Modern ACS for HOAs.
One of the new market trends is the development of control and security systems for residential complexes. The intercom that is already familiar to everyone is being replaced by complex automated systems. In this article, we want to consider one of the ways to create such a system.
Let's first try to formulate the problem as a whole. Restoring order and reorganizing the housing and communal services, the mass emergence of homeowners associations and management companies at one time led to almost complete intercom installation in multi-apartment residential complexes in large cities. Now an intercom on the entrance door is not only the norm, but also a mandatory requirement. However, the practice of recent years has shown that this is not enough for both residents and management and operating companies. Today, residential complexes require restriction and control of entry and entry to the house territory and parking, access control to attics, basements, technological hardware for energy metering. Video surveillance of all objects is already considered not just fashionable, but also necessary. Thus, in essence, a classic security system with a security and fire subsystem, ACS and a video surveillance system is created in residential complexes.
Of course, it is no longer possible to solve all the problems with intercoms alone, even modern and multifunctional ones. Moreover, the market today requires a comprehensive, not segmented solution to the problems of monitoring the security and operation of residential complexes. Residents find it inconvenient to have a bunch of different keys and key fobs for the gate, the entrance, and the entrance. Residents are irritated that in order to receive or replace a lost personal identification key, they have to call somewhere, go and wait for several days or even weeks. In addition, residents want to be sure that the adjacent territory, entrance, elevators, and parking lot are under control.
Another requirement of the time is higher quality and more efficient maintenance of both entrances and the entire security complex in the HOA by operating companies. Considering that, as a rule, such companies service many objects, the possibility of remote and prompt updating of information in intercoms and ACS significantly simplifies such a task. On the other hand, companies can take on the maintenance of the entire security system (video subsystem, barriers, gates, etc.), and not just one element, thus increasing their competitiveness. Management companies, in turn, are also obliged and want to control their objects and access to them.
An intercom is an amazingly useful device that has deservedly taken its place in our everyday life both at work and at home. The main tasks of an intercom are to let us in, restrict access of strangers, while providing convenient audio-video communication and remote control of the entry point. Modern intercoms perform these tasks well, and will perform them in the near future. But access to the house territory, parking lot, basements, utility and technological premises is already often organized on the basis of standard ACS equipment. Moreover, if the events and control capabilities of a classic ACS can be brought to a single service or security center, then the intercom databases, as a rule, “live” autonomously at each entrance. This is where the complaints of residents and the headache of the maintenance services come from. That is why installers of such systems have long been trying to somehow combine these systems, in particular, for example, to use personal identification keys from intercoms in the scope of the ACS. But the main problem has not been solved — there is no centralized system where data from intercoms is received and from where remote control and reprogramming are possible. And it has not been solved because there is no simple standard technical way to solve it. As a rule, intercoms do not have a special external interface, and it is not possible to solve the problem at the software level. That is, a special hardware solution is required, the development of which requires experience, additional knowledge and resources. Installers and maintenance services do not have this. Here, help can only come from developers and manufacturers of intercoms and ACS.
However, if the ability to exchange data between intercoms and ACS is provided, then the installer of residential complex security systems has a real opportunity to automate and centralize the solution of a whole range of tasks. Then we can talk about creating automated workstations (AWP) for security, dispatchers, HOA offices, and management companies. Thanks to such AWPs, it will be possible to control all objects of the residential complex, promptly respond to accidents, violations of order and criminal situations, investigate incidents and accidents.
Many professional ACS already have the ability to integrate with video subsystems or with software products that ensure the construction of a comprehensive security system. At the same time, corresponding video archives can be linked to each event in the ACS or intercoms. Entering new user data, restoring lost identification keys, editing and deleting both in the ACS databases and in intercoms will be possible from a remote and equipped point. Copies of vehicle and user databases will allow you to quickly and effectively restore the system in case of failures and failures. Archives of ACS data and events, security systems and video surveillance will help residents, administrators and law enforcement agencies quickly and effectively sort out incidents of various natures.
Let's get back to practice. How can we integrate «ACS + intercom» without destroying the already established structure and functions of intercoms? As already mentioned, the integration of these products is only possible at the hardware level, since it is necessary to control the information received from the intercom panel. This can be done by creating a special integration unit. Such a unit is installed near each panel and allows you to control its status, record data in the intercom control unit. In addition, it can perform additional functions that are not typical for an intercom, for example, remotely control lighting, turn on warning sirens and unlock doors in case of fire, organize access of special personnel to the entrance (police, employees of service organizations, etc.) and much more. It is hardly reasonable to force this unit to perform security functions, since usually each protected area has its own security panel. This device improves the quality of service maintenance of facilities and the information content of the intercom, for example, to receive information about who and when entered the entrance, to control the service personnel, etc. Using this unit makes it easy to organize automated workstations in the HOA security center and transfers the intercom to the rank of a full-fledged access control and management subsystem. Since the unit is connected to the ACS via a standardized interface, such a system will be able to operate under the control of software shells into which the ACS is already integrated.
The following tasks can be solved from a single center:
monitoring the status of the intercom and door;
storing copies of key databases by entrances;
promptly updating personal identification keys;
organizing the passage of vehicles;
organization of admission of guests, employees of service organizations, security services;
the ability to control actuators (gates, lighting, etc.);
locking and opening doors;
maintaining an archive of events and much more.
Once the emergence of apartment buildings led to the emergence of intercoms, the emergence of HOA is becoming a catalyst for a new qualitative leap in the development of intercom equipment. In fact, this is the formation of a full-fledged access control and management system, and after it — security systems in the residential sector.
It is quite natural that an attempt in this article to predict all aspects of the development of intercoms in this direction cannot claim to be complete. However, we can say with confidence: intercoms, which have firmly entered our lives, will now take a more appropriate place in the security system of the residential sector.