Because intercoms are an integral part of so many access control and life safety systems, full-service locksmiths should be ready, willing and able to supply and service them in order to keep their customers happy.
In my early days as a locksmith, we used to get all types of intercom related calls for new systems and troubleshooting. Apartment buildings were great because the electric strikes used with lobby panels were low quality and required frequent replacement. Also the lobby panels and apartment stations were subjected to abuse, which created repeat business.
The failure mode that comes to mind was where an apartment station got stuck energizing the lobby strike. Tenants hated when that happened, because their buildings became unlocked to anyone, and typically resulted in additional issues with mailbox vandalism and unwelcome visitors coming inside the building.
Generally these buildings required additional locksmithing and door services, and it was sweet.
More modern lobby panels used telephone dial-up technologies which made it necessary to have some familiarity with dial tones and telco. These types of systems use the existing apartment telephones, and existing premises wiring. The unlock function is timed by the lobby controller so issues with stuck buttons are a thing of the past.
Another market for intercoms is in access control to commercial buildings, schools and private residences. Voice and video communications from a point of entry allows building occupants, faculty and homeowners to positively identify individuals, then remotely unlock the door to admit them.
Older, traditional intercoms provided for voice-only communications and manual buttons to unlock the entry door. Today’s intercom systems have become integrated with card entry systems and video surveillance, providing a more effective, convenient and attractive way to secure these openings.
Where intercoms formerly ran on dedicated cabling installed specifically for the purpose of supporting voice communications, the new era of intercom technology includes system architectures built upon CAT5 infrastructure, thereby bringing to security communications all the benefits that come with network communications and network appliances.
Providing enhanced security communications in schools has become an important element of the security industry. Controlling who is able to get into a school is an important step towards reducing school violence. Every security professional knows the importance of strong physical barriers to control entry, and keeping them locked to intruders is essential. Providing the means for faculty and staff to adequately screen visitors is an integral ingredient in creating safe school environments.
Aiphone Intercom Solutions
Aiphone is a leading manufacturer of intercom systems, with expertise in technology and in the application of intercoms into the safe school security management profile. Several Aiphone models are ideal for locksmiths ready to get into this essential niche security market.
IX Series IP Addressable Edge Devices: IX leverages IP network topology and technology. All IX Series stations connect directly to one another over a network. Use this system to verify guests, unlock doors or assess emergency situations.
Start with an IX-MV master station and network an infinite number of IX Series stations. Adding more master stations exponentially increases system capacity as each master station can connect to its own 500 stations.
Key features of the IX Series include:
• Priority call queueing
• Transfer door calls to any master station
• All‑in‑one communication system to control video entry and access control
• View third party IP cameras on IX-MV master stations
• 24/7 streaming from video door stations
• ONVIF compliant video output
• Forward missed calls automatically
The Aiphone IS Series is also a network-based communication and all-in-one security control system featuring video entry security, internal communication, rescue assistance, paging, and bell/chime scheduling. The system can unlock doors remotely on a network, assist onsite visitors from an offsite phone, broadcast emergency announcements, and communicate using a standard or PC Master Station.
Also available is the JP Series Video Intercom with Enhanced Picture Quality. This Digital PanTilt and Zoom camera eliminates blind spots with 170-degree wide angle lens (video door stations)
For more information, visit www.aiphone.com.
Q & A: Aiphone’s John Mosebar
We contacted industry veteran and product specialist John Mosebar
Vice President Marketing for Aiphone. He is a strong proponent of locksmith participation in intercom installation and servicing, and points out that locksmiths should use their strong customer relationships and reputations as skilled and reliable providers to bootstrap their participation in more and more areas as security, such as intercoms.
Is installing intercoms a good sideline for locksmiths?
For the locksmith professional installing an intercom would be a natural progression due to fact the intercom and related systems will continue to compliment the "lock" wherever they might be installed. Why leave additional sales opportunity for someone else to provide.
What are some security related applications for intercoms?
Intercoms provide a unique compliment to a physical security application. Currently being used today are video cameras for viewing, electronic access control for remote access entry, intercom for two-way communication to verify/confirm a visitor before granting them access.
Are there any emerging trends in intercom technology and applications?
Intercom technology needs to adopt to the IP infrastructure as the market matures with the full range of capabilities this technology offers. Most importantly this technology will eliminate the proprietary solutions manufacturers have and thus utilize set standards/protocols established via networks.
Please elaborate on your initiatives to introduce locksmiths to supplying and installing intercoms.
As a manufacturer, it is important to continue educating the locksmith the value of adding intercom or other related physical security solutions to their organizations capabilities.
Can you elaborate on your initiatives to introduce Aiphone products as tools to make our schools safer?
We have been fortunate that the education market is very familiar with Aiphone and school districts have specifically requested Aiphone products. Our video-integrated intercoms are often referred to as a school’s video doorbell. They alert office staff that a visitor wants to enter the building. A receptionist can sit safely behind a locked door while viewing and talking with the visitor. If the person is approved for entry, the receptionist pushes a button that remotely unlocks the door.
