3. Secure Trading

This particular project at its inception consisted of one site into which was being built a large extension. This extension was being constructed using new techniques involving large expansion joints. Whilst this particular project was in the course of construction, a further building was added which was linked to the new construction project via link bridges. In effect, this presented us with approximately a one hundred percent increase in the system size.

The task was to design and install installations within the new buildings. This was to be done on the basis of each of these being self contained entities talking to the main control centre in the main building. At the same time as these works were being implemented, the client decided to carry out a complete upgrade of the existing access control system to a new product as well as relocate the existing control room. All of these exercises combined provided us with one of the largest challenges we have faced to date.

The project was engineered in such a manner that the upgrade of the system hardware was implemented completely on an out of hours and weekend basis. This was concluded without any visible evidence to the client's operating staff of any change whatsoever.

The works in the new buildings were implemented in exactly the way the client wished it by wiring each of those as a separate entity in their own right. These were then linked through by fibre communication paths to the main control room and equipment room area. The final integration between the three buildings was implemented for display onto a total of eight video monitors and five workstations within the control room area.

In addition to these works, a fully digital recording system was installed working on the basis of the capability for 300 cameras recording at one frame per second 24hrs a day for 31 days. This is a totally automated process and does not involve any of the security staff changing tapes. Two remote workstations are connected to this particular system allowing the client to review in his management office as well as in the control room.

This system now controls in excess of one thousand card readers and close on two hundred and fifty cameras. The technology used is without doubt, state of the art and we are justifiably proud of the end result.