Quays to security

Cannon Security has installed a carefully-picked combination of high quality security equipment to give peace of mind to occupants a prestigious apartment complex in Salford Quays.

Form and function both play vital roles in the security systems for the NV Buildings in Salford Quays, Manchester. The system not only has to work well, but must also fit in with the high quality finishes adopted throughout the state of the art residential development.

Countryside Properties is developing the trio of apartment blocks on the waterfront, which feature panoramic views, including the Lowry art and entertainment centre just across the water and Manchester United's Old Trafford ground.

Cannon sourced a package of access control, CCTV and intercom systems from Network Video Centre to keep intruders out and protect the people, cars and apartments within the prestigious complex. All three blocks have identical layouts, with each containing 82 apartments, including two penthouses. Two of the buildings are complete and the third is under construction, on course for completion by Christmas.

A seven-strong concierge team provides round-the-clock coverage for the development. Head concierge and building manager Jim Carroll says he finds the high level of security gives confidence to people living there and reassurance to those who are considering a purchase.

"We had a family that came in a few weeks ago and one of the best points for them was the 24-hour CCTV coverage and the 24-hour presence of a concierge."

Focus on aesthetics

Provision of tight security has been a priority, but so too has the appearance of the equipment. "The chosen products look good and fit with the finish of the apartments," says Craig Pennington, security manager at Cannon Security.

The intercom design is a BPT System 300, and Pennington says he has been delighted with both its look and the ease of its installation.

"The old-fashioned telephone handset on the wall is history," he says. The units in the apartments are smaller than a light switch, with a chrome finish. Each one comes with a barcode on its back which is tied to a particular apartment.

"It is a really good system," he says. "It is very easy to set up and it is very easy to diagnose any faults in the network." The intercom system also includes the main gate, enabling visitors to talk to the concierge.

The project has spanned more than three years, and during this period the design of the keypads changed, but NVC organised new keypads of the same design.

Four-way access

Residents of the complex have no need to call the concierge for access to the car park, thanks to the access control part of the security system. This needed to be both practical and flexible, and Cotag by Bewator was the chosen solution.

Residents have a single key fob with four functions. "This combines protection for cars with access control to the apartment blocks," Pennington says.

The access control covers the front and back doors of all three blocks as well as the pedestrian and vehicle gates into the complex. "Each apartment is issued with two," Carroll says. "We do have the capability to de-program any fob and re-program a new one to open the lock."

"Initially we were going to put a vehicle tag on the base of the car," Pennington says. As the car drove up, the gate would have opened automatically. "But there would have been issues if a car went in for service or was stolen," he says. "With this system, if someone breaks into the car they won't get anywhere with it."

Carroll said the service from Cannon Security had been of very high quality. "Any time we've needed them – for help, advice or anything – they've always been there the same day, or if it's an evening call, first thing the next morning."

Watchful eyes

The CCTV system has already proven its worth in catching a thief. A tenant had taken his landlord's furniture when he left. "The memory on the hard disk recorder enabled us to win back to the day before he left," Carroll says. "We spotted him going out of the back door with the TV, paintings off the walls, the rug off the floor, coffee tables and so on. We just gave the copy of the disk to the police and they did the rest."

CCTV is used to monitor the exterior of every block, and fixed Vista internal dome cameras are used in the reception areas. Static Vista Protos 3 colour/mono cameras cover the gate and car park areas in a zigzag pattern to ensure nowhere is left out, while Vista PowerDomes mounted on Altron 6m fixed columns cover other areas.

"The cameras are mounted away from each building on poles to enable them to look at the building as well as away from it," Pennington says. "The domes are about 10m away from the building. We recommended this as providing the best coverage for the building. It is essential to capture a good picture in all light conditions, and the cameras make use of the blocks' architectural lighting as well as security lighting."

A single concierge desk monitors the cameras in both of the completed blocks and will also cover the one that is still under construction. A 16-channel Vista Columbus Triplex DVR with a 320GB hard drive captures the images, which are observed on a Vista monitor and controlled using a Vista keyboard joystick.

Privacy is an additional consideration in this location. Areas that are nothing to do with the development's security are masked out, with the privacy mask staying in position during control of the dome.

Recordings are kept for approximately a month, though a CD is made of any incidents using the CD writer alongside the DVR. "This can hold about 40 minutes, which is easily enough," Pennington says.