Jordan O'BrienAnother big theme of the Essential Install Live! South this year was the amount of security exhibitors and the way security devices themselves are becoming a more integrated part of whole home automation systems.
Aldous Systems reported strong interest in the functionality offered by the Visualint brand with drivers for all the main automation platforms available and others being worked on currently.
The smart analytics of these systems and cameras in particular have come on leaps and bounds recently to offer something which can tell the difference between ‘environmentals’ like tree movement and the type of movement that end users do want to be able to detect.
The use of intelligent cameras, including PTZ models in residential installs, which can talk to each other and share data mapping movement around an area is also on the up according to Aldous Systems.
Comelit also reported positive reaction to its concepts including an increase in door entry and intercom packages as well as more automation options available with RTI compatibility. The brand also had info on its own BMS system SimpleHome suitable for large MDU projects or large single dwellings.
Coordinated Security was showing how its laser detection systems can protect areas setting up virtual walls which can then deliver different levels of threat to the system depending on where the trigger is detected.
Thermal imaging was also demonstrated showing how the products can tell the difference between people and how it can ignore natural features with no heat signature.
Coordinated Security was also showing close integration with its fire and security systems with the Crestron automation platform able to deliver real time accurate information on where threats are detected.
Working with programming specialists, Custom Code Crafters, accurate detail of where exactly a fire has occurred is passed to the Crestron touch-screens increasing the chance of finding a fire quickly and stopping it from spreading.
Users can silence and reset the fire alarm locally once the problem is dealt with and the graphics displayed are designed to closely match what would occur on the system’s dedicated fire detection panel.
Crestron touch screens also display faults and maintenance notifications. The company explained that it also wants to add other control platform compatibility.
John Dupree, managing director of Coordinate: “We install fire alarms in very large dwellings and what we noticed was that it can be quite a long walk before the homeowner can find out where a fire alarm activation or fault is located. What we have created alongside C3 is this custom integration product using Crestron.
“In the event of a fire or fault the Crestron touch screens throughout the property display the floor and location of the activation automatically. It is then simple to see which floor and room the fire activation or fault is located in. This means a safe exit route avoiding this area can be taken and with the right training for staff could dramatically reduce search times for the event. Potentially the difference between walking to the fire panel is the difference between a smouldering piece of paper and a full blown fire. We’ve had a massive amount of interest from Crestron installers.”