<B>Low light ability</b>
Quadrant has installed 26 Baxall CDX9714 cameras in Pontefract town centre, West Yorkshire. The cameras have been installed in and around the pedestrianised part of the town centre as “city watch” cameras feeding back to the main control room in Wakefield.
The scheme was funded by the Home Office as part of its crime reduction programme. The cameras achieve increased infrared sensitivity in low light conditions as a result of their CDX9714 half inch Sony Exview HAD CCD.
<B>Sound finish</b>
RaceTech, who provide technical facilities for UK horse racing courses, has installed a life safety PA/voice alarm system in the Ebor stand at York racecourse.
The system was supplied by Baldwin Boxall in a contract with Sound Distribution Services.
The system consists of four 43U lockable racks which provide emergency announcements, messaging and general paging to 32 zones.
The GB pound 20m stand has seating for 1000 and overlooks the finish line.
<B>One card does it</b>
Quintus System has installed its advanced cashless payment system, EPnet, in the prestigious London headquarters of one of the UK’s largest landowners, Land Securities. Staff now use their security card not only to access different areas within the building as normal, but also to pay for food and drink in the staff restaurant.
EPnet integrates the catering function in the building with the premises’ existing security access system using two Epson touch screen tills and two Quintus money loaders fitted with HID proximity card readers.
Previously, staff had a free set meal. Now, using EPnet, they are allowed a set amount each day to spend on refreshment in the restaurant, which means they have greater choice. They use their card at the electronic tills to pay for food and drink with the cost being deducted from their account.
<B>Focus on surfer paradise</b>
ADT Plymouth has installed CCTV systems in the seaside resorts of Newquay and St Austell as the towns become more popular holiday resorts.
Newquay, in particular, has recently had a reputation as a surfer’s paradise. But holidaymakers have sometimes being targeted by criminals or becoming victims of anti-social behaviour so Restromel Council called in ADT Fire and Security.
The Plymouth branch installed 18 colour CCTV cameras, placed at strategic locations around the main resorts. These will cover the main shopping centre and nightlife area in Newquay, as well as monitoring locations throughout St Austell.
They are connected directly to the police control centre in Newquay, via fibre-optic cables.
Brian Sprague, Systems Security Consultant for ADT Plymouth, said: “It was quite a challenge to fit the complex system in the short time of two months, but we were very pleased to complete the project on time and satisfy the council’s requirements.” <B>Car parks covered</b>
Baydale Control Systems, a specialist in the installation of electronic management and security systems won the GB pound 70,000 contract to install seven external CCTV systems for Chester Lee Street District Council.
They cover the Riverside car parks and childrens’ play area at Durham County Cricket Club and are linked to the Pavilion sports centre via a complex fibre optic network where they are monitored and then transmitted back to the control room in the town centre.
Other high profile installations by Baydale include CCTV and access control at Beaumont Castle, Dublin; a car park revenue scheme at South Tees Hospital and a major project for Heathrow Airport.
<B>Listed building protected</b>
The building where conspirators planned their attempt on Hitler’s life in 1944 is now a centre for art and culture fitted with a sophisticated fire and alarm system supplied by Bosch.
Because Schloss Neuhardenberg is now a cultural centre and a listed building, the installation had to have as little visual effect as possible.
A total of 15 smoke extractor systems suck air out of the rooms through small holes in the ceilings and pass it through pipes laid under the floors of the room above to a fire detector.
The intruder detection system is also supported by a UGM2020 control centre, which receives its reports from window and door contacts and PIRs.
External areas are protected by a CCTV system. If anyone steps on a pressure sensitive sensor buried in the ground an alarm is triggered and cameras automatically swivel to the event point.
<B>Exclusive installation </b>
Elite Security of Tucson, Arizona, upgraded security at one of the world’s most exclusive country clubs, The Tucson Country Club with the installation of an REG number plate capture system from Derwent.
Integrating with standard DVRs, the system captures registration details for all vehicles entering and leaving and, with its combination of camera and IR technology, it is said to give accurate recognition in all conditions – day or night, at high speed and directly against high-beam headlights.
REG technology is suitable for wherever there are vehicle control points such as gates, toll booths, car parks, bridges, on-ramps and tunnels. A detailed guide on planning, designing or installing systems is available on 01670 730187. <B>Upgrade at airport</b>
CEM Systems, part of Tyco Fire & Security, has completed a contract to extend its access control system at Belfast City Airport to accommodate a GB pound 1.5m major upgrade.
The CEM AC2000 Airport Edition system has been extended to control access to new Bmi Business Class lounges and a modern air-bridge facility.
Philip Verner, Marketing Manager, said: “Since the initial installation the system has been extended to meet the airport’s continuing development plans.” In addition to the terminal building the AC2000 AE system installed at Belfast City provides access control to staff car park areas.
The system can be developed to meet specific airport needs as they change over time.
CEM has also won contracts totalling more than GB pound 200,000 to expand its existing AC2000 SE system at the prestigious new Hong Kong Science Park.
<B> GB pound 2m car in focus</b>
ADT Portsmouth installed a CCTV system to protect a rare Ferrari valued at over GB pound 2million.
The red Daytona Spyder convertible is one of a fleet of prestigious cars benefiting from the security upgrade at Bramley Cars of Bramley Village, near Guildford.
The ADT branch won the order to fit 24-hour, day-and-night cameras, digital video management and recording.
The system auto-switches from daylight colour to night-time mono. Staff can instantly play back without interrupting recordings Bramley Cars not only uses the cameras for the traditional purpose of crime reduction and prevention, but to improve customer service, allowing staff to notice when customers arrive … not always possible from office windows.
David Inman, Financial Director of Bramley Cars, said: “We welcome people almost as soon as they arrive – which is a nice touch and is one of the ways we ensure customers come back to us. I also find the recordings an extremely useful staff appraisal tool as, for example, we are able to go back and monitor how long it takes staff to respond to customers.” <B>Cruise ships protected</b>
Wessex Fire & Security was called on by Associated British Ports to help install specialist equipment to improve the security systems protecting cruise-ship operations.
Shaftesbury-based Wessex provided specially-designed control systems to operate access doors at the Queen Elizabeth II and City Cruise terminals. Wessex also installed a special fire detector at the City Cruise Terminal that overcame the problem of false alarms caused primarily by air particles.
Linear heat cabling was installed in ceilings.
This responds instantly to temperature changes but ignores other day to day activity.
<B>Runways in view</b>
Integration specialist Scotshield has installed CCTV camera’s that overlook the airport runway in the Control Tower at Edinburgh Airport.
The National Air Traffic Services contract at Edinburgh Airport also includes a fully comprehensive Scotshield maintenance package.
The installer has also recently completed the internal installations of fire detection, CCTV, access control and PA systems in both Stornoway and Kirkwall Airports in Orkney. These projects also included CCTV systems overlooking the runways.
<B>History locked up</b>
Cam locks and cylinder mechanism from Abloy Security are protecting the exhibits at the Museum of London’s “London Before London” gallery. Historical remnants such as hunting equipment and jewellery are displayed in showcases unobtrusively secured by the locks. Showcases have a very strong yet thin metal frame incorporating hinges and discrete locks supplied by WG Pollards.
Each cabinet features a combination of push button and cam locks. The locks are keyed to an Abloy Disklock Pro master keyed suite offering high security access to the cabinets.
<B>Programmable system</b>
BB’s Locksmiths of Burnley installed Briton Cobra digital locks from IR Security & Safety at the Pendle Leisure Centre in Colne Lancashire.
Cobra is a programmable locking system with keypad that can store up to 100 three to eight digit user codes at the keypad and allows administrators to quickly delete users. It can accept code options including “one use” codes which expire after initial entry and a “freeze/lockout” code.
<B>Wright way to do it</b>
Wright Fire & Security installed the high security system for the Royal St George Open Golf Championship this year.
Wright installed a Network Video Technologies unshielded twisted pair transmission based CCTV system. Located on the course, the system’s police control room was operated by Kent Police.
Used were Vista Powerdomes in combination with a mix of NVT’s NV-211T-M universal passive or NV-653T active video transmitters.
High quality real-time colour images were transmitted on CAT 5e UTP cable at distances well beyond those of NVT’s quoted 1.6kms max, back to an NVT Active Receiver hub located in the on-site control room.
Camera cables had to be run alongside high voltage mains cable but Wright’s Sales Director, Chris Broughton, said, despite the hostile transmission conditions, the NVT transmitters and receivers solved the problem and provided high quality images over the four day event.
“Using coax would have had a detrimental effect on the quality of A-B video, and the use of fibre was prohibitive in terms of practical installation requirements and cost.” <B>No more interference</b>
Broughton Controls has installed Nortech’s new Hyper X access control system with guaranteed long distance read range for Nottingham City Council’s main depot. The large 14.5 acre site is used by 750 council fleet and more than 500 staff vehicles. It replaces the previous access system which suffered interference from neighbouring telecomms poles and broadcasting frequencies.
Laurance Goode of Broughton said the Hyper X was the perfect solution “as it operates using 2.45GHz microwave technology which moves away from the very congested frequency ranges, so completely eliminating electromagnetic interference from external sources”.
<B>Heavy job tackled</b>
DG Morris of Coventry upgraded security at the home of racing driver and founder of the Sytner Group, Frank Sytner, using FAAC 770 underground operators.
Carpenters worked on the site during installation to ensure that the large swing gates fitted precisely. Darren Morris of DG Morris, who specified the electromechanical automation system, said the 770 was ideal for the application “because the operators are fitted underground so they don’t detract from the look of the gates. Also being solid wood, the gates are very heavy but the 770 handles them effortlessly”. Access is by coded entry with magnetic codes and radio phones. Operators can be maintained without removing the gate.
<B>Fewer cameras required</b>
A boom in tourism and new business start-ups has resulted in a CCTV scheme centred on the Tempe Bar area of Dublin … much loved for its 17 pubs, 66 restaurants and more than 60 retail outlets within one square kilometre.
Dublin based installers SKS Communications specified Pentax lenses for the CCTV installation due to the need for greater cost efficiency and higher resolution images: Fewer cameras were being required to cover the given area.
Said Harry Smith of SKS: “The police needed to achieve better coverage in some areas and we achieved this by using the Pentax 12~240 zoom lens. Its high speed and low F-stop has made it a worthy addition to our system. It has also been added to our system in Cork and will be used in future systems.” The city centre scheme now has 75 cameras joined by 48 microwave links through a fibre network around 25 kilometres long. Crime was reduced by 50 per cent in the first six months of the scheme.
A number of communities have now sought the introduction of Garda CCTV into their own areas. The scheme has proved effective not only in protecting people and property but also in helping to set increased efficiency in allocating police resources.
<B>Installer in at digital start</b>
North London based specialist CCTV installer, Antron Security installed an Octar digital recording system as part of the 12 camera CCTV system at the new Comet electrical store in Hendon, north London.
Comet has more than 70 Octar DVR systems from Visimetrics installed in its stores nationwide.
The first digital system was installed about six years ago and Antron has been involved from the start.
Said MD, Tony Yaffie: “Having installed the original VCRs at Comet we were somewhat apprehensive about making the change to digital systems.
“Our main concerns were about the degree of reliability of PCs and the degree of user-error that can disrupt the system.
“Fortunately, however, our engineers had the right technical skills to embrace this new technology and we received good support from Vismetrics, making the transition from analogue to digital relatively smooth.” Antron is one of only two installers that has been employed by Comet for more than nine years at its 250 nationwide stores.
As well as maintenance checks, technical support staff regularly visit stores to ensure all staff are proficient in the use of equipment and they provide in-house training wherever necessary. They also attend a store to assist in downloading evidence and provide free software upgrades.
<B> GB pound 90K upgrade at Butlins</b>
Following a contract for Reflex Systems to review security requirements across all Butlins resorts in the UK, the company completed a GB pound 90K upgrade at the Skegness resort.
Reflex were asked to design and install comprehensive and flexible surveillance with enhanced night time images.
Working closely with the client, they identified improved ways of managing the site. Fibre optic transmission was used over traditional cabling to achieve high quality performance over long distances.
Reflex has had to consistently plan on-site work within rigid timescales to avoid disruption to holidaymakers.
Group MD, John Pye, said “Our consultative, customer driven approach as well as our technical expertise have again enabled us to meet the client’s exact requirement on time and on budget.”
