Robust School Security Solution Wins Bates Integrated Installation of the Year Award
Bates Security’s leading-edge solution for a Kentucky high school allowed the dealer to win the 2018 SSI Integrated Installation of the Year (Single Site) Award.
At Frederick Douglass High School, Bates Security installed a 192-camera system, access control with intercom and ID badging, and intrusion detection. Via Sonitrol of Southwest Ohio, monitoring includes verified video and audio.
A/V Monitoring Included
A wide variety of leading-edge equipment was specified and deployed on the Frederick Douglass High School grounds. In fact, Bates Security used just about every type of device it sells and services, including Interlogix door contacts, Honeywell motion detectors, 3xLogic dome cameras, Sonitrol bullet cameras, Honeywell and HID card readers, electric latches, electrified door handles, Sonitrol impact-activated audio sensors and 3xLogic NVRs with the ability to livestream to the central station when alarms are detected.
One of the top highlights of the solution is the Sonitrol intrusion detection system, which was completely customized to meet the needs of the school.
This unique audio detection approach provides comprehensive coverage and detects attempted break-ins through ceilings, walls, doors and windows. When a questionable sound is detected (e.g. a thud, glass breaking), the system alerts a Sonitrol central station operator.
This highly trained sound analyst then determines the nature of the threat and, if warranted, contacts the appropriate authorities.
With controlling and monitoring traffic into buildings and sensitive areas being critical for schools, another particularly noteworthy facet of the solution is the Sonitrol managed access control and photo ID badging.
It allows educators and administrators to limit access to designated areas or throughout the facilities by time of day, employee, or other criteria they deem necessary.
More than a dozen doors are managed through Sonitrol and the entire access system is integrated with the verified audio detection. In addition, every door has a strike and motion detection, and every entry has a sensor and panic button.
On the surveillance front, Bates partnered with 3xLogic to outfit the campus with the vendor’s VIGIL Central Management intelligent video. The system includes 60 indoor and 132 outdoor HD IP cameras with analytic software for verification and network health monitoring.
The cameras’ wide dynamic range automatically adjusts to environmental lighting and allows school facilitators to see out of a sunlit room or in near pitch-black darkness. The cameras record to six 3xLogic servers in the school, with video verification at every entry door.
“The 3xLogic real-time video health management allows us to help the customer realize the maximum benefit of their video system by making sure it is always operational,” says Bates Security President Jeremy Bates. “When there is a service issue, instead of waiting for the client to call us to say they need service, we typically know about an issue and have started the process to get it handled before the customer even knows they have a problem.”
Some other specifics of the solution include: A badge printer and software allowing the school to create its own ID badges; 59 door contacts, 25 360° motion detectors, 79 impact-activated audio sensors with glass-break technology, three keypads at entry points and two panic buttons as part of the intrusion system; school principals and law enforcement all have remote viewing software on PCs or laptops, including a 70-inch touchscreen monitor located in the school’s law enforcement room; and the fire alarm is integrated to release the access control on alarm.
“The NVRs are nice robust units with a lot of capabilities,” says FCPS’ Brumfield. “The cameras are nice and compact with great clarity. We really like the look of the 180° cameras as the video is seamless and clear. The big thing that most of us like is the user-friendliness of the 3xLogic software.”
On the surveillance front, Bates Security partnered with 3xLogic to outfit the campus with the vendor’s VIGIL Central Management intelligent video. The system includes 60 indoor and 132 outdoor HD IP cameras with analytic software for verification and network health monitoring.
System Shows Value Daily
Due to a tight timeline, Bates Security’s training of system users began in earnest even before the installation was complete. Between finalizing the project and the opening day of school, and as a consequence of limited participant availability, company representatives had to conduct four separate training sessions with the campus’ principals.
Training for law enforcement on the remote software was completed in one two-hour course, with every officer from all FCPS high schools took part. Once completed, the interconnected systems allow both Bates and Sonitrol of Southwest Ohio to determine issues immediately if and when they occur.
At the same time, remote access keeps school staff and administrators immediately aware as well. School law enforcement has access to the camera system from any other school; in fact, the entire system can be supervised by any device with Internet access and conveniently via mobile app.
This of great benefit for dispatch as they have the ability to see inside the school in the case of an emergency so officers can assess the situation before arriving onsite.
The system is now being used throughout the day to monitor exterior doors, interior hallways, cafeteria, auditorium and the gymnasiums.
Since it went live, there have not been any major incidents of intrusion, burglary, vandalism or trespassing reported by school facilitators or alarm points. However, school officials have found the system of high value even in the course of conducting basic daily operations.
“Officers and administration stated that they use it all the time to recover property from thefts or situations where an item was lost or mislaid,” says Brumfield. “FDHS administration stated they used the camera system to help them figure out what staff propped a door open over one weekend so they could address it.”
According to Moberly, the Frederick Douglass High School job was one of the most efficiently run projects Bates Security has undertaken. With the equipment coming in on budget and the labor under, it’s no wonder the end user was elated with the aesthetics, function and features of the system.
“School staff and law enforcement is extremely pleased … Everyone seemed very satisfied,” says Brumfield. Now that is an impressive report card.
View the slideshow for more pictures of the award-winning installation!
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About the Author
Scott Goldfine
Scott Goldfine is the marketing director for Elite Interactive Solutions. He is the former editor-in-chief and associate publisher of Security Sales & Integration. He can be reached at [email protected].
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