Sensormatic is providing and installing dome cameras into ASDA's new supercentres in Sutton Coldfield and Havant. It includes Sensormatic's popular SpeedDome camera as well as its Intellex digital recording system that ASDA has specified for several years.
"We have worked closely with Sensormatic for the past nine years and have great confidence in the security solutions they provide," said Steve Storey, ASDA's security technical manager. "This latest project is very important and we expect to install the technology in at least 20 stores across the country annually." The SpeedDome has a zoom adjusted programming facility that automatically adjusts the pan and tilt speeds relative to the distance zoomed. It can also move to a pre-set target within two seconds while maintaining accurate focus. The Intellex product is entirely digital and can simultaneously record video pictures from up to 16 cameras directly onto its internal hard drive.
Baxall's Happy Valley
Swale Security Systems has installed Baxall telemetry equipment at The Valley, Charlton Athletic's football ground. When Charlton was promoted to the Premiership in 1998 (and the club is back there now!) there was a complete upgrade of the stadium. Now an extensive CCTV system has been installed as part upgrade, part new fit.
The control room was the first area to be modernised by Swale, who installed variable speed telemetry receivers, a Baxall Daxden telemetry interface to allow the use of an existing controller, and a Baxall ZTX6 transmitter and two remote keyboards with joystick control.
The telemetry transmitter controls up to 32 cameras via coaxial cable, enabling camera pan and tilt, zoom, focus and iris all to be controlled from one.
Safari so good
Automated Entry Systems of Warminster has installed FAAC automatic operators at Longleat Safari Park, where a complex system of nine sliding gates had been in operation for the past two seasons.
The ever-increasing number of visitors had made it necessary to replace the existing manual gates with a more user-friendly, controllable system that would not only regulate traffic effectively but also ensure the safety of visitors and animals by keeping each species in its designated area.
Using FAAC's 844 operator, the installation was carried out over a 12-week period from January to March, during which time the park is closed to visitors.
Designed for intensive use, the 844 is suitable for gates with a maximum length of 19m and a maximum weight of 1800kg. It features an anti-crushing device, power failure override, automatic locking, inductive limit switch and partial opening capability.
NICE one
Business Systems has supplied and installed NiceVision digital CCTV at Dulwich College in South East London, as part of an overall installation by Harris and Sandford Security.
With more than 1,400 students ranging from seven to 18 years old, occupying 15 buildings, Dulwich College chose NiceVision for its ability to manage multiple sites, along with the advantages provided by advanced digital technology. Integrating NiceVision with the current fire and access control systems will enable the college to trigger recording based on specific events.
"We wanted a system that would grow with us," said Peter Wilkes, security sergeant at the college. "Because NiceVision is modular in design, you can continually add new features."
Crime figures declining
PFM has installed a surveillance system in the Dingle area of Liverpool, where high unemployment had led to increased social and drug-related crime. PFM used Philips LDH0805 auto switching colour cameras, JVC TK-C1360 digital low light colour cameras and Pentax C6 motorised zoom lenses. These products were chosen for their effectiveness in low light conditions, frame integration, lens quality, pan and tilt facility and clarity of images.
The images are relayed via fibre optic cable to a JVC 21 inch colour monitor with multi-screen compatibility, memory function and control lock at an independent 24-hour monitoring station at Netherly. An additional monitor is situated at Merseyside Police HQ for further monitoring.
Early indications show the scheme has been a success, with several arrests made and crime figures already declining.
Wizard solution
West London Security has installed a networked access control system at Merlin Communications' London and Warwick offices. Merlin Communications was formed in 1997 following a management buyout from the BBC.
Merlin provides a range of managed global communications solutions to broadcasters, ISPs, telecommunications providers and other commercial organisations. The company wanted an access system that could be controlled and monitored from any of its locations. It wanted to be able to add, delete and set access card security levels independently, as well as monitor the access of each site.
"Due to the high value of equipment and data housed within all our premises, we needed a sophisticated system to control unauthorised access but not disrupt the day-to-day movements of our employees," said Mark Bunting, facilities manager co-ordinator at Merlin Communications. "The system installed by WLS was exactly that. It allows us to easily set up our other sites as and when we bring them online."
Building security
ACE Security has installed the latest ADPRO Fast Scan transmission technology from Vision Fire & Security at 40 Travis Perkins sites throughout the UK, from Inverness to Plymouth. Travis Perkins, one of the country's largest builder's merchants, wanted to replace its previous DVST technology as part of a major drive to improve security.
The project comprises some 200 PTZ cameras with transmitters at every site, and ten receivers at a central monitoring station. Nicholas Packhan from ACE Security said: "The speed of the ADPRO transmission is fantastic. The DVST took 10 to 15 seconds to transmit images, whereas the ADPRO takes a maximum of one to two seconds. Its transmission quality and reliability are superb.
Due to the nature of a builder's merchants having to store most of its goods outside, making them highly vulnerable, Travis Perkins recognised the need for a more effective visual monitoring system. Regional security manager Dereck Turrel said: "Previously it was difficult to monitor what was happening on our sites after 5.30pm. Now we can see exactly what people get up to with 24-hour monitoring."
Rail contract for Tyco
Tyco Integrated Systems of Cambridge – formerly Philips Projects – has won the contract for the design, installation and project management of a comprehensive CCTV and customer information display system (CIS) for Silverlink Train Services, funded jointly by Silverlink and Railtrack.
The CCTV system covers 29 stations along the County and Metro Lines, which run through north and north-west London and on to Watford Junction, Milton Keynes Central, and beyond Northampton to Long Buckby.
The new Tyco installation comprises some 220 fixed and PTZ colour cameras, providing high quality 24-hour monitoring and recording.
Monitoring and control are available at each station, and remotely via the two remote main control centres at Bletchley and Willesden.
"Our success in winning this major ongoing project was partly due to our considerable railway systems experience and ability to offer the customer tailored but cost-effective solutions," said Beverley Hobbs of Tyco Integrated Systems.
In "Shell" and core areas!
Romford installer McMillan Fire Alarms is putting its detection equipment in the old Shell building Shellmex House, a listed building overlooking the Thames, which is being converted to provide office space.
A 20 loop distributed voice evacuation system was chosen with a facility for the tenants to interface with the house system when required. The system is capable of handling up to 2,540 addresses including smoke detectors, heat detectors, break glass units and interface units.
The distributed system means that wiring does not come back to one central control unit but to various control stations through the building, networked onto the data highway and to the main control station in the security room.
McMillan Fire Alarms has 30 years of experience in the manufacture, design, installation and maintenance of complete fire detection systems in all market sectors.
Visitors feel safe
Television Installation Services of Mansfield has installed a £315,000 surveillance system which has just gone live in the West Yorkshire town of Castleford. It was conceived to establish a feel-safe factor among visitors to the town.
Using 17 fully functional Mark Mercer domes , each incorporating a Synectics DC camera telemetry receiver and high performance colour camera, the system provides comprehensive coverage of the town's main surveillance routes, pedestrianised high street shopping area and three large surface car parks.
To ensure the camera images remain noise-free, each camera is connected to a locally sited Synectics Tesseract 32x8 video switching and control matrix via fibre optic cable. Ten miles away at the Wakefield Council operated control room, TIS has expanded the camera switching capacity of the existing Synectics video matrix with the addition of a Synectics X250 System control keyboard, five hi-resolution monitors and two Panasonic AG-TL700 S-VHS time-lapse video recorders.
Crime Barrier prevents ramraid
Dorwin Protec in Farnham has saved Spearhead Computers of Basingstoke from a potentially disastrous burglary, thanks to Trellidor. Ramraiders left empty-handed, defeated by the trellis-style barrier, which protected the glass front door and windows.
The standard Trellidor, measuring 3.5m wide by 2.5m high, sustained four separate impacts which were so severe that the Trellidor bowed more than 2m into the 3m long office, stretching the diamond-shaped grilles into horizontal positions. The removable bottom track, containing the old-style nylon feet (new Trellidors have been redesigned using a steel alternative) withstood the ramraid. The locking mechanism of this double-sashed Trellidor – the Trelli-lock – was also totally unaffected.
Installer Richard Holland of Dorwin Protec said: "Police at the scene of the crime spoke admiringly of it."
Worldwide housings parked
Bradley Lomas Electrolok, a multi-disciplinary company in security, fire, safety and emergency lighting, put more than 50 Conway CCTV housings into Guildford car parks. The IHC4 and IHW4 models were used.
Chris Newman of Conway explained: "The IHC4 was originally designed for tough prison environments but has since been used worldwide for various applications. At home, and in the Netherlands and France, it can be found in shops and subways – and on railway stations as far away as the Lebanon.
"The product's angular shape is designed to deflect blows rather than absorb them. In an independent review of vandal resistant housings it came out with top honours." Other recent BLE activity includes a £1.2 m contract for DHL/East Midlands Airport.
Protecting lifesavers
Meggit Marsh Guardian Systems are installing Baxall telemetry and control products at the RNLI headquarters in Poole. MMGS have put a ZMX Plus multiplexer and ZTX6 telemetry transmitter into the on-site guard house, which is monitored 24 hours a day.
The ZTX6 operates within a network environment to control nine PTZ cameras installed externally, while the ZMX enables live and playback images to be viewed in multi-screen format, and images from all the connected cameras to be recorded simultaneously. Using its triplex function, the ZMX Plus can perform all these tasks at the same time.
The installation was part of an overall upgrade to site security and is used to monitor the administration buildings and the depot, where the RNLI boats are serviced. The depot was particularly vulnerable due to its size and open frontage to the water.
Tony Wheat of Meggit Marsh Guardian Systems commented: "I am happy with the Baxall equipment's reliability and its ease of installation."
Problem was soon history
Securicor has overcome a potential problem in an upgrading project at a castle for Jersey Heritage Trust. The Trust needed to provide a high security locking system for the main entrance door on Elizabeth Castle and specified an Abloy Disklock Pro cylinder and lockcase. The complication was that the door was the Jacobean original, made from solid and matured oak, and 18 inches thick.
As it turned out, providing the cylinder to fit that thickness of door presented few problems. Within just a few days, a "special" had been made and Securicor Jersey's locksmiths fitted it with little fuss – although drilling took its toll on their carpentry tools! "I was amazed with the lock," said Mick Burrell, security manager for the Trust. "I expected to be presented with a key at least 600mm long and weighing about a kilo. Instead I got this small key about 50mm long and weighing only a few grams."
Star turn
Engineers from APT Controls have installed high-speed, bi-folding Fastgates at London Weekend Television's Southbank studios, and linked these with a sophisticated vehicle number plate recognition system. This provides secure parking at the underground park, while allowing 24-hour access for authorised users.
"The Fastgates offered maximum security without the need of a guard 24 hours a day," said sales engineer Neil Palmer.
"Due to the nature of the industry and the number of high profile employees who pass through the gates on a regular basis, it was essential that a hassle-free solution was found, which combined security with convenience." One of the main advantages of Fastgates is the speed with which they open and close – within 2.5 seconds at LWT, preventing tailgating and unauthorised entry by vehicles or pedestrians, but giving legitimate users fast and easy access
How's that?
Cricket helmets and speed bikes are not the usual homes for CCTV cameras. But that is where POVCAM, of Biggin Hill, Kent, has put GBC's MOD-711 high-resolution colour cameras (supplied by Vision Warehouse) for BSKYB.
Andy Babb, owner of POVCAM, explained: "We have developed three camera systems, installed in helmet peaks, designed especially for cricket batsmen and fielders. Weight was a crucial factor because a small increase or imbalance of weight could affect the players' performance. We used the lightest available helmets, together with the MOD-711 colour board cameras because they are the highest resolution for their small, light and compact size." Andy added: "Work is currently underway to build six camera systems for speed bikes. With weight and quality still being important factors, we are again using these cameras to create special rear-facing cameras for the bikes to film the rider."
Improving effective control
Aeon Security Systems has installed the latest ADPRO Fast Scan transmission technology from Vision Fire & Security, at 30 remote One 2 One sites. The telecommunication giant had a major drive to improve security, from Inverness to Plymouth.
The project comprised 140 cameras with transmitters at every site, and seven receivers at One 2 One's central monitoring station. The brief was to improve the effectiveness of control over critical sites, from a central monitoring base.
Tony Wilkinson of Aeon Security Systems explained: "ADPRO Fast Scan was chosen for its ease of installation and operation, superb remote diagnostics and tried and tested versatility. This is vital, as it must stand up to the diverse range of security personnel using the Fast Scan system in different environments and with different levels of knowledge."
Gamble with security
TCS Zoom, the CCTV arm of the Technical Casino Services Group is not gambling on security at Moscow's casinos. The company is using JVC dome technology in an expansion to one of the city's new-look Western casinos, including 20 colour TK-C553 domes linked to a matrix system with 40 SR-S990 VCRs, along with CCD static cameras. They are to arbitrate decisions, monitor staff and prevent cheating.
Source
Security Installer
