Open systems can save you money

The rapid development of information technology is having a direct effect on the speed of development in electronic security systems.

This was bound to happen, as electronic security systems are fundamentally information management and control tools. They need increasingly more powerful mediums and processing systems in with which to manage their day-to-day functions in an efficient and reliable manner. No employer wants to see a queue of their employees waiting in turn to be authorised into their place of work – "card reader rage" could ensue.

Mindful of this, some security system manufacturers strive to make their systems future-proof. Many systems, though, are too proprietary and myopic to serve clients' future requirements and financial constraints.

However well-planned or specified a project is, the end-result will display considerable technical and physical changes when compared to the original tender remit. By the very dynamic nature of building security, requirements will change regularly, whether it's due to a company expanding or an organisation re-structuring. What happens then is that the client has to specify, plan and spend a great deal on reconfiguration of security systems. These reconfigurations generally involve not only a security installer, but the numerous allied building trades as well.

Instead of clients going to the expense and inconvenience of installing miles of separate proprietary cabling into their premises, why don't they install a secure, common open media and communicate with and control all of their building systems? After all, this is often meticulously executed for IT requirements. A security manager can then spend the money he has saved on other areas that make up his remit.

A truly open system is one whereby many systems can share a common medium and infrastructure without conflict. Heating and lighting control can be operated by access control and presence activation; fire alarms can shut down ventilation and air-conditioning in critical areas; and access control and CCTV can control areas safely and completely.

Some organisations are already enjoying these benefits. Bluewater Park Shopping Centre in Kent uses an open system (Sensorium iBMS from E-Squared), as do a number of banks, universities and pharmaceutical companies.

The UK Open Systems Association (ukOSA) was set up to promote open systems for building services. There are at present 15 members, including two security system suppliers: Kaba (UK) Ltd and Honeywell Control Systems. Non-security members include AMEC Integrated Solutions and Philips Lighting. The ukOSA has chosen to promote open systems based on LonWorks technology. We believe the technology is reliable, easy-to-use, can keep pace with changes in technology and isn't susceptible to hackers.

All methods and accessories adopted for LonWorks technology has to be vetted and "LonMarked" by the LonMark Interoperability Association before they can be considered for a LON solution. Stringent standards are applied before an accessory can be LonMarked – the standards applied are similar to the British Standard accreditation procedure.

The amount of rejections in LonMarking a development often outweigh the acceptances. This ensures high standards, which gains the client's trust of open system technology.