Installers should have a security-specific labelling machine

John Webster, a Senior System Engineer for UK installer Advance Technologies Security, has been working on commercial security installations for more than 15 years. On each of these jobs he has carefully labelled every important component of the system.

Clear labelling helps maintenance and repair work, and is one of the marks of a professional job. Throughout these 15 years Webster has experimented with various different labelling techniques, but has always returned to his tried and trusted marker and tape. While high technology has improved many aspects of the installer’s life, in the case of labelling it seems that many installers are still happy with what they know best.

“I always knew that pen and tape were far from perfect,” Webster says. “But the fact is, a few marker pens and a strip of tape cost hardly anything, I never had to learn how to use them, and unlike a machine they have got no parts that can break down or malfunction. If my pen stopped working I simply threw it away and found a new one.”

But after 15 years Webster has abandoned the old technology in favour of a dedicated labelling machine. “You can’t write small with a marker pen, so inevitably you end up abbreviating your marks on the label, and sometimes that means you miss out important pieces of information,” he says.

“It can also be hard to read handwritten marks – especially when the pen smears or smudges. A printer ‘writes’ both small and clearly, so I can get all the information I need on the label, and be sure it is completely legible. Printed labels finish a job nicely.” One of the major advances in the new generation of labellers has been the addition of industry-specific features and shortcuts.

Trialling the Rhino 3000 portable labeller, Webster said: “My first job required over 200 labels at a single site – so the first hurdle was to get used to the device’s shortcuts. The number of hotkeys for security installations meant that getting up to speed required a little practice. The more time I spent using this device the easier, and faster, it became.” Other benefits of an automated printer include the strong vinyl tape used, and the lightweight, handheld design of the printer body.

EBOOK: Lessons from IFSEC 2023 – Big Tech, Martyn’s Law and Drone Threats

Read IFSEC Insider’s exclusive IFSEC eBook and explore the key takeaways from the 2023 show!

Navigate the impact of Big Tech on access control, gain insights from Omdia’s analysts on video surveillance trends, and explore sessions covering topics like futureproofing CCTV networks, addressing the rising drone threat, and the crucial role of user proficiency in security technology.

There's also an exclusive interview with Figen Murray, the driver behind Martyn's Law legislation.

 

Get your copy today!