Catch-up time

End-user interest in the undoubted advantages of Internet Protocol (IP) networks has in the UK largely focused so far on its use for CCTV surveillance. But in mainland Europe the technology is also noticeably being installed for monitored intruder alarm systems.

Across Europe, installers are actively exploiting IP’s many benefits for alarm monitoring. They see it as a ‘future-proof’ solution for this type of protection, offering cost-effective services that their customers gain from and which they can also achieve a respectable profit margin from – in short, a win-win scenario.

Installer lessons to learn

So what lessons should UK installers draw from this trend? What types of customers in Europe are using IP as their preferred technology choice? What exactly are the benefits IP offers for alarm transmission, and how can they be exploited?

The answers to all these questions may come from elsewhere in Europe, but they provide a fascinating and real insight into the way we in Britain are heading.

But first, a word of warning, for while the British market is further advanced in terms of its diverse penetration of sectors ranging from high security right down to residential alarm protection, we lag behind in other respects.

Elsewhere in Europe, the commercial ‘drivers’ favouring the growth and implementation of IP are one of the reasons for this. For instance, the cost of using IP is half to a third of British prices and while these costs are falling here too now, it is still comparatively expensive.

Another major factor is the simpler standards/approvals situation in other European countries. In Europe, the situation is much more straightforward: basically, if the product to be installed doesn’t have a valid approval certificate and label (from a body such as VdS in Germany, SKAFOR in Scandinavia, INCERT in Belgium, or NCP in the Netherlands) the installer isn’t insured to fit it and the end-user can’t benefit accordingly.

Lack of clear approvals

The cost of using IP in Europe is half to a third of British prices and, while costs are falling here now, it’s still comparatively expensive …

Some say the downside of this is that the mechanisms are more rigid. However, ironically, this makes them easier to understand and able to be planned for, in terms of meeting the specified criteria of approvals bodies and insurers. Compare that with the UK, where the lack of a clear approvals policy and independent evaluation means the market is confused, fragmented and relatively stagnant.

Today, by default, insurers approve one main alarm monitoring system, a monopoly that, in my opinion, is not now serving the best interests of installers, end-user customers or alarm receiving centres. Yet, whisper it, you don’t have to use Redcare anymore, because a number of major British ARCs are now exploring use of Chiron’s Iris IP monitoring system after successful field trials. What’s more, insurers are also moving in the IP direction, with one leading Europe-wide insurance company already actively working with Chiron to trial the system in conjunction with a leading client. In recognising across Europe the benefits of independently accredited IP-based products to the EN50131 and 50136 standards, European-wide insurance companies will be increasingly willing to insure them within the UK market as well. The risk for installers in Britain is that they are not ready to take up these new technologies and may lose out to IT or European companies.

IT installer threat

This inertia in the UK needs to be broken, because it means that as a result we are soldiering on with antiquated PSTN phone lines that cost money compared with cheaper, and faster, IP transmission technology. In turn, installers are being denied the opportunity to increase their margins and are also at longer-term risk from IT specialists stealing their business. With their understanding of this technology, these specialists are poised to muscle in on the potential within the UK-wide market, which serves such a diverse range of customers. These service providers are currently working at the top end of the market, especially in Europe, serving the needs of blue chip commercial clients such as banks. But it won’t be long before the monitoring benefits resulting from IP are more widely understood and accepted, as the ‘trickle down’ effect takes hold. If installers in Britain aren’t up to speed by then, they could be left behind as corporate IT departments or IP specialist security consultants take the lion’s share of this new market.

Is IP hard to understand?

Keeping up with the technology trend towards IP is not a daunting task at all. This isn’t a black art and you don’t need a degree in IT to follow it. The training involved amounts to roughly a one-day awareness course and perhaps three days ‘in the classroom’ to fully master the subject. The types of topics you need to be aware of include firewalls, gateway addresses and DHCP (dynamic IP addressing) servers. Of course, it’s easy to put training off, or justify not making the move – there’s always a list of jobs to do, deadlines to meet and customers to keep happy. But think about the consequences of failing to act – the consequences are double-edged: you’ll start falling behind, as better trained and skilled competitors muscle in to corner this expanding area of business, while your existing customers switch to more knowledgeable installers once the bottom line advantages of alarm signalling over IP becomes clear – as they soon will.

It’s not all down to installers to take action, though. Ease of installation is an important factor for manufacturers to consider too, and any IP system should be capable of being installed at the alarm site without complex configuring, which in itself is time consuming for installers and adds to overall costs. So, in practical terms, what are the starting points you should consider? Looking at some of the basics involved in IP signalling, you’ll need to install an IP alarm dialler to communicate with the ARC’s receiver system. That alarm dialler interface will clearly need to allow existing and legacy panels out there in the market – which are likely to have been using a standard PSTN dialler until now – to communicate across any IP network, whether it be ADSL, a corporate LAN or even GPRS.

Any special tools?

Installers are being denied the opportunity to increase their margins and are at longer-term risk from IT specialists stealing their business …

No special cabling should be required and in standard installations no special tools are required either. For more complex installations, such as where fixed IP addressing is required or where SMS messaging is in use, you can use configuration console software to run on a lap-top PC and connect to the dialler via a standard modem cable.

Security system installers must also, of course, consider IP technology in the context of the new European Systems Standard (PD6662:2004), the UK scheme for introduction of new European systems standard (EN 50131-1: 2004) that replaced BS 4737 for new intruder security installations from October 1. The accompanying Applications Guidelines (TS 50131-7) lay down a structured risk assessment procedure for designers of intruder alarm systems. Insurers will expect new systems for commercial premises to incorporate dual signalling.

Additionally, the new European standards introduce grading of systems, based on intruder skills. These range from grade 1 (considered low risk, and a category insurers do not cover), through to grade 4 for the highest risks. It is expected that most insurers will generally require grade 3 systems for the majority of commercial installations. (IP equipment such as Chiron’s Iris system is independently certified to the highest grade 4 ATS6 risk category, for both DSL, corporate IP as well as GPRS.)

IP advantages

IP alarm transmission networks are cost effective and offer new opportunities to your customers, such as:

• Low cost constant polling of remote sites;
• Quicker transmission of alarm signals to the ARC;
• Lower costs for all alarm transmissions, whether emergency alerts or even simple open and closing signals (these cost savings could be as much as 50 per cent );
• Continuous monitoring of main and back-up communications routes;
• Support for remote management of alarm panels over IP with the manufacturer’s standard management tools;
• Alternate routing across traditional paths, such as ISDN/analogue, as well as GPRS;
• Additional services such as SMS alerts direct to line management;
• IP systems supporting a wider range of protocols, such as Sia, and new services such as building management will drive this new IP technology.

IP signalling and system design

The new intruder alarm systems strategy, launched by the BSIA at IFSEC, addresses the future of design and installation and focuses on improvements to address false alarm problems. This strategy states that advances in IP signalling techniques through a secure managed network bring many opportunities to reconsider the component items that constitute an intruder alarm system.

Keeping up with the technology is not a daunting task This isn’t a black art and you don’t need a degree in IT to follow it …

Internal web cameras with integrated motion sensing supplemented with voice over IP could be the new motion sensors to replace TMDs – detectors which employ multiple sensors within one casing.

The introduction of remote servicing and remote diagnostics for alarm systems will also play a central role in identifying the cause and/or the potential cause for false alarms. With IP signalling techniques, each detection device could be addressable from the service centre for diagnostic codes, and the control and indicating equipment could be capable of signalling service-related events to the alarm receiving centre prior to any failure of a component part.

IP integrated systems

ARCs are increasingly interested in the potential to offer end users a wider range of additional services across IP and there is considerable scope for increased integration between both video and alarm monitoring, as well as interfacing this equipment with access control systems to achieve a more holistic form of protection.

The chance for these security systems to stop operating in stand-alone mode and start interacting with each other, as well in conjunction with other building management systems, will allow a variety of operating efficiencies to be extracted from them.

On top of that, added value services can be introduced and improved overall effectiveness achieved from all of the systems – ie, realising their full potential at last.

It’s an attractive proposition and one that installers stand to benefit from as a service offering to their customers. Get on this bandwagon before it starts rolling too fast. Wise up about IP and reap the rewards – otherwise the IT guys will steal your bacon from you.