Castel’s audio-video intercom has been selected to protect the beautifully ornate, French château-style Waddesdon Manor in Buckinghamshire. Built in the 1870s for Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild, the house was used for filming some of the exterior scenes in Downton Abbey.
Waddesdon Manor is part of a magnificent estate that is now a National Trust property, although the Rothschild family continues to have an active involvement in the property through a charitable trust. The house and gardens receive 400,000 visitors a year, who flock to a variety of attractions across the 120-acre estate.
Castel CAP IP-V1B-P unit
System integrators Chiltern Technology have installed Castel’s full IP/SIP intercom entry stations at seven locations around the site. The model chosen is the CAP IP-V1B-P, which is a PoE unit in 316-stainless steel that ensures optimum performance in all weathers and also provides vandal-resistance.
Graham Johnson, Managing Director of Chiltern Technology, said: “There are multiple automated gates around the estate. One of the major challenges was back-comms over long distances, as one of the entrances is located more than two miles from the main security gatehouse. Employees are identified by an ANPR system as they approach, but having effective verbal communication with delivery vehicles was also vital to the overall solution.”
Wi-fi and wireless point-to-point
He continued: “The Castel entry stations are used with Wi-Fi and wireless point-to-point links so that our client can view and control who gains access from the multiple entrances. With such a complex layout at the estate, vehicles often arrive at the wrong location and need to be redirected. The CAP IP entry stations give us full duplex audio and, together with the colour cameras, they enable very effective communication.”
Chiltern Technology are Waddesdon Manor’s regular security integrators and the company has also installed over 200 IP cameras across the estate, the majority being a Grundig 1.3MP model. Having subdued illumination to protect the grand master paintings inside the manor meant that cameras with CMOS sensors still capable of producing high-resolution images at low light levels were required. There are also edge-detection analytics on the estate perimeter.
"The CAP IP entry stations give us full duplex audio - |
Castel’s CAP IP-V1B-P entry station complies with disability regulations on LED visibility and has an integrated induction loop. The unit can be flush or surface-mounted to suit requirements. Ingress protection is IP64 and impact resistance is IK09. Many installers use the PoE functionality, but optional external power supplies are also available.
Waddesdon Manor access control system
Waddesdon Manor uses a third-party access control system, although customers often combine the CAP IP range with an integrated 13.56 MHz Mifare or Desfire reader. Set-up of the proximity system is via the entry station’s web browser. The entry station reader can be part of a wider networked access control system when used in conjunction with Castel control software, which allows central administration.
Waddesdon Manor is built in the Neo-Renaissance style and was completed in 1889. The manor is celebrated for its collection of English portrait paintings, French furniture and a functioning aviary in its original rococo setting. The aviary now protects rare and endangered species and is a registered zoo. Early visitors to the house included Queen Victoria, who was much impressed at the time by the cutting-edge innovation of electric lights.
Chiltern Technology
Chiltern Technology specialise in historical architecture, commercial buildings, retail and industrial properties. The company designs and installs systems involving CCTV, access control, perimeter protection and intruder alarms. Chiltern design engineers pride themselves on customising ground-up systems that provide ideal combinations of equipment for individual site needs. Chiltern were an early adopter of video analytics and have exceptional knowledge of its deployment. The company’s headquarters are located in Aylesbury, just a few miles away from Waddesdon Manor.
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