Theuns van Schalkwyk

About Theuns van Schalkwyk

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The future of the VMS

The surveillance market has changed over the past few years, even if we exclude the impact the Coronavirus is having on all markets and economies today. But as the market changes, what is happening to what was (and still is) the foundation for surveillance projects, the video management platform?

In this year’s handbook, we have articles about the move to an app-like model where applications for specific situations or with intelligent functionality can be downloaded to a camera and run on the camera. These apps can also be replaced if requirements change or if the camera is moved to a new location. So if we are going to be doing so much more work on the camera in terms of analytics and decision making (or on the edge as is the fashionable way to describe it), what role will the VMS (video management system) play in the future? Will its functionality be limited? Will we see the convergence of the VMS and PSIM (physical security information management) platforms?

Hi-Tech Security Solutions asked some people in the management platform market for their thoughts on the future of the VMS.

Gus Brecher, MD of Cathexis Africa

Gus Brecher agrees that the edge is becoming an important component of the surveillance and broader IoT market. However, he does not see the end of the VMS or even a lesser role for it. At the most basic level, even if all processing is done on the edge, people still want their video sent to a central server where it will be stored and made available for searching and further analysis. In areas such as retail where video footage is used for business intelligence as well as security, this store-and-analyse functionality is even more important.

Taking an analytical function as an example, while recognition of licence plates can be done at the edge, later analysis or investigations will still be done on the server to improve traffic, parking management and so forth.

Brecher also notes that while many cameras do have the ability to load apps or change the analytical functions the camera is tasked with, these benefits also come at a price. In addition, what happens when a company wants new analytics or wants to manage all the data from various cameras (perhaps different brands that have been bought over time)? Modern VMS platforms are able to manage a host of different cameras and collate the information – the end user does not need to be limited to a single brand.

Additionally, today’s VMS does not simply store video data. The database management functionality and skills inherent in the VMS makes all the difference in terms of performance and allowing users to get the information they want. This is also being expanded into complete security management and building management solutions, incorporating many of the functions we find in PSIM solutions.

The difference between PSIM and VMS solutions is one area where convergence is happening as both solutions start incorporating elements that once belonged to the other. In the case of the PSIM, it will be a challenge for these companies to improve their systems to the level of the VMS when it comes to video management in the solution’s database.

This convergence is accelerating in the IoT world as users need some central platform that will be able to associate video with other transactions, such as access control, point-of-sale monitoring, crowd management and people counting and so on.

Some high-risk scenarios

If the network fails in a traditional set up, most modern cameras have on-board storage to record video and then transmit it once the network is up and running. If all your eggs are in the edge basket, what happens when a camera fails? You lose everything. With a VMS recording everything, you will at least still have historic footage to use in forensic analysis and so forth.

Moreover, when one has standardised on a VMS, the supplier will not only have the technical and database functionality in hand, they also cater for things like cybersecurity and privacy legislation such as PoPIA and GDPR. Any updates can be made available to clients quite easily while new cameras are continually being integrated into the system.

Using analytical apps as if they were apps for a smartphone raises more risks as the user needs to ensure that each app meets the cybersecurity and privacy demands required. You are dependent on a range of suppliers and need to trust they all meet the demands of your local environment. Even with all the precautions taken by multi-billion dollar companies to ensure security in their smartphone app stores, malware, spyware and other unwanted software still gets through. What will the outcome be with a multitude of ‘camera app’ developers?

Then one can look at the firmware issue. If the camera’s firmware changes, how quickly will app developers move to update their applications? The VMS companies have dedicated teams focused on making sure hundreds of cameras (even thousands) work seamlessly with their platform.

Brecher reiterates that the edge does have an important role in the future of the surveillance and IoT markets, but they will definitely not make the VMS vanish.

Looking ahead

CathexisVision is the video surveillance management software from Cathexis. The solution was originally developed as an on-site solution that could manage multi-site installations – as were many major VMS platforms in the market. With the world we live in changing, Brecher says that CathexisVision is also changing.

The functionality of the system is continually being enhanced as always, but Cathexis has redesigned the architecture of the system to cater for different customer requirements. Specifically, the new architecture will cater for the benefits the cloud provides and allow customers to host their systems in the cloud, on-site or in a hybrid model. The administration will be easier as access will be simpler and all the functionality, from user and group management to provisioning new cameras will be possible in the cloud – even by mobile devices.

He explains this means that even if there are thousands of cameras being managed by the system, users will be able to add four new cameras for a new branch office (for example) and assign certain users the rights to see those cameras. This will ensure security and privacy as users will only be able to see cameras they have had assigned to them, even though there are many cameras on the same system.

While the cloud-ready architecture has been created, the final touches to the new system still need to be done before the system is broadly available. Brecher even notes that at some stage in the future, Cathexis may have its own cloud infrastructure and sell VSaaS (video surveillance-as-a-service) solutions.

XtraVision and Arteco

Hi-Tech Security Solutions also spoke to Nick Grange and Theuns van Schalkwyk, directors of XtraVision, an Arteco distributor in South Africa and joining in the conversation was Dean Sichelschmidt, Arteco Global country manager.

From Grange’s perspective, there is no threat to the VMS of today. We are seeing a shift as these platforms take on more of the work PSIMs currently do, but the VMS itself is not going anywhere. Some VMS brands are likely to disappear over the next few years, however, but those that pay attention to integration and making it easy to work with their platform via SDKs (software development kits) and APIs (application programming interfaces) have a long future ahead of them.

This is an area where Arteco has proven its ability to integrate many cameras and analytical applications with its platform to serve a variety of customer needs in many verticals. See more about the platform at www.securitysa.com/8854r, www.securitysa.com/10785r and www.securitysa.com/10225r.

The strength of the VMS is that it provides a single interface through which customers can manage a range of functions, primarily related to video surveillance today, but fast expanding to include other aspects of the IoT world. Some companies will develop apps with specific analytics for exacting tasks, but they will find limited scope in the market if they are unable to integrate their software and make it part of a broader management platform.

In addition, system integrators (SIs) are bound by service agreements with their clients and will therefore stay with tried-and-tested solutions. Platforms that have stood the test of time in the field are always given preference over stand-alone products – unless those products can integrate into their existing management systems.

Sichelschmidt agrees with this, noting that customers are looking for an ‘all-inclusive experience’. He admits that the edge is playing a growing role in the surveillance world and does not discount the benefits it and cloud-based systems provide. The value, however, will remain with platforms that deliver an integrated experience.

If a customer is looking for limited functionality for a small installation, perhaps edge-based solutions will meet their needs. A small parking area, for example, will probably be able to make do with cameras loaded with LPR applications, but when one looks at larger installations there is a need to talk back to the server, share data (often from different products) and make it available for later analysis.

Apps are not unique

In addition, Van Schalkwyk mentions that many camera manufacturers are adding value to their hardware by including analytic applications for free. All the user needs do is obtain a VMS licence for the camera and the analytics are free (some WiseNet cameras, which are supported by Arteco fall into this category). Moreover, there are already camera manufacturers that have made it possible to add and remove apps from their hardware as required.

In a case such as above, the VMS will not only support the camera, but the analytics as well. And as the VMS expands its scope, this and other management functionality, from access control to perimeter and more will be handled from the same interface with the same operating procedures. The management of the analytics is also an issue that the VMS can cater to by ensuring that the software is compatible with the hardware’s firmware.

While the interviewees agree that edge-based products do have their space in the surveillance field, they also note that a central platform, whether on-site or in the cloud is necessary for searching and analysis when requiring additional security information or even business intelligence. A central reporting function is also something users would be unwilling to lose.

The future is bright

There can be no doubt that edge-based products and third-party apps which can be loaded onto cameras are going to find a positive reception in many environments. However, those environments will mostly also include a VMS system, perhaps in a different form than before as cloud and hybrid installations become the norm, but the central station is in no danger of disappearing from our industry just yet.

As the interviewees noted, integration is a critical component of surveillance and broader security solutions today. The easier it is to integrate one product into a centrally managed environment, the more interest SIs and end users will be in that product. Nobody wants stand-alone products that require their own technical skills and need special attention.

It’s likely we will see more management platforms incorporating the capability to manage apps customers buy, allowing them to add or remove them while also adding an additional layer of management and cybersecurity to whatever ‘app stores’ may appear. This will allow companies with specialised skillsets to focus on their core strengths and develop the latest AI solutions, while at the same time giving customers the satisfaction of knowing they are not buying a wildcard app that may get up to mischief inside their expensive cameras.

2 MP front-facing mobile camera

The TNO-6010M from Hanwha Techwin, distributed by XtraVision, is a front-facing mobile camera designed for in-vehicle (car or train) use, powered by the Wisenet 5 network. This camera is designed to withstand being mounted inside a vehicle, with adjustable length and a dual-joint design to adapt to any vehicle.

It offers a 2 MP resolution operating at 60 fps, a 2.8 mm fixed lens (113.7°), triple codec H.265/H.264/MJPEG with WiseStream II technology (for video compression), 150 dB WDR/HLC, USB port and analog video out for easy installation, advanced video analytics and sound classification. It also features True Day/Night functionality and includes an SD card, fog detection, PoE, and has ratings of IP66, IK10 NEMA 4X, and can operate at temperatures between -30°C and +55°C.

Key features

• Lens hood to prevent windshield glare.

• 0.04 Lux @ F2.0 (colour), 0.004 Lux @ F2.0 (B/W).

• Built-in 2.8 mm fixed lens.

• H.265, H.264, MJPEG codec supported, multiple streaming, WiseStream II support.

• Tampering, loitering, directional detection, defocus detection, fog detection, enter/exit, (dis)appear, audio detection, shock detection, face detection, digital auto tracking, sound classification.

• Motion detection.

• DIS with built-in gyro sensor.

• SD/SDHC/SDCX memory slot (maximum 256 GB).

• Enables monitoring of a running train or vehicle without the camera shaking.

• Web browser-based monitoring.

• Alarm: an event occurs, video is either sent to the email address registered by the user, to an FTP server, saved on a Micro SD card or NAS.

• IVA (intelligent video analysis) functionality.

• Supports ONVIF Profile S/G/T.

Personnel tracking in mines

In the event of a rescue operation, it is impossible to predict what dangerous elements lie ahead. Challenges in such an unstable environment, which can be completely dark or filled with smoke, fire, heat, dust and falling unstable ground, is life threatening to both the rescuers and the rescued. Time is therefore of the essence and is one of the greatest factors when carrying out any rescue operation.

EWCop have created an RFID Personnel Tracking system, which enables the mining operation to track personnel. It enables the mine to account for its personnel at all times, meaning that it knows the exact whereabouts of an employee in the event of an emergency or rescue operation.

The system is added to the employee’s PPE (hard/safety hat), which is compulsory; it can also be added to a rescue pack or battery lamp. The solution consists of the following:

· EWCop Base Station – Live communication with tracking system and software.

· EWCOP RF Handheld Reader – Used by the rescue team to locate trapped employees.

· EWCop RFID Antennas – Located at various points for live tracking.

· EWCOP RFID Rescue Tags – Tag has a battery life of three years and can be replaced.

· EWCOP Software – Software is web-based and can be accessed from anywhere.

System features

· Extreme long-range detection in a shaft of up to 300 metres.

· RF signal detection between surfaces of up to 18 metres.

· Proximity detection at shaft entrance.

· Automated shaft clearance.

This system has been deployed and tested in different mining environments and has successfully passed, with each company posing its own unique site, health and life safety requirements.

Perimeter security design

When one starts to design a perimeter protection system you need to consider and evaluate the site, taking cognisance of international best practices, such as the four Ds for perimeter protection systems: Deter, Detect, Delay and Defeat.

Deter: This prevents crime by convincing the criminal that the target is too tough. Signs which notify passers-by of security measures are a deterrence. So are chain-link fences topped with razor wire, or patrols cars and armed guards.

Detect: If deterrence does not work, a criminal may attack the target and the detection layer notifies someone that an attack is occurring. For instance, a window contact alarm notifies the alarm company if the window is raised. Without a detect layer, the crime can take place and no-one is the wiser.

Delay: This is hardening the target with tougher materials such as property cages, security boxes, etc. A solid-core metal door and longer screws which connect the door frame to the walls is an example of delay because it will take longer to pry open than a normal door. Adding a padlock to the inside of a gate will add a delay layer. Delay does not mean “make impossibly strong”. All barriers can eventually be penetrated.

Defeat: Sometimes referred to as the response layer, this is what the police or security forces do – they catch the bad guys (or more often, run them off).

Before starting, the designers and installers will need to ensure that their plans are compliant with all local regulations as well as any site-specific regulations and processes. To establish this, one will need to conduct a detailed on-site survey of all existing perimeter security mechanisms and protocols to gather the information required. Thereafter one can start to design a solution based on the following considerations:

• Client concerns and issues related to the current system.

• Status of and age of the current system.

• Consideration of detailed site condition evaluation.

• Types of technology available.

• Technology performance and limitations.

• Site influences on-site which may influence technology choice.

• Integration of technology into existing system.

Types of perimeter security technologies

Video intrusion detection: Video is used and analysed through a digital signal processor to determine pixel change and apply a written algorithm to determine a potential threat or targets within the field of view. These systems normally consist of a number of cameras back-to-back with an overlap to cover dead lengths below the camera. Thermal and/or CCD cameras with an illumination source are normally used in this application along with software management systems that will alert the operator when a human target has been detected.

This system allows the operator to visually verify the cause of the alarm as well as providing additional situational awareness to make informed decisions when dispatching response teams.

Microphonic cable detection: The digital microphonic cable fence disturbance sensor will function as an electronic perimeter intrusion detector. This system is deployed on boundary fences or physical barriers to protect the perimeter of a site. This technology detects alarms caused by attempted cutting, climbing, or lifting of the fence structure.

Seismic perimeter detection: The seismic sensor is a covert intrusion detection system designed to generate an alarm when an alarm is triggered by digging, walking or running in the vicinity of the perimeter fence. Seismic sensors are normally buried and as a result are not easily located and avoided or tampered with.

Microwave detection: Microwave sensors generate an electromagnetic (RF) field between transmitter and receiver, creating an invisible volumetric detection zone. When an intruder enters the detection zone, the changes to the field are registered and an alarm is raised.

Non-lethal electric fence: Electric fences carry an 8 Joule pulsing electrical circuit and when touched by a person or animal, will deliver a shock. Should a person or animal cut, break or short the live and earth wires, an alarm will be created at the local energiser.

Human radar detection: Radar offers unique advantages over other sensors for the detection of humans, such as remote operation during virtually all weather and lighting conditions. However, humans are difficult targets to detect because they have a small radar cross section and move with a low velocity. Most current radar-based human detection systems employ some type of linear-phase matched filtering as part of the detector to improve accuracy and filter environmental influences.

Video management system: Whether new or existing, this is the heart of the system and to a large extent determines many aspects related to system design, including:

• Type of technology which can be integrated.

• Operator interface and usage.

• Remote access.

• Failover and redundancy capabilities.

• Anticipated life span of the system.

• Third-party system integrations.

Finally, the site will also need to consider the operators it will be employing in the control room to monitor and manage the installation. Do the operators have a good level of expertise related to the video management system and technology currently installed? Are the operators technology-savvy and do they have a good understanding of computers? Are the operators familiar with protocols and standard operating procedures on site? Is the present staff complement on site adequate for both day and night shifts?

XtraVision is an authorised importer and distributor of a complete range of fire and security technologies.

XtraVision under new management and set for new horizons

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XtraVision, a distributor of electronic security and fire solutions in Africa and South America, has changed hands. Anthony Rosenbaum founded the company in 2010 and he has sold his 50% stake to Nick Grange, who now takes on the role of managing director. Grange’s partner in the company, Theuns van Schalkwyk, remains on board in the role of technical director.

While many companies are under pressure due to the poor economy, which has only been made worse due to the consequences of COVID-19 and the lockdown in South Africa, Rosenbaum explains that he has been looking to exit the business for some time, and the deal was concluded before the lockdown.

Rosenbaum will remain on board as a consultant for a few months before moving onto new challenges. “I have been in the private security industry for around 27 years now and I am looking forward to a new career and business venture outside of the security industry, after my stay with XtraVision is over,” he says.

There were other companies interested in XtraVision, but Rosenbaum and Van Schalkwyk value the hands-on, personal touch the company has created over the years and did not want to see it swallowed up by a large corporation. Van Schalkwyk bought into the company in 2017, purchasing 30% of the shares. In 2019, he expanded his shareholding to 50%. He encouraged Grange, whom he has known for many years, to make an offer to purchase the remaining 50% of the company from Rosenbaum.

Both Grange and Van Schalkwyk are determined to retain the personal touch and ensure they keep their levels of customer support high through consistent skills development for XtraVision’s staff. Grange himself is a certified fire safety designer and one of his first decisions was to seal the agency for the Hochiki brand. This will complement the Fike agency the company already has in South America.

Grange says XtraVision will remain focused on project-based distribution where the company works with end users to design a complete solution, fulfilling it through one of the many system integrators it collaborates with. The company’s customers as well as the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) prefer this approach as they can be assured of a properly architected solution developed by well-trained engineers who are able to support the product and ensure quality control throughout the process.

Currently XtraVision has a number of market leading brands available to clients, with a comprehensive product offering that focuses on the commercial and industrial sector. The quality designs and products have enabled it to secure many large contracts and tenders globally in partnership with its clients. “Quality, reliability and efficiency are a key driving force in terms of the products we import and distribute and with over 50 years’ experience in the fire and security technology industry we can, without a doubt, assure our clients of professional service and peace of mind,” adds Van Schalkwyk.

While the company is restricted in what it can do because of the COVID-19 lockdown, it is still providing sales and technical support via phone and email.

For more information contact XtraVision, +27 11 450 1056, marketing@xtravision.co.za, www.xtravision.co.za

Serverless ANPR solution

The FF Group offers a cost-effective Serverless ANPR solution for parking management, in partnership with Hanwha Techwin. The solution enables the ANPR cameras to communicate directly with each other without the need for a server.

The Serverless ANPR automatically controls the movement of up to 1000 listed cars through barriers and provides carpark management information, such as time spent and occupancy rates. Easy to configure and cost-effective, Serverless ANPR has already been successful in the EU market and is now being released in South Africa by XtraVision.

Arteco Video Event Management Software

The Arteco Video Event Management Software (VEMS) focuses on ease of use and resource management. The company’s research and development principles have united video analytics and video management software on a single platform at competitive price-points to standard VEMS products. The company views video analytics as an enhancement to the video security experience and not as a costly addition or complication to standard video management.

The latest offering, ArtecoVCA, allows automatic recognition of people, objects and vehicles. Being server-based, it allows for any camera, irrespective of brand, to be transformed into an intelligent device where excellent detection is required and very low false alarm rates are non-negotiable.

A single ArtecoVCA licence will provide the following rules: abandoned object, appear/disappear, dwell, counting, direction, enter/exit, object filter, colour filter, speed filter, stopped rule, tailgating and also a deep learning filter to reduce false alarms even further.

ArtecoVCA is seamlessly integrated into ArtecoNEXT and is therefore suited for residential security applications. Besides analytics, ArtecoVEMS is integrated with access control, intrusion, fire, lighting, electric fencing, perimeter intrusion detection systems (PIDS), building management, and LPR/ANPR systems.

Hochiki shines a light on luxury

Càmina Suite & Spa, a luxury hotel in the heart of Italy’s Cortina d’Ampezzo ski resort, has invested in a fire protection emergency lighting system as part of extension and restructuring works. Taking the opportunity to provide its guests with additional life safety protection, the hotel made use of solutions from Hochiki.

With bedrooms spanning across seven floors, the hotel needed a fire detection and emergency lighting system which would offer an ultra-reliable and cost-effective solution for its life safety needs throughout this large and newly extended building. Hosting up to 45 guests, it was essential that the chosen system could offer the best possible protection and way-finding for residents in the unlikely event of a life safety incident.

For Càmina Suite & Spa, a key requirement of the life safety system was reliability. Tested to a number of European certifications, including EN54, BS5266 and BS EN ISO 7010, FIREscape+ guarantees a durable, reliable and fail-proof performance to give building owners, facilities managers and inhabitants total peace of mind.

No mains required

Mirko Corsini, project manager for Hochiki Italia, said: “Combining two of our most successful programmes onto the same loop panel – FIREscape and the ESP fire detection system – we were able to ensure that emergency lighting is operational in the event of the fire, without the need for mains supply. This means that guests can find the safest exit route, tailored to each life safety incident, and increase their chance of survival.”

This dynamic way-finding solution includes the option of dual-function exit signs that under normal circumstances perform as a standard emergency lighting system, displaying the internationally recognised exit symbols. However, in the event of a fire, the system will automatically determine and change the state of the signs based on the location of the fire. If a fire is blocking an exit path, a red cross will display in place of the traditional symbols.

False alarm management and reduction is also an important factor when assessing reliability; the integration of Hochiki Europe’s Enhanced Systems Protocol (ESP) technology offers a number of benefits in this regard. Every 24 hours, the system checks for changes to the environment and recalibrates the sensors accordingly. In addition, each sensor can be individually adjusted to match the expected risk of its environment, while alarm verification technology uses time delay algorithms to eliminate unwanted alarms.

A long-term investment

Another vital consideration for Càmina Suite & Spa was reduced energy consumption; which FIREscape+ could offer in a number of ways.

FIREscape+ units only require 40 V to each unit and run on low-voltage cabling, unlike traditional emergency lighting systems that require 230 V. The low-voltage cabling lowers the overall energy consumption of the system, reducing the CO₂ emissions for a greener solution and also negates the need for a qualified electrician to carry out the installation. FIREscape+ is also an intelligent system as each component is individually addressed and fully monitored by the system control panel. Notified of the issue via the keypads, facilities managers can then quickly rectify any problems to maintain a high level of life safety.

For the end user, FIREscape+ offers many financial benefits by helping reduce operational and maintenance costs but also long-term ownership expenditures.

Traffic monitoring system for Pardubice

FF Group, Hanwha Techwin Europe and Telmo teams have implemented a traffic monitoring system for Pardubice city (Czech Republic) as a part of the urban CCTV system. The project’s customers were the local municipality and police.

The system solves a range of issues, such as measuring traffic flow in the city, searching for suspect cars or traffic violations, comparing all the detected plates in the town with the central database of stolen vehicles in the city.

An initial 14 Hanwha cameras with embedded NumberOK EDGE ANPR from the FF Group were installed at key points of the city. They recognise the vehicle number plate and its registration country. All recognised vehicle data are sent to the central database with date and time of detection together with an overview photo of the vehicle.

The key benefits are a licence plate recognition system with an accuracy above 95% for speeds up to 160 km/h, blacklist check, traffic statistics collection and analysis, and other reports are also available.

Hochiki Europe’s L@titude system distributed by XtraVision

Hochiki Europe’s L@titude range of fire alarm control equipment combines the very latest hardware and software to produce a powerful control and indication system, which is both sophisticated, yet simple to use. Developed by Hochiki’s design team and distributed through XtraVision in South Africa, L@titude is one of the most powerful, intelligent and technically robust fire alarm products available in the market today.

The flexibility of the platform means it can be reconfigured to realise many other control and indication applications, with direct integration into intelligent buildings. L@titude is designed to add value to system designers, integrators, service providers and end users/building owners.

The products and services offered under the L@titude brand provide solutions to the most technically challenging applications in African life safety. The modular nature of the system allows all field wiring to be connected to a passive motherboard enabling addition, reconfiguration or replacement of all electronic hardware without the need to disconnect any wiring.

This modularity also allows each panel to be customised with addressable loop detection circuits, conventional detection circuits, relay cards, additional sounder outputs or programmable I/O modules as required. The L@titude solution can also record up to 10 000 events and incidents, providing a detailed history of system activity for fire safety professionals. As well as being customisable, the modular product is expandable to offer customers a near future-proof life safety system.

The solution allows maintenance teams to rapidly locate and examine any incidents occurring across their premises, in real time, from any location. The flexible panel can hold up to 64 operator profiles, giving a range of programmable access levels to building owners, facilities managers and those responsible for fire safety in a property.

International standards

In 2019, the product gained EN 54-13 approval, commonly known in the industry as ‘Part 13’, ensuring the reliability of all of the individual components within the systems in accordance with stringent European standards.

When used alongside Hochiki Europe’s L@ti-View visual monitoring and control software, operators and users are alerted to events as soon as they occur on their premises via an innovative interface, and are immediately directed to their location on screen. The software is fully configurable on-site using administrator logins.

At the same time, Vizulinx, Hochiki’s compact fire alarm management module, can also be used to enhance the L@titude experience. This easy-to-install module allows for remote monitoring of Hochiki fire alarm systems, while also interfacing Hochiki control panels to third-party equipment. Vizulinx also enables duty-holders to receive texts to their mobile device whenever an incident occurs.

Fast and secure

One company to make use of the innovative L@titude system is Jardine Motors, a £5 million showroom in Kent, UK, which displays high-value Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles. The business needed a state-of-the-art control and indication system which would link its various heat, flame and smoke detectors from around the space. L@titude was specified due to its ultra-reliability, flexibility, user friendliness and accessibility while still being able to fit in with the showroom’s sleek aesthetics.

As the control panel comprised a modular nature, all field wiring could be connected to a passive motherboard to which electronic hardware can be added and reconfigured without disconnecting older wiring. Consequently, there was little disruption to operations during installation, meaning the showroom’s valuable merchandise was able to stay in place throughout and extensive renovations were avoided – speeding up the delivery time of the project.

Roger Dawkins, facilities manager at the showroom, saw first-hand how L@titude was made in Hochiki Europe’s factory. He commented: “Having the chance to see the production and design process gave us reassurance in Hochiki Europe’s ability to produce state-of-the-art life safety systems which would meet our needs as a business. We are currently exploring the rollout of L@titude across all our showrooms nationwide thanks to the initial success of its safety protection in our Kent showroom.”