Most security professionals are familiar with wireless intrusion detection devices — motion detectors, door/window transmitters and the like — and understand the advantages of wireless technology. Because wireless eliminates the labor costs running of cable and trenching, the economic advantages are clear.
Likewise, wireless avoids the installation difficulties presented by traditional hardwiring. Wireless devices can be simply mounted where they are needed, as they are needed, ensuring a timely completion and minimizing disruption.
Often wireless is employed in security installations to address issues that hardwired solutions simply cannot. Some areas are nearly impossible to hardwire, like historic facilities with thick walls and high ceilings, or large expanses of glass windows in entryways or foyers between departments.
Other times wireless is necessary because the area that needs to be secured is mobile or seasonal. Whatever the case, wireless intrusion detection devices are often employed to solve problems that traditional wired systems cannot.
However, wireless has potential well beyond intrusion detection. Understanding the breadth of wireless solutions can provide cost-effective solutions to problems others can’t solve.
In this slideshow there are nine potentially overlooked security and life-safety areas that are worth consideration for wireless integration due to the various factors mentioned above.
The reality is that with the flexibility of wireless transmitters, the amount of applications is nearly limitless. Universal transmitters are available that are designed for use with almost any standard contact or sensor. These have been integrated with everything from miniature curtain PIR screens to protect museum exhibits to activating windows that release police canines.
Knowledge of wireless will help you improve your organization’s safety and security. Even those with systems already in place can benefit from wireless solutions. One of the greatest advantages of wireless technology is its flexibility.
Not only in the types of solutions available, but in the ability of most wireless devices to be easily added into existing wired systems, or even into wireless systems installed by other manufacturers.
Wireless add-on receivers allow most wireless devices to be seamlessly integrated with almost any security panel. There are also wide array of serial receivers and even IP gateways, designed to allow their integration into nearly any system.
A better understanding of wireless solutions and the breadth of possible use cases can only make a campus security professional more valuable to his or her campus.
Check out the slideshow!
This article originally ran in Campus Safety’s sister publication, Security Sales & Integration. Michael Um is Senior Product Manager at Inovonics.
