Atronic Alarms Awarded as Resident Expert
Atronic Alarms project leaders (l-r) Chris Wright, Curtis Mayes and Neil Atha discuss access control using long-range card readers on the main gate to the Lodge at Highland Village complex.
Access, Video, Fire & More
As the second-largest job in Atronic’s history, Atha worked closely with the installation department during the design phase of the project. He specifically utilized the expertise of Installation Supervisor Chris Wright to create a seamless system interconnected exclusively through fiber optics across 10 acres of property. Wright’s degree in computer networking was crucial setting up remote access.
“Chris, being the project manager, was solely dedicated to this job and was out there nearly every day even though he had other projects to manage,” says Atha. “Almost every installer was onsite at one time or another to assist. I personally did several walkthroughs with installers and met with the owner several times to makes sure expectations were being met and that we were on track.”
The integrator installed an HAI by Leviton Omni Pro II security and automation controller and the main Kantech access control panel in Highlands Lodge’s clubhouse building. The security itself was designed only for the clubhouse but has the ability to communicate to all thermostats installed in the hallways of each apartment building to control their heating and cooling. The access system includes Kantech flushmount boxes on entry/access points in each building and long-range card readers on the gates to enter the premises. Residents have access to wireless key fobs to lock/unlock each one of the entry gates.
A 3TB Panasonic NVR also sits in the clubhouse with all 24 Panasonic megapixel cameras tying back to the network through fiber optics. Cameras are viewed in the clubhouse on a large 36-inch screen. All buildings on the grounds have cameras installed in their hallways in the direction of Kantech telephone entry systems. One reason for this was to have a view of the doors if they are left propped open by residents. Authorities will receive an alert and can look at the video feed.
“Our Kantech access controls and Panasonic security cameras work very well,” says O’Leary. “The access control system gives us the ability to program each key fob differently; we have six separate buildings and six gates that all have different layers of security.”
The largest aspect of the job is the fire system, where Atronic installed six Bosch analog addressable fire panels – one per building, all tied back to each other through fiber optics. Thus, if a smoke/heat detector goes off in one building it will trigger the main panel in the clubhouse that t
here has been an alarm. In each of the apartment buildings, Atronic installed elevator recalls that, in the event of a fire, stop the cars and send them in the opposite direction of the hazardous floor. Some units are equipped for people with disabilities and so Atronic installed strobes in each room of those apartments.
Remote Functions Were Key
One of the most unique aspects of the system is how it was designed to be very remote management friendly. The apartment leasing and staff members were set up with HAI’s Snap-Link to control the thermostats in each building through their smartphones or on their computers.
A VideoIQ camera was installed by the pool area at the Clubhouse with alerts going to authorized personnel’s phones if the area was breached after the pool closed. Office staff has the ability, through the Kantech Entrapass Go mobile app installed on their phones, to add or delete card users at any time. And personnel use another widely available app, IP Cam Viewer, to see output from any camera on the network.
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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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