the-art readers and controllers to restrict access to certain areas, ensuring only authorised individuals can get in. With video cameras located within close proximity you can then monitor and record any unauthorised access attempts. The system can also undertake a people-count to ensure only one person has entered using a single pass. Scalable hardware components As previously mentioned, there is no one-size-fits-all system, but thanks to the scalability of the hardware components, systems can adapt to changing security requirements. For example, you can install Bosch’s Access Professional Edition (APE) software for small to medium-sized offices, then switch to the more comprehensive Access Engine (ACE) of the Building Integration System (BIS) when your security requirements grow. And, because the hardware stays the same, any adaptations are simple. APE’s ‘permanent open’ functionality allows employees and guests to enter designated areas easily and conveniently The APE software administers up to 512 readers, 10,000 cardholders and 128 cameras, making it suitable for small to medium-sized buildings. With functions like badge enrollment, entrance control monitoring and alarm management with video verification it provides a high level of security and ensures only authorised employees and visitors are able to enter certain rooms and areas. Of course, there will always be situations when, for convenience, you need certain doors to be permanently open, such as events and open days. APE’s ‘permanent open’ functionality allows employees and guests to enter designated areas easily and conveniently. Growing security needs You switch to the Bosch Building Integration System (BIS), without having to switch hardware (it stays the same, remember?). This is a software solution that manages subsystems like access control, video surveillance, fire alarm, public address or intrusion systems, all on a single platform. It is designed for offices with multiple sites and for large companies with a global presence. Bosch Building Integration System (BIS) manages subsystems like access control, video surveillance, fire alarm, public address or intrusion systems, all on a single platform The BIS Access Engine (ACE) administers up to 10,000 readers and 80 concurrent workplace clients per server, and 200,000 cardholders per AMC. An additional benefit to security officers is the ability to oversee cardholders and authorisations through the central cardholder management functionality and monitor all access events and alarms from every connected site. For consistency, multi-site cardholder information and access authorisations can be created on a central server and replicated across all connected site servers, which means the cardholder information is always up to date and available in every location. Intrusion alarm systems Bosch B Series and G Series intrusion control panels can also send personal notifications via text or email Securing all perimeter doors is vital when protecting employees, visitors and intellectual property. Doors are opened and closed countless times during business hours, and when intentionally left open, your office is vulnerable to theft, and the safety of your employees is compromised. For this reason, intrusion control panels have been developed with advanced features to ensure all perimeter doors are properly closed, even when the system is not armed. If a door remains open for a period of time (you can specify anything from one second to 60 minutes), the system can be programmed to automatically take action. For example, it can activate an audible alert at the keypad to give employees time to close the door. Then, if it is still not closed, it will send a report to a monitoring center or a text directly to the office manager, and when integrated with video it can even send an image of the incident to a mobile device. Customised intrusion systems What about people who need to access your building outside of working hours, like cleaning crews? Your intruder system allows you to customise the way it operates with a press of a button or swipe of a card. This level of control enables you to disarm specific areas, bypass points and unlock doors for cleaning crews or after-hours staff, whilst keeping server rooms, stock rooms and executive offices safe and secure. Bosch B Series and G Series intrusion control panels can also send personal notifications via text or email. You can program the panel to send you opening, closing, and other event alerts, which means you don’t have to be on-site to keep track of movements in and around your facility. Video management system A video management system will add a next level of security to your access control system Every office building has different video security requirements depending on the location, size and nature of the business. Some offices may only need basic functions such as recording and playback, whereas others may need full alarm functionalities and access to different sites. A video management system will add a next level of security to your access control system. For example, the video system can provide seamless management of digital video, audio and data across IP networks for small to large office buildings. It is fully integrated and can be scaled according to your specific requirements. The entry-level BVMS Viewer is suitable for small offices that need to access live and archived video from their recording solutions. With forensic search it enables you to access a huge recording database and scan quickly for a specific security event. For larger offices, embellished security functions for the BVMS Professional version can manage up to 2,000 cameras and offers full alarm and event management Full alarm and event management For larger offices, embellished security functions for the BVMS Professional version can manage up to 2,000 cameras and offers full alarm and event management. It’s also resilient enough to remain operative should both Management and Recording Servers fail. Large multi-national companies often need access to video surveillance systems at numerous sites, which is why BVMS Professional allows you to access live and archived video from over 10,000 sites across multiple time zones from a single BVMS server. When integrated with the BVMS Enterprise version multiple BVMS Professional systems can be connected so every office in the network can be viewed from one security center, which provides the opportunity to monitor up to 200,000 cameras, regardless of their location. Essential Video Analytics Video analytics acts as the brain of your security system, using metadata to add sense and structure to any video footage you capture If your strategy is to significantly improve levels of security, video analytics is an essential part of the plan. It acts as the brain of your security system, using metadata to add sense and structure to any video footage you capture. In effect, each video camera in your network becomes smart to the degree that it can understand and interpret what it is seeing. You simply set certain alarm rules, such as when someone approaches a perimeter fence, and video analytics alerts security personnel the moment a rule is breached. Smart analytics have been developed in two formats. Essential Video Analytics is ideal for small and medium-sized commercial buildings and can be used for advanced intrusion detection, such as loitering alarms, and identifying a person or object entering a pre-defined field. It also enables you to instantly retrieve the right footage from hours of stored video, so you can deal with potential threats the moment they happen. Essential Video Analytics also goes beyond security to help you enforce health and safety regulations such as enforcing no parking zones, detecting blocked emergency exits or ensuring no one enters or leaves a building via an emergency exit; all measures that can increase the safety of employees and visitors inside the building. Intelligent Video Analytics Intelligent Video Analytics have the unique capability of analysing video content over large distances Intelligent Video Analytics have the unique capability of analysing video content over large distances, which makes it ideally suited to more expansive office grounds or securing a perimeter fence. It can also differentiate between genuine security events and known false triggers such as snow, rain, hail and moving tree branches that can make video data far more difficult to interpret. The final piece in your security jigsaw is an intelligent camera. The latest range of Bosch ’i’ cameras have the image quality, data security measures, and bitrate reduction of <80%. And, video analytics is standard. Be prepared for what can’t be predicted. Although no-one can fully predict what kind of security-related event is around the corner, experience and expertise will help make sure you’re always fully prepared.

Sensor manufacturer, OPTEX Europe, returns to IFSEC during its 40th anniversary in 2019 to showcase two new solutions with visual verification at their heart: the enhanced version of its LiDAR range; and innovative RADAR technology Firstly, OPTEX provides a way to upgrade its best-selling 12m outdoor intrusion sensors to an app-based visual verification solution by introducing a Wi-Fi 180° day/night camera. The VXI-CMOD will send home and business owners immediate notification of an intrusion when it occurs, and a dedicated app provides access to the live view with sound, as well as the access to recorded pre and post event footage. Secondly, the intelligent visual verification solution for monitored alarm systems will be launched at IFSEC for the UK market. It consists of an innovative hardware, the OPTEX Bridge and a performant software package powered by CHeKT that takes separate intruder and ONVIF compliant CCTV technologies installed on the same site, but acting independently, and ‘bridges’ them to create one, seamless, integrated monitored solution. Intruder alarms can now effectively be visually verified. Display of compact surveillance radars Both REDSCAN series feature extended detection range, up to respectively 30m and 100mThe company will also be showcasing the enhanced short- and long-range LiDAR sensors. Both REDSCAN series now feature extended detection range, up to respectively 30m and 100m. The REDSCAN RLS-2020 is also now Grade 3 compliant opening up new opportunities for indoor applications. To detect and track people, vehicles, and drones in wide open areas, OPTEX will display compact surveillance radars manufactured by its business partner Spotter RF. “OPTEX is excited to be returning to IFSEC in the year of our 40th anniversary,” says Masaya Kida, Managing Director of OPTEX EMEA. “While we are proud of our heritage, we know that we can never stand still, and so we continue to design and innovate new products and solutions for an ever-changing world. Our management, sales, technical, marketing teams will be all present at the show to demonstrate the new sensors and visual verification solution as well as discuss any new opportunities.”

OPTEX, the sensor manufacturer, is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2019 and has taken a look back at the changes in the industry and its impact on them. Founded on 25th May 1979, the idea and principles of the company were first agreed in a coffee house in Kyoto, Japan, between Toru Kobayashi, an electronics engineer and three of his colleagues. They had a vision for a new business, a business that had sensing technology at its heart, precision technology that could detect the 'status' and 'changes' of people and things. Wireless outdoor security Soon after its creation, OPTEX recorded a number of significant milestones: In 1980, OPTEX developed the world’s first automatic door sensor using Far-Infrared technology, a technology now adopted as standard. In 1983, OPTEX developed one of the first, wireless outdoor security sensors – a significant innovation in its time. On the security side of the business specifically, OPTEX’s sensing algorithm know-how, built up through many years of field-based technological development, is its most valuable asset, and central to the evolution of its Far-Infrared, Near-Infrared and Laser sensor technologies. Different security applications In 2000, OPTEX developed laser technology for security applications and brought the innovative LiDARs REDSCAN RLS-3060 to the market; IP-ready and featuring very precise detection using X&Y coordinates, the sensor opened new possibilities for many different security applications. The OPTEX Group now comprises 1,963 employees across 35 companies Alongside this, OPTEX developed its PIR range starting with the curtain FTN series, the Super Multidimensional Analysis (SMDA) logic – sensing analytics to make the sensor very stable. Toru Kamimura, CEO of OPTEX CO LTD in Japan says: “The company is proud of what it has achieved to date.” Artificial intelligence software The OPTEX Group now comprises 1,963 employees across 35 companies. delivering products and services worldwide and turns over approximately $366 million. “OPTEX never stands still. We are taking our knowledge and ‘know how’ to new levels, using machine-learning and artificial intelligence software to enhance its detection algorithms and introduce greater automation, and create the sensor detection technology for the next generation of security professional,” he says. “Together with our technology partners we are developing more customised solutions to solve specific security or safety problems.”

The 3rd edition of Intersec Saudi Arabia got underway with 111 exhibitors from 20 countries zooming in on the Middle East’s largest commercial security and fire safety market. Running for three days at the Jeddah Centre for Forum and Events, Saudi’s foremost security, safety, and fire protection trade show targets the Kingdom’s vast market which is estimated to grow at an annual compound growth rate of 7.7 percent over the next seven years. It was opened yesterday in a pre-show ceremony by Lt. Gen. Sulaiman Al-Amr, the director-general of Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Civil Defense. Economic diversification plans According to 6WResearch, homeland security and policing currently holds the lion’s share of Saudi’s market spend A report released on the side-lines of the show by consultancy firm 6WResearch said the total spend on Saudi’s commercial security, information security, homeland security and policing, physical and perimeter protection, and fire safety markets was worth US$8.5 billion in 2018, a five percent increase over the previous year. By 2025, the market will be worth US$14.4 billion, driven by a combination of increased investments in infrastructure in line with the Saudi Vision 2030, the stabilisation of oil prices, and the government’s ongoing economic diversification plans. According to 6WResearch, homeland security and policing currently holds the lion’s share of Saudi’s market spend, at US$4.6 billion in 2018. This is followed by information security (US$2.6 billion), commercial security (US$838 million), fire protection (US$273 million), and physical and perimeter protection (US$198 million). Integrated platform The impressive opportunities are underlined by a long list of manufacturers and suppliers this week in the Red Sea port city, spearheaded by the show’s launch partners eager to boost business opportunities. Hikvision, the world’s largest video surveillance provider, is among these, and is putting the spotlight on its latest suite of technologies, much of which is powered by Artificial Intelligence and machine learning. Others include Al Alameya, Axis Communications, Bristol, Drager, Genetec, NAFFCO, Nedap, and ZMR. With 69 per cent international participation, more than 500 brands, and an enlightening three-day conference programme, Intersec Saudi Arabia caters to growing demand for an integrated platform providing crucial access to one of the world’s most promising markets. Intersec Saudi Arabia is licenced by Messe Frankfurt Middle East, the organiser of Intersec in Dubai, the world’s largest trade fair for security, safety, and fire protection. Safety and security industries Intersec Saudi Arabia is a vital platform bringing together key stakeholders in the Kingdom’s security, safety, and fire protection industries" “Safety and Security is high on the agenda of Vision 2030 of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and there is a perennial requirement of safety and security products, fire protection and the accompanying innovations that are displayed at this event,” commented Zahoor Siddique, Vice President of Intersec Saudi Arabia’s organiser ACE Exhibitions. “Intersec Saudi Arabia, apart from targeting the five million population of the Western Region inclusive of the annual pilgrimage, round-the-year Umrah pilgrims, oil and gas installations, airports and seaports, the multitude of events taking place Kingdom wide, is the ideal meeting and networking showcase for safety and security industries.” Andreas Rex, Show Director of Intersec, added: “Intersec Saudi Arabia is a vital platform bringing together key stakeholders in the Kingdom’s security, safety, and fire protection industries. In its 3rd edition in 2019, it will once again be at the forefront of the latest technologies and solutions dedicated to meet the demand of the Middle East’s largest market.” Smart patrol solutions GET Group Holdings was among those launching new products in the Saudi market, including its latest Smart Patrol solution that assists law enforcement agencies by providing full 360 degrees surveillance, body-worn cameras, speed detection and violation as well as identification of wanted people and vehicles. GET also launched its AI-Powered process automation solutions to manage and optimise enterprise and government operations. Mrs. Maysoon Jamal, CEO of GET Group Holdings, said: “The Saudi security market is crucial to our business and our products especially for government and law enforcement agencies. We’re looking for great growth in three main categories: Secure card printing especially through our Heidi and GET/Toppan ID Card Printers, Smart Patrol Solutions, and Robotic Process Automation.” Promising markets Intersec Saudi Arabia is held under the patronage of the Saudi Ministry of Interior, and supported by the Saudi Civil Defense Other exhibitors this week include Optex Europe Limited and Fiber Sensys, both of which recently joined forces to better serve Saudi Arabia and the regional market in deploying perimeter protection and intrusion detection systems. Intersec Saudi Arabia is held under the patronage of the Saudi Ministry of Interior, and supported by the Saudi Civil Defense. It features a three-day security and fire safety conference programme operating under the wider theme of ‘Safety, Civil Security and Technology: Future Integrated Solutions’. Intersec Saudi Arabia 2019 covers the key product groups of Commercial Security, Information Security, Perimeter & Physical Security, Homeland Security & Policing, Fire & Rescue, and Safety & Health. The dedicated showcase caters to growing demand for an integrated platform providing crucial access to one of the world’s most promising markets.