NG Bailey’s IT Services division which specialises in the design, supply, installation, management and maintenance of voice, data and structured cabling solutions to contracting, enterprise and public sector clients, has announced
A case study of a site-wide Layer 3 network and IP surveillance installation at the Grade II listed Lincoln’s Inn, in central London. The network will also support future IP-based building services such as access control and intercoms.
The Inn, a workplace for lawyers for centuries, is an enclave of some 11 acres, and home to a number of Grade I and Grade II Listed buildings. The Inn sought to minimise disturbance, to the old buildings, and to those working there.
To meet the planning, precision and sympathetic installation required, NG Bailey reports that it deployed two project teams to work in unison. One was responsible for installation of the fibre backbone and cabling to the cameras. The second worked meanwhile, at its Offsite Manufacture facility, to pre-stage all active equipment, including cameras, switches and recorders. This approach to the project according to the installer. meant it reduced the time required on site, and hence associated disruption, by more than 30 per cent.
James Hill, Business Development Manager of NG Bailey’s IT Services division, says: “NG Bailey looked beyond the original brief and delivered an IP network which would not only exceed the Inn’s requirements for a new Closed Circuit TV (CCTV) system, but would also support the Inn’s future IP-migration and centralised management of other building systems. As a result, the project has exceeded expectations; Lincoln’s Inn now has a future-proofed IP backbone which will dramatically reduce the impact of future building systems upgrades on this oasis of tranquillity in the heart of London.”
Paul Knight of Aura Consulting (Security Consultant to Lincoln’s Inn) added: “Aura Consulting engaged with NG Bailey after a rigorous tender process. NG Bailey responded with an intelligent design that enhanced the work done by Aura and working together, designed a full Layer 3, campus wide, resilient network that will serve the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn for years to come. The network was designed as a full building services network so that future systems, such as Intercoms and Access Control can be easily added.”
It was vital that the installation was sympathetic to the site; much work was undertaken with British Heritage to ensure that the CCTV cameras and cabling were hidden where possible and disguised wherever on view. NG Bailey powder-coated individual cameras to make sure that they blended with their surrounds. One camera was even installed within a specifically sourced external lamp fixture at the request of the heritage body.
Internally, it was imperative that cameras in areas such as the Great Hall, the chapel and the library were as discreet as possible so as not to distract from the look of each of the buildings. As for keeping installation disruption to a minimum, NG Bailey did much of the technical works off-site which also helped it to meet the project delivery time scales set.
The installed Avigilon security system, which enables security managers to interrogate real time high definition (HD) images from anywhere at any time, has already proven its worth. Shortly after the project was completed, while TV filming took place onsite, a camera bag containing over £10k of equipment was stolen. HD images provided by the new system enabled the police to apprehend and charge the thief, and recover the stolen equipment.
Visit www.ngbailey.com.
