Modern Security Tames Old West Town
For decades, British Columbia, Canada-based Fort Steele Heritage Town’s outdated security system relied on faulty equipment, sporadic alarm communications and costly on-foot guards. With the help of integrator JSL Forum, the popular tourist destination is now protected by wireless network technology.
[IMAGE]12050[/IMAGE]Leveraging Communications
JSL Forum began the security upgrade in October 2009 by rolling out updated alarm communications and 16 Honeywell Vista 21iPcontrol panels for the 80 buildings within the heritage town. For the first time, all Fort Steele employees would have security system access and remote capabilities for each access point.
The main design incorporated remote-management capabilities to give each staffer a code to access the master system. Previous equipment could only hold a few codes and with a large seasonal staff in the summer Fort Steele needed to have as much control over external and internal entry and activity as it could.
Fort Steele staff could then use the Internet, smart phones or other Web-enabled devices to remotely control and monitor any part of the security system and receive video notification of activity or alarm. Since deployment of the solution, at the end of every night and the beginning of each morning the staff receives a detailed report outlining system statuses and activities.
Gordon Hope, general manager of Honeywell’s AlarmNet, says offering services that allow customers to remotely monitor specific areas by use of cell phone is extremely important to integrators in today’s market.
“In the commercial market, if someone has multiple offices, he can just log in and see what’s going on in any of the systems and perform the necessary changes without having to go to the site,” he says. “It’s pretty powerful in terms of reducing operational costs. If your customer has a portable device, he knows he is carrying around the keypad to his security system. The future is going to be bright for these services.”
Supported by Honeywell’s AlarmNet communications network, Fort Steele’s system includes remote access management via Honeywell’s Total Connect service. The system enables control of intrusion and surveillance remotely via computer or smartphone. The solution includes wired or wireless IP cameras that feature a compact, portable design, allowing customers to move them whenever they choose.
The system provides Fort Steele staff with monitoring capabilities for theft prevention in critical areas like buildings featuring firearms as part of a law enforcement display. The multipartitioned system includes asset protection (Honeywell’s 5870 API) technology, providing indoor sensor detection against theft.
Each gun rack is equipped with a wireless sensor and any disturbance, such as a visitor picking up a display rifle, triggers an alarm to call a monitoring facility or sends a notice to the staff. Motion detectors are also placed around key retail operations in the gift store, general store and several restaurants. This helps detect motion around cash registers during nonbusiness hours.
At another key display area, JSL Forum installed Honeywell’s 5800PIR-OD motion detection to safegua
rd archived documents and valuable historic artifacts against tampering.
Sensing capabilities on the Fort Steele grounds aren’t limited to theft. The system also operates environmental sensors to detect smoke and heat in high-risk fire areas. In buildings with heavy traffic and high heritage value, JSL Forum installed Honeywell’s 5809 wireless fixed heat and temperature sensors. These devices help link event and alarm notification together with Total Connect services.
“The great thing about the Total Connect system is that we can upgrade with other additions and tools pretty effortlessly,” says Williams.
Addressing System Challenges
Deploying the Total Connect system did present some initial problems, however, because it wasn’t available in Canada at the time, according to Brunnbauer. As a result, many of the Canadian monitoring stations did not want to support the system because of costs.
“We had to find the right monitoring station that would be willing to support the systems,” says Brunnbauer. “We had to bring the Honeywell team out to negotiate with our monitoring station. We didn’t want to deploy Total Connect for only one or two accounts because it was going to be really expensive.”
If you enjoyed this article and want to receive more valuable industry content like this, click here to sign up for our FREE digital newsletters!
Related Content
Security Is Our Business, Too
For professionals who recommend, buy and install all types of electronic security equipment, a free subscription to Commercial Integrator + Security Sales & Integration is like having a consultant on call. You’ll find an ideal balance of technology and business coverage, with installation tips and techniques for products and updates on how to add to your bottom line.
A FREE subscription to the top resource for security and integration industry will prove to be invaluable.
