In a world where growing prosperity is leading to greater technical complexity and increased vulnerability; and while 'just in time' has turned into 'just in case', customers - be they residential or commercial - require fail-safe, 24x7x365 security, to ensure safety and peace-of-mind, for their homes, families or businesses.
This is according to Brett Birch, MD of the Security division of GE Infrastructure's division in SA.
The security division, part of the GE Infrastructure global business platform, is a wholly owned subsidiary of GE, focused on communication and information technologies for security, safety and lifestyle enhancements.
"The GE Security Advisor Master integrated security system is the answer to the marketplace's need for a robust, reliable and holistic security solution, as it provides access control, intrusion detection, building surveillance, fire detection and video surveillance functions from one single shared platform," claims Birch.
"The system consists of software solutions - developed by GE Security - that function as the 'brain', as well as the required hardware elements.
"The surveillance function is provided by a digitised system of sensors, access control elements, fire detection equipment, monitors and electronic maps, which enables the controlling of all functions and all rooms involved in the system from one single point," he explains.
"The signal or warning triggered by an unusual event can be localised in the digitised map, and the exact textual description of the alert is also displayed for the operator, whose appropriate action will also be documented for further controls."
According to Birch, all this information enables immediate, efficient intervention.
"In addition to human actions, automated processes can also be programmed. If, for example, a signal is received from the building surveillance unit, advance programming can be used to stop the required functions - heating, water or elevator - in the specific sector of the building," he says, adding that it is also possible to avoid lengthy wire runs in new and retrofit commercial installations, via the so-called Point ID system; which is part of the Advisor Master Total Security System offering.
"The Point-ID system is the right choice for commercial applications where extensive wire runs are needed to install traditional systems. Point-ID can be wired in a free style configuration (star, T-tap, or single loop), which gives users maximum flexibility on new or retrofit applications," confirms Birch, expanding on the following aspects of Point-ID:
* Flexibility: Point-ID supports up to 255 addressable devices per system using a bus concept with cable runs of up to 1,5 km possible. The system is scalable so it can adapt to changing customer requirements in the future.
* Accuracy: Point-ID identifies the exact location of an alarm or trouble event, which saves time for emergency personnel and service technicians. It is a two-wire system-that means up to 50% fewer termination points on powered devices and less chance of wiring errors. Point-ID also eliminates the need for additional auxiliary power supplies because power and zoning are handled on the same pair of wires.
"All in all, the system provides protection wherever it is installed; and therefore provides for the full-scale surveillance and protection of the site at all times," Birch advises. "It was developed as the result of joint efforts by engineers working in Holland, Poland, Australia and the US. Development activities will not stop. A special challenge is to provide local language systems for customers of multilingual Europe," Birch concludes.
For more information contact Brett Birch, GE Infrastructure - Security, 021 937 6000, [email protected], www.ge-security.com
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