Ganz Security Camera Mounts

  Ergonomics are a critical, but often misunderstood aspect of designing control rooms for security. Ergonomics have a deep impact on the integrity of an operation, and the issue goes beyond the control room furniture. Matko Papic, Chief Technology Officer of Evans Consoles, divides ergonomics into three areas: physical (reach zones, touch points, monitors); cognitive (the individual’s ability to process information without overlooking a critical element) and organizational (how the facility operates in various situations; e.g., is it adequately designed for an emergency event?). He says the Evans approach is to determine the precise placement required for each element an operator needs, and then to design and build console furniture to position it there. Basically, the idea is to tailor the control room to the operation. What tasks must an operator perform? Are they manageable or should they be divided up among several operators? Control room design should accommodate the need to collaborate, and be flexible enough to adapt to various situations. It all begins with understanding the information that needs to be processed, says Papic. Increased Productivity In The Workplace Because personnel are often stationed at a specific console, desk or workstation for long hours, physical problems and productivity issues can result, says Jim Coleman, National Sales Manager, AFC Industries. Ergonomically designed furniture and related products have been proven to increase productivity and alleviate physical stress in the workplace. Ergonomic furniture solutions are crafted for the ultimate in safety, adaptability, comfort and functionality. Coleman says AFC Industries can tailor furniture to specific needs and environment. For example, a height-adjustable workstation can be combined with adjustable monitor arm mounts to create a relaxed, comfortable environment. Furniture offers modern designs, comfortable ergonomics, and comprehensive features. Rugged materials withstand the 24/7 use of command control centers. Health Benefits Of Ergonomic Workstations A sedentary office environment is often an unhealthy one. “For people who sit most of the day, their risk of heart attack is about the same as smoking,” says Martha Grogan, Cardiologist at the Mayo Clinic. Ongoing research and studies have shown that a change in posture (i.e., using ergonomic sit-to-stand workstations) is an effective means to combat these negative health issues. Using sit-to-stand workstations helps to eliminate musculoskeletal disorders caused by long-term sitting. They can also improve productivity and focus from the increased blood flow. Energy levels can rise and employees burn more calories. Control room design should accommodate the need to collaborate and be flexible enough to adapt to various situations “The ergonomic environment we create for control rooms involves considering every need of the staff at each workstation and their equipment, as well as workflow within the entire room,” says Coleman. “From the proper setting of screen focal lengths to sound absorption and glare reduction, each requirement and phase of a control room design is a necessary process to ensure the protection and safety of people and property.” Emergency Operations Center “The military has figured out that you are more alert when you are standing,” says Randy Smith, President of Winsted, and the realization is guiding emergency operations center (EOC) design toward sit-stand. “As soon as there is an emergency, everybody stands up,” Smith adds. Designing EOC environments also requires systems be integrated with annunciating signal lights to facilitate communication among operators. Winsted’s sit-stand consoles can be combined with a motorized M-View monitor wall mount, enabling a 60-inch wall monitor to be raised and lowered to match the positioning of the sit-stand console. Larger, wall-mounted screens are easier to use for operators, since a larger monitor size can make it easier to read text on a screen, for example. Combining the larger monitor with sit-stand capabilities provides the best of both options. Many operators today stand for 50 percent of their day, says Smith. Ergonomic standards guide the design of Winsted’s control room consoles, including ISO 11064 standards for the design of control centers. The furniture also is designed to accommodate industrial wire management (larger wire bundles), unlike furniture that might be bought in an office supply store. Read part 3 of our Control Rooms series here {##Poll37 - How well do you incorporate ergonomics into your control rooms?##}

Endless possibilities for security deployment have been made possible with technological advancements Significant technological advancements have created endless possibilities in how security is not only deployed, but also leveraged by the end user – the customer. For example, customers can now view surveillance at eight different offices in eight different states from a single, central location. A security director can manage an enterprise-wide access control system, including revoking or granting access control privileges, for 10,000 global employees from the company’s headquarters in Chicago. However, with that increased level of system sophistication comes an added level of complexity. After successfully completing the installation of a security system, integrators are now expected to formally and contractually prove that the system works as outlined in the project specification document. Tom Feilen, Director of National Accounts for Koorsen Security Technology explains that this formal checks and balance process is gaining momentum in the security industry. The step-by-step process of Acceptance Testing is more commonly being written into bid specifications, especially for projects that require the expertise of an engineer and/or architect. Simply put, it is a way for the end user to make sure the system they paid for works properly and is delivered by the integrator as outlined in the project’s request for proposal. While Acceptance Testing can be a time consuming process, it is a valuable industry tool. It is estimated that at least 95 percent of integrated security systems today have been brought through the Acceptance Testing process. Security systems have become more complicated in recent years. The introduction of IP-based, enterprise-wide and integrated solutions have all opened the door to more sophisticated access control and surveillance systems than ever thought possible. This process can vary depending upon the size of the project, but for a larger scale project, it is not uncommon for Acceptance Testing to take several weeks from start to finish. This timeline can be especially lengthy when the project involves hundreds of devices, such as access control readers, surveillance cameras, video recorders, intrusion sensors, and intercom systems. Most integrated security systems today have been brought through the Acceptance Testing process What is involved in the Acceptance Testing process? While the specific process can vary from integrator to integrator, many follow a similar process with their customer to ensure the system works accurately and that the customer has the proper certification documentation. The initial part of the process typically involves generating a report of each device installed as part of the system. This list enables the systems integrator to systematically test each device ensuring that individual devices are not specific points of failure for the overall system. For example, in a building equipped with a system that automatically releases the egress doors upon the fire alarm activation, it is important to make sure each door’s electro-magnetic locking system is operating properly. The systems integrator would not only test that a door releases when the fire alarm sounds, but also to make sure the access control system is notified if the door is propped open or held open longer than in normal usage parameters. For a door that is also monitored by a surveillance camera, part of the testing would also involve making sure that an image being transmitted to a video monitor is coming from the correct surveillance camera and that the actual angle of the image is what the customer has requested and is correctly labeled as such. If a device does not function as it should, it is then added to a punch list that would require the systems integrator to repair that device within a certain period of time. Once repairs are made, the system integrator would then submit a letter to the client stating that every device has been tested and works properly. It is also important for the integrator that once the testing process is complete to obtain a customer sign off (Certificate of Acceptance) on all systems tested and documentation provided. This limits liability once the system is turned over. From a safety perspective, Acceptance Testing is also used to verify that T-bars and safety chains are installed on cameras that are mounted in drop ceilings. It can confirm that panels are mounted in a room that is properly heated and cooled to avoid major temperature swings. Also, as part of the Acceptance Testing checklist, it can insure that power supplies that drive all the security systems are properly rated with the recommended batteries for back-up. And, that emergency exist devices or card readers are not mounted more than 48-inches above ground. An Acceptance Testing process serves to protect the end user's investment After the project is complete, Acceptance Testing protects both parties involved against liability issues. One example is if the building has a fire and the functionality of the life safety system comes into question. Acceptance Testing can be used to prove that the system was able to function as specified and dispel any concerns about its performance. At that time, all close out sheets are turned in, along with as-built drawings and a manual providing a complete listing of each device and system installed. Today, these manuals not only come in paper form as part of a large binder, but also digital files saved to a disc. The benefit of providing the customer with a binder or documentation of the system is that should the end user/customer replace the person who manages security at the company, valuable information will not leave with that former employee. While this checklist to close out a project may appear trivial at first, it is an important part of the security project process. By implementing an Acceptance Testing program, it serves to protect the end user’s investment, ensuring that the systems integrators hired for the project is knowledgeable and provides quality work. For the integrator, it helps towards the end goal of a satisfied customer.

 The installation of an energy-efficient lighting system from CBC cut costs for Napoleonic fort siteElectricity bills at a historic Napoleonic fort in Chatham, Kent, have been significantly cut thanks to the installation of an energy-efficient lighting system from CBC.Savings of more than £2000 per quarter have been achieved at Fort Amherst following the replacement of halogen-style lamps with Ganz WL100 and WL300 LED illuminators.The Fort Amherst site, comprising an extensive network of tunnels, gun placements, and hidden defences, is in uniquely complete condition and is the world's largest surviving fortress from the Napoleonic era. It was originally built to protect the strategically vital dockyard at Chatham, and 150 years later continued in service as a secret command centre during the Battle of Britain. The new lighting installation at the fort, handled by TJW Electrical, covers entrances, car parks and key external areas and takes advantage of the latest, energy-efficient lighting technology."The WL illuminators were the ideal choice for this important heritage site," says Steve Craddock, TJW's project manager. "We've used the Ganz products before so we were confident that they would deliver really bright, high quality light and  that they would give save money for the customer."  CBC's energy-efficient white lights installed at Fort Amherst As well as using less power and costing less to run the Ganz illuminators also last longer and require less maintenance - minimizing ongoing costs and disruption. The WL range is designed for use with colour and day/night CCTV cameras, as well as delivering excellent general-purpose lighting for pedestrian areas, car parks etc.Each unit includes varifocal illumination, allowing the angle of light projection to be altered to fit the specific demands of the installation.They have maximum reach of up to 200m and a coverage angle of up to 180 degrees.CBC also supplies a range of Infra-Red illuminators, and dual Infra-Red/White-Light illuminators, offering similar cost saving and performance benefits.

Joining forces to improve CCTV surveillance of Aylesbury town centre, Thames Valley Police and Aylesbury District Council have chosen the latest Ganz C-Allview high-speed ruggedised PTZ cameras from CBC to monitor two key road intersections.  In the first installation of its kind for the town, the cameras have been set up using a wireless link.  Telemetry signals are transmitted to receivers on the police station roof, 1 km from the monitored site.  "We're very pleased with this solution as it has enabled us to fill an important gap in our CCTV coverage," says CCTV control room manager Ken Foot.Aylesbury DC and Thames Valley Police jointly run what is one of the newest, and most technically advanced digital CCTV control rooms in the country.  And while the Aylesbury surveillance team has used alternative cameras of a similar type in the past, the new C-Allviews are proving a better solution."They are priced competitively and give great results," adds Ken Foot.  "When I first saw them at a local trade show last year I was immediately impressed by them and they have not disappointed me."  He says he'll be looking to fit more of the C-Allviews at remote locations around the town centre in the coming year.The Ganz C-Allviews are designed to deliver superior performance and cope with all weather conditions.  With their distortion-free, optically flat glass, built-in wipers, and IP67 rating, the cameras deliver crisp, clear images in conditions where other models might struggle.

CBC has reported a significant increase in the number of customers visiting its stand at Ifsec this year.The manufacturer of Computar and Ganz branded surveillance products says serious business leads at the show were up by around 15% compared with last year, with enquiries from security installers and system designers showing the most significant rise."We're very pleased because we took a more strategic approach to our stand design and qualifying visitors", says Marketing Manager, Binit Shah.  "We also had an attractive line-up of new products which a lot of people wanted to see."In fact CBC's stand was one of the most innovative at the show, with an eye-catching curved perimeter wrapped around three sides, leading visitors to a well-staffed entrance on the fourth.New products that were highlighted included a new range of number plate capture cameras for ANPR projects, complete with software.  Also on show for the first time in the night vision field was the Ganz range of Varifocal IR Illuminators featuring adjustable beams.  An equally innovative product on show was the new Rugged Dome with wipersCBC also showcased its new Ganz Pentaplex MPEG4 DVR range with built in DVD-writer, 9/16 channel Triplex DVRs with built-in DVD writer and a PC based DVR.  Visitors to the stand also got a preview of new line-up of new Computar megapixel lenses, designed to capture the full resolution of megapixel cameras and provide a high contrast plus sharp picture. More on CBC