The 10 Most-Read Articles of 2015 for Installers of Security and Fire Systems

What were the most read articles aimed at installers on IFSEC Global this year?

Here are the news stories, features and how-to guides with the highest traffic throughout 2015.

10. 5 Reasons Why Access Control Cards Still Have a Future Despite the Rise of Biometrics
Contrary to what biometrics manufacturers might tell you, says Scott Lindley, President of Farpointe Data, people will still be using cards for many years to come.

9. Beware Hype Over IP Cameras With Cloud Storage, Says Simon Lambert. Sloppy Installation – Not Analogue Cameras – is Usually to Blame for Poor Image Quality
Responding to a recent IFSEC Global article about cloud storage in the social housing sector the CCTV consultant believes cloud storage is more fallible than its proponents will admit. You can read a response to this article from Cloudview founder James Wickes here.

8. 5 Barriers to Growth in the Home Automation Market and how they’ll be Overcome
Few homes are what you could describe as ‘smart’ and home automation remains a niche pursuit for technophiles and the affluent. How quickly this changes depends on several factors.

7. Beyond 4K: How Much Appetite is there for Avigilon’s 7K Camera?
According to one specialist working in a successful CCTV installation firm, the resolution arms race is not yet an exercise in vanity.

6. The Fire Suppression Innovation that Douses Fires with Radiator Water
In fire-suppression tests Blueproof also reduced the toxicity of smoke and lowered temperatures by hundreds of degrees within 60-90 seconds of activation.

5. Winners Announced for Security & Fire Excellence Awards
Who triumphed across 24 categories covering CCTV equipment, installers and fire protection innovations, among others?

4. First-Ever 7K Surveillance Camera Launched by Avigilon
According to Avigilon, the single-sensor 7K HD Pro camera provides maximum scene coverage while minimising bandwidth and storage consumption.

3. Five of the Most Innovative Surveillance Cameras in 2015
From Avigilon’s 7K camera to Cognitec’s facial-recognition offering, here’s our pick of the most pioneering products in the surveillance space this year.

2. CCTV Standard: BS EN 50132-7:2012 Demystified
Do you really have time to read 63 pages of ‘Application Guidelines’? CCTV consultant Simon Lambert distils this intimidating document down to its key points.

1. CCTV Camera Settings: Here’s How to get the Best Picture Possible
“Do you want your CCTV images to be ‘ho-hum’ or ‘wow’”? CCTV consultant Simon Lambert suggests installers and operators content with the former need not read any further.