Managing multiple screens and interfaces from these isolated systems can also take its toll in manpower time, often resulting in slower response times during an incident. The reaction time of a security officer, trained on the multiple interfaces of a building’s CCTV, fire, intrusion, access and other facility functions, is impeded by the need to manually process information from these isolated systems. With integrated systems, an officer’s response can often be more targeted and appropriate.

The ability to consolidate the command and control of these disparate functions into a single platform with a single user interface can greatly simplify the experience for the end user and positively impact staffing, operations, energy costs, and the overall safety and security of a facility.

End users’ interest in greater overall functionality is creating real opportunities for systems integrators, regardless of their vertical market specialization. Already well schooled in security functions, integrators can harness their existing relationships with facility managers and security directors into building a total facility solution, streamlining complicated processes and creating a comprehensive, easy to use, management system for their clients.

Benefits for the End User
In a typical office building setting, building operators and security personnel may be monitoring various security functions, such as fire and video surveillance systems, access control and intrusion functions and parking management systems. Other systems, such as emergency exit controls, public address systems, elevator controls, visitor management functions and numerous HVAC elements can quickly crowd the desktop of the guard on duty.

With an integrated system in place, communication between these numerous functions becomes automatic. When the fire alarm is pulled on the sixth floor of a 12-story office building, emergency exits are automatically unlocked on all levels, and the addressable voice evacuation system delivers clear instructions, specific to each floor or zone, on exiting the building. If the fire alarm system is alerted of smoke, the air handling system immediately powers down its fans to avoid spreading smoke throughout the building.

Efficiencies are also found in non-emergency situations. Environmental and lighting controls, tied into the building’s access control system, can link the use of heating, cooling and lighting to occupancy of a particular room or zone, instead of more traditional scheduled temperature or lighting changes. This approach ties energy use to need, such as turning on the lights and HVAC system when an employee enters a certain area, instead of using regular schedules that may or may not reflect the actual behavior of building occupants.

Combining access control with video surveillance is another example of the power of integrated systems. For instance, security directors can enhance their access control for particularly sensitive areas by setting readers for video verification, minimizing the chance of someone entering a room with a stolen ID card.


Tips for the Integrator
For the first time, systems integrators are able to harness the possibilities of IP technology, which has brought a common language to the security industry for true, integrated systems. Using IP devices and systems not only allows for integration within life safety functions, but also makes possible the combination of other functions into a single system.

Today’s non-proprietary technologies that allow integration from third-party manufacturers are integral to a truly comprehensive approach to total building management. Using vendor-agnostic platforms such as web server applications, as well as taking into account existing standards in the facilities management industry such as BACnet, LON and OPC, manufacturers have eliminated many of the technological roadblocks.

New capabilities don’t necessarily mean that all facilities need every available function rolled into a single system. A successful integration project begins with a frank and thorough discussion of the end user’s business needs, reporting structure and goals for the project. Does the facility require alarm management functions tied in with HVAC controls in the central dispatch office or only at each location?

Getting the most accurate, up to date information from an integrated system does not happen simply because the systems are networked. Integrators should ensure that bidirectional communications between subsystems exists, ensuring that communication between hardware and software occurs as automatically and quickly as possible. This is paramount in an emergency situation where decisions are made based on snapshot assessments of the situation.

Integrators must also ensure that the system is built around a unified database, which enables the transfer of application-related information between systems and ensures that this information is kept up to date. For example, updates to human resource information when employees are hired or leave the company should automatically be made to the access control database. A delay of minutes or hours could provide a disgruntled employee the opportunity to inflict damage to company property.

The ability to tie backend functionalities of so many systems is only further enhanced by providing a unified look for alarms and other alerts, regardless of their origin — access control, video surveillance, fire, etc. This allows for a more consistent response from facility officers and will aid in reducing training time for the end user.

Integrators should look for manufacturers and technology providers that have built simplicity into the installation process — tools such as templates for pre-defined response actions, easy configuration menus and information import/export tools. Integrators should also look for systems compatible with common file formats for ease of importing and exporting data.

Manufacturers that underscore their product with readily-available training and technical support, during an installation and after completion, is also paramount. The ability for scaleability and modularity will also be attractive to an end user looking to make an investment in such a system over time.

Building operators and facility managers are becoming increasingly attracted to systems that can monitor the health of an entire building, and manufacturers are contributing their significant technological expertise into producing tools to bring together these multiple systems onto a single platform. Some integrators are already realizing the potential of new revenue possibilities with these projects and are capitalizing on the growth opportunities they provide, while others have yet to even understand IP technology. It is essential that all integrators gain the knowledge required to stay ahead of this curve in order to remain relevant to their customers’ needs and future demands.

Norm Hoefler is the country manager, Canada for Bosch Security Systems Inc. He has worked in the security industry for 15 years in integration, business development and manufacturing.