Julian Synett

Interphone, the security systems and building technology integrator for multi-unit residential estates and commercial property, is celebrating its 60th year. Since the launch of the business, Interphone has been a technology pioneer at the forefront of the marketplace that has contributed to some of the biggest advances in door entry and access control. Audio door entry systems “Inter-phone has always been an early adopter and technology innovator within the commercial residential sector,” explains Julian Synett, CEO of Interphone Limited. “This forward-thinking approach that has enabled the company to evolve from its beginnings as a developer and installer of audio door entry systems to today’s highly-respected integration specialist for all building security and automation systems.” Installing audio systems Interphone creates a door entry business that installed audio systems into apartment buildings Interphone was founded by Solly Steinbock and Robert Cramer, two refugees that had arrived in the UK as teenagers during the 1930s and become close friends. Both had a background within the telecoms sector. Robert’s family had run a company renting office telephone equipment to large corporations in the 1920s, while Solly had set up his own telephone manufacturing business in the 1950s. They used their combined experience to create a door entry business that installed audio systems into apartment buildings, offering one of the first rental solutions in the commercial residential sector. Systems integrator Since the mid-1980s, Interphone has been expanding its proposition to cover door entry, access control, CCTV, TV distribution, and automated gates, and more recently, the company has become a systems integrator, always taking advantage of new opportunities in the marketplace. In particular, the arrival of Internet Protocol (IP), smartphones, and wireless connectivity have all altered how things are done and Interphone has continued to adapt to keep pace with technological innovation. “We are delighted to be celebrating such an amazing anniversary, which is great recognition of so many people’s contribution over the past 60 years. We are proud of the dedication and teamwork of every member of staff, as well as valued partners and customers, which has made our continued success possible. We look forward to marking the occasion with many of them over the coming months,” concludes Synett.

Interphone has launched an all-in-one rental solution that enables building owners and occupiers to adopt the latest building security systems without the need for a large initial capital outlay. This unique finance package will be available for any type of commercial or public sector property, with flexible agreement terms to suit most operating budgets and cash flow, while also providing added protection against unforeseen maintenance or support costs. Installing latest equipment “The outright purchase of security systems can be costly, requiring a sizeable capital outlay to install and maintain the latest equipment”, explains Julian Synett, CEO of Interphone Limited. “Justifying this expenditure and then either raising funds or competing for an already overstretched internal budget can be a complicated process. We aim to create a rental solution to remove this financial barrier, so businesses can avoid delays to critical work that is putting buildings, occupants, and products at unnecessary risk.” High-quality and robust security system The single rental package will combine all the equipment, installation, and ongoing maintenance needed for a high-quality and robust security system, including affordable yearly payments that are spread over the length of the contract. It will be available across Interphone’s entire product range including access control, biometrics, CCTV, door entry, and automated gates and barriers. Meanwhile, comprehensive planned and reactive maintenance cover is designed to minimize any system downtime, avoid operational disruption and gain added peace of mind. Future-proof rental option Its new rental option is future-proofed, allowing a security system to be adapted depending on circumstances All agreements will be internally approved by Interphone’s in-house finance team, based on 60 years of experience in the security systems sector and without the use of any third-party leasing partners. This means that customers can benefit from quick decision-making typically within forty-eight hours based on industry-specific risk assessment to achieve a high approval success rate. It is providing budget certainty, with no unexpected or hidden overheads, so there is no longer a need for compromise in terms of timings, scope, or quality due to budget limitations. Its new rental option is also future-proofed, allowing a security system to be adapted depending on changing circumstances or the availability of newer, more effective technology. This added flexibility ensures that it can best meet the needs of its customers.

Interphone, the security systems and building technology integrator, is embracing the latest iris and facial recognition technology to meet the growing demand for touchless door entry and access control. The company has launched a range of advanced and affordable solutions available for any new build or retrofit building requirement in the commercial residential marketplace. Significance of touchless technologies “The COVID pandemic has placed hygiene, infection control and risk mitigation under the spotlight like never before, which is having a significant impact on how access control and door entry systems are approached,” explains Julian Synett, CEO of Interphone Limited. “Managing agents can help meet their duty of care to residents, staff and other visitors by opting for Iris or facial recognition technology that lessens the spread of germs through the removal of access touchpoints, while enhancing building security.” Iris and facial recognition Interphone is taking advantage of the latest touchless innovations to introduce affordable retrofit solutions that are compatible with most existing access control and door entry systems. This means it is possible to use much of the existing infrastructure that is already in place within a building to incorporate high-performance iris and facial recognition technology, without the costly installation associated with previous solutions. The iris and facial recognition door entry systems use unique data taken from the physical characteristics of a person The iris and facial recognition door entry systems use unique data taken from the physical characteristics of a person, which cannot be shared or transferred to anyone else. Advances in AI technology also mean these solutions can identify faces in a matter of milliseconds, even from different angles, in low light at night, with various facial expressions, or even when someone is wearing a mask. This makes it highly secure and simple to manage, with appropriate access quickly added or removed electronically to minimize the risk of unauthorized admittance. Touchless alternatives are here to stay “Over the past year, managing agents have had to re-evaluate how they manage access to properties. While everything is beginning to return to normal, the pandemic will result in some permanent changes to how we view and deal with hygiene and infection control alongside security. As such, we expect to see increasing interest in touchless alternatives that will shape door entry and access control moving forward,” concludes Synett. 

Interphone has published a security system and building technology whitepaper to help developers, contractors, installers, and managing agents better understand their responsibilities regarding the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The in-depth report, titled A guide to GDPR compliance for the commercial residential marketplace, has been produced jointly with legal training specialist Woolven and Brown to provide an industry-specific look at the data protection and privacy law. GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018 “Security systems and building technologies now hold personal data in many hidden places, so organizations within the commercial residential marketplace need to know what they can and cannot do in relation to holding this information based on the laws that are in place,” explains Charlotte Woolven-Brown, Managing Director of Woolven and Brown Ltd. “The exact requirements can often be confusing, so this guide is designed to help property professionals understand what the GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 are and how they apply to their property businesses.” Product-specific policy requirements The white paper provides an introduction to the GDPR, outlining the main considerations for commercial residential property organizations and the impact it may have on them. The guide also covers product-specific policy requirements for those security systems and building technologies that either hold a lot of data or share data with a third party. This includes CCTV, automatic number plate recognition (ANPR), biometrics, voice recognition, door entry, and access control. Process and manage data “The GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 have changed the manner in which we process and manage data. Failure to comply could be extremely damaging in terms of potential fines and the threat of civil action, while adverse publicity risks significant damage to the reputation of an organization.” “The advice to property businesses is clear, understand your responsibilities and get it right from the start,” concludes Woolven-Brown. Seeking clarification Julian Synett, CEO of Interphone Limited commented, “Since the introduction of the GDPR, we have had developers, contractors, installers, and managing agents seeking clarification on their compliance requirements for the security systems and building technology we develop, install and maintain.” “This suggests there is still a lack of clarity about what is needed, so we have created this white paper to help answer many of the GDPR questions that property businesses currently have.”

Interphone has teamed up with Dahua Technology, a global video surveillance specialist, to help private and public sector organizations create a safer in-building environment and experience as COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. As an accredited Dahua Integrator Partner, Interphone will have access to the latest innovations in thermal access control, temperature monitoring, people counting and flow control, which will be used to develop epidemic safety protection solutions all types of premises. Prevention and control measures “These technology solutions will assist in the identification of those persons who may be unwell, while controlling the flow of people in and out of buildings,” explains Julian Synett, CEO of Interphone Limited. Julian adds, “They will support effective prevention and control measures that will be required moving forward to protect occupants and visitors, as well as reduce the staffing requirement to carry out these monitoring and control functions at entrances and exits.” Temperature monitoring cameras Interphone will now have a range of temperature monitoring cameras available that includes free-standing, wall-mounted and integrated turnstile-mounted options. They are accurate up to a distance of three meters and to within ±0.3-0.5 degrees centigrade. They can be located at any entrance, all with easy installation and flexible deployment, to provide fast and non-contact screening, with extremely high passage efficiency. In fact, it takes just 0.2 seconds per person to identify any abnormal temperature and, if required, whether someone is not wearing a face mask. AI-powered people counting camera AI-powered people counting camera will be able to automatically and accurately calculate numbers in real-time Meanwhile, an AI-powered people counting camera will be able to automatically and accurately calculate numbers in real-time for those organizations that require limited people flow in and out of buildings. It will provide full visibility and control of the amount of people entering a building, making it possible to avoid congestion, maintain social distancing and mitigate the risk of infection and spread of the pandemic. Flow control solution When the number of people reaches a set limit, the flow control solution changes the digital signage located at the entrance, using a traffic light-style system, to automatically manage the movement of people. Anyone entering the building is alerted that the maximum capacity has been reached and asked to wait until space is available. As a result, there is no need to have added security staff located at the door to manually count people in and out of the building, which can help reduce workforce overheads and improve management efficiency. Epidemic safety protection solutions Synett further said, “With the world coming to terms with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, public and private sector organizations now face the challenge of how they operate in a safe, responsible and efficient manner as restrictions are lifted.” “Our epidemic safety protection solutions are suitable for any premises, so property operators and managers can take advantage of them to create a safer in-building environment and experience,” concludes Synett.

The biometric solution will increase overall security throughout the development Interphone, the leading security systems and building technology integrator, has implemented an advanced biometric access solution at an exclusive Canary Wharf residential development. The company was chosen to upgrade the existing door entry and access installation at The Landmark following concerns regarding the security risks posed by cloned, lost or redundant key cards. The Landmark, created by renowned architectural visionaries Squire and Partners, comprises a total of 646 apartments across two towers. Situated just two minutes from one of London’s key financial centers and just outside the Police checkpoint, safety and security are of paramount importance for the 2,000 residents at the prestigious development. However, it was essential that the investment was implemented within a tight budget, so the technology had to be installed and integrated with the existing access control system. Highly-Reliable Multispectral Imaging Scanners Interphone replaced all existing card readers, which were in operation across all front and rear entrances as well the gym, health club, bike cages and bin stores. The new biometric readers take advantage of highly-reliable multispectral imaging scanners that quickly identify a registered fingerprint. Meanwhile the controllers of the access system were updated to allow network connectivity, so that the management and enrollment of fingerprint data could be handled at any network point within the building complex. The biometric solution will not only increase overall security throughout the development, but will also help monitor who has access to the gym. This will ensure that only residents who have completed the safety induction course can use the gym, while preventing the sharing of key cards and fobs with non-residents to gain unauthorized access. Using Latest Fingerprint Reading Technology Rob Howell, Estate Manager at The Landmark: “We were looking for a safe and secure access solution that would work alongside our existing systems. Interphone was able to create and install an advanced biometric solution that is highly effective, cost efficient and meets our precise needs. We are now benefitting from fast, reliable and secure access both internally and externally.” Julian Synett, Managing Director of Interphone said: “Using the latest fingerprint reading technology we have been able to create a sophisticated security solution, which addressed concerns that had arisen over card cloning and the ease of obtaining copied or unused access cards. Using our unrivalled expertise within the marketplace, we were also able to design, and deploy this technically-advanced biometric solution cost effectively within strict financial guidelines.”

The whole of Comelit’s ViP access control suite is focused on functionality and ease of use Working with security systems and building technology integrator Interphone Limited, Comelit has supplied its ViP video entry system for 193 high-end apartments at Queensmead Terrace in the St John’s Wood area of London, near Lord’s Cricket Ground. Challenges The installation was a retrofit project where cabling options were limited and there was a need to minimize engineering time on site to reduce disturbance for residents. Queensmead Terrace is a multi-block site; the specific layout meant taking a peer-to-peer approach since individual entrance panels and concierge stations could not run back to a central point. Interphone also required a system where every entrance panel, concierge station and internal monitor would have its own IP address, could be placed anywhere on the network and was capable of communicating with other units throughout the complex, without the use of a server. The site layout necessitated long cable runs of up to 250 metres, so Interphone used Comelit network switches to achieve this. Justin Hawkesford, Operations Manager, Comelit UK, said: “A key challenge at Queensmead Terrace was linking individual blocks with a concierge system and few of our competitors could have offered a peer-to-peer option. Comelit excels at retrofits of this kind that are well suited to our IP products. We not only met, but also exceeded the client’s high expectations on this project. Bespoke manufacture was the only means of preserving the aesthetic appearance of the exterior.” Bespoke Stainless Steel Video Entrance Panels The client’s demanding brief included the ability to record all video and audio calls made to and from the entrance panels. The logging solution also had to provide information about the various actions resulting from each call, such as ‘door released’ and a time date stamping function was also specified. Comelit met the client’s need to fill the voids left by the previous equipment by manufacturing bespoke stainless steel video entrance panels. These panels are flush-mounted outside the nine sites at Queensmead Terrace and can be remotely configured using an Ethernet port connection. Crucially, the Comelit system allows residents to receive calls from the entrance panels direct to a smartphone or tablet when they are off-site or even abroad. They can also grant or refuse access if they are away and families can have multiple remote users. As an IP system, Comelit’s ViP range allows integrators to carry out maintenance, system health checks and pre-installation configuration remotely. This reduces costs and minimizes disruption to everyday activity at the location. Concierges are also able to send text or image messages to an individual apartment, group of apartments or all residents. Ringtone Customization And Other Features Comelit gives installers options for mixing and matching components across a whole complex in order to meet specific needs. Inside the apartments at Queensmead Terrace, residents use either the 7” Stelle touchscreen monitor or the 3.5” Smart monitor. Both units simplify essential functions, such as lock release, and can be operated hands-free. They optimize image quality by offering precise adjustment of color and contrast, and there is ample scope for ringtone customization, as well as precise volume control. A special ‘doctor’ function allows users who are unwell and know that their next visitor will be a trusted health worker, to set the entrance panel so that access will be granted without interaction at the internal monitor. Facility managers using ViP can configure the system to allow automatic entry for known couriers and contractors. They are also able to fine-tune these access rights for defined areas. The apartment monitors can be configured to send alarm calls to the concierge on receipt of an input from a leak detection unit or panic button for example. Residents can also record a message to be played through the entrance panel if they are out or do not wish to be disturbed. The whole of Comelit’s ViP access control suite is focused on functionality and ease of use. Julian Synett, Managing Director of Interphone, commented: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Comelit, which combines our integration expertise with their leading technology solutions. As a result, we have implemented a complete refurbishment project including all new cabling, monitors, handsets, control equipment and panels, helping to create a more secure environment and enhance the quality of life within the estate.”