Wire-free monitored alarms and door entry systems are specified for four newly launched residential developments in the South.
Developer Berkeley Homes Southern has embarked on projects at Fleet, Hassocks, Horsham and Sunbury – and has selected wire-free alarms from Secom plc to secure show houses and sales offices at each site. Systems will also be installed to protect houses before occupation – and to give security-conscious buyers the option of a ready made solution.
The show houses are fitted with movement sensors, door contacts and control panels wirelessly linked to a telephone dialler which automatically alerts operators at Secom’s Alarm Receiving Centre if an alarm is activated. Operators are on duty around the clock to initiate an appropriate and rapid response. The systems also support personal attack buttons, enabling lone workers to summon help in an emergency – even if the rest of the alarm system is deactivated.
Apartment buildings will be fitted with wire-free front door entry. A visitor selects the apartment number on a keypad and the system uses a BT line to call the occupant’s landline or mobile phone. When the visitor’s identity has been ascertained, the occupant simply hits a keypad number to release the door. In high end apartment buildings, the system comes with a video camera linked to the communal aerial. An occupant selects ‘AV’ on any TV screen to see who is at the front door.
Lee Hawkins, Commercial Manager for Berkeley Homes Southern, says wire-free systems are the best all-round solution for the developer’s needs. “Because there is no wiring, the installation is faster and cheaper than traditional hard-wired systems – and if customers decide against having an alarm, they are easy to remove. Many of our customers do choose Secom’s full monitoring package. We have worked with Secom for nearly 15 years, installing alarms to protect houses as soon as they have valuable fittings – and to add value to our developments.”
Chris Perry, Secom Field Sales Manager, says: “Property development sites present a special challenge as show houses and marketing suites are often some distance from occupied properties, so monitored electronic security is essential. Residential security systems have become much more sophisticated, but concepts such as the wire-free system help to keep things simple – and still ensure that homes and owners get the best possible protection.”
