business news Raytec lighting transforms security for national bank Ashington, Northumberland (UK) and Bucharest, Romania As part of a large upgrade to an IP surveillance system, the National Bank of Romania, has deployed, both infrared and white-light LEd lighting solutions from Raytec, at its multi-site locations to deliver a huge improvement to surveillance image quality at night, and to create a safer, more effective working environment. Security at the bank is strict, especially at the headquarters. The perimeter and access corridors are monitored by the bank’s camera system 24/7, but previously they were much more vulnerable during the hours of darkness. The previous surveillance system, using analogue cameras, had no professional lighting – making use of street lighting where possible. The images were dark and grainy with an uneven light coverage making facial recognition totally impossible. It was also very difficult to raise accurate alarms based on the poor information in the images. Leading and managing the upgrade project was distributor Lantec, who urged the move towards the Raytec LED surveillance lighting and Mobotix MP IP cameras. “We have worked with Raytec for over ten years”, comments Radu Cristea, Lantec General Manager, “and we knew that their LED lighting would be the best solution to help the new IP cameras deliver a very high level of detail at night. Having never used video surveillance lighting before, the customer was also very attracted to the fact that the Raytec illuminators offered a ten year life and needed zero maintenance”. Working together, Lantec and system integrator Rasirom specified Raytec’s Raymax infrared illuminators for use around the perimeter and both internal and external access ways. The final night-time images are a vast improvement. Every image is evenly illuminated and shows exceptional clarity and detail with no bright or dark spots. The detailed images are also helping the cameras’ inbuilt analytics to detect and analyse incidents more accurately, resulting in fewer false alarms. “The bank is very satisfied with the night time images and reliability of the information generated by the infrared lighting” confirms Radu. “They are especially pleased that they can zoom in on any subject anywhere in the image in great detail. It’s The detailed images are helping the cameras’ inbuilt also an added benefit that analytics to detect and analyse incidents more acthe IR is invisible and does curately. not cause additional light mounted at ground level in the pollution”. vehicle inspection bays. The result Lantec also recognised that is a highly targeted illumination they could solve some of the delivering a brighter, more natural bank’s additional security needs that extended beyond surveillance, lighting environment which makes it easier and quicker to perform by introducing some of Raytec’s tasks more accurately. specialist visible white-light soluDavid Lambert, Raytec MD tions. (joint) comments: “We’re delighted In particular, some of the branch cash processing centres and that with the help of our long-term partner, Lantec, we’ve been able under vehicle check areas suffered to help the bank to solve so many from poor visibility as a result of different security issues with LED little natural lighting. This made lighting. Whilst good camera operations and inspection very lighting is essential for night-time difficult. To address this weaksurveillance, lighting for people is ness, Raytec’s ceiling mounted just as important for ensuring the Urban Bay lighting was installed best safety, productivity and operain the cashing areas, along with tional effectiveness at all times.” simple low-voltage Vario lighting Birmingham Uni stays safe with wireless access control Bimingham, West Midlands (UK) The Chamberlain student accommodation at Edgbaston, Birmingham University, secures access with Aperio. When the University of Birmingham opened its newest accommodation block, it required an access control system to meet the unique needs of a student population. Now, over 1400 students housed at Edgbaston’s Vale Village site are protected with Aperio wireless access control. University halls of residence have a complex set of access control requirements. Accommodation blocks often house large numbers of students, whose population is in a constant state of change. Physical keys can be frequently lost, compromising site security and causing time and money to be wasted every time mechanical locks must be changed. Electronic access control with real-time monitoring enables security managers to stay in control of the site. Student rooms and entrance doors at both Chamberlain and Mason halls have been fitted with Aperio wireless devices. All door locks are fully integrated with Gallagher Command Centre software. Because Aperio components are built using open standards, integration with Gallagher’s security system is seamless, and provides security staff with a single point of control over the site. A mix of online escutcheons and cylinders, for both Euro and Scandinavian profile doors, have been installed. Installation was wire-free, and locks are powered by standard lithium-ion batteries, which guarantees the university a low-cost security solution. It also removes the need for mechanical keys. Birmingham joins many other Universities who have chosen Aperio to protect their students while improving the overall student experience. “Our extensive experience within the education sector has enabled us to provide the University of Birmingham with a seamless integrated solution,” says David Hodgkiss, National Sales Manager at Assa Abloy access control. “The university already has plans to roll Aperio out to other residences.” Security News Every Day – www. securityworldhotel.com 10 • d etektor internati onal