Most large commercial-grade fire alarms today are addressable systems. Unlike conventional systems that use fire alarm zones, addressable fire alarm systems assign a unique “call point” to every device. Each one sends a digital signal to the main panel, creating a two-way line of communication that shows activations and status updates. An addressable panel can then identify…
Are Contracts Required with All Security Companies? No. Not all security companies require a contract, but that doesn’t necessarily mean a no-contract company is a better option. There are pros and cons to contracts. The key is to know what you are paying for in a contract and details about the reputation of the company….
Hidden Security Cameras When it comes to security cameras, you can choose whether you want them installed in visible locations or have them hidden within your building. There are two different perspectives with this topic. Keep them in plain sight to deter crimes from occurring. Thieves are less likely to target your home or business if they…
Security Camera Night Vision Light is crucial for a camera to work. Without light, the camera can’t see anything, so how do security cameras work at night? Infrared radiation (IR), or infrared light, is a type of electromagnetic radiation that is invisible to human eyes. It is essentially energy, a heat, that all objects emanate….
Smoke Detector Placement Fire can spread extremely fast. In just minutes, a building can be fully engulfed in flames. Smoke detectors are critical to give people inside homes and commercial buildings early warnings so they have time to get out. Proper smoke detector placement is also key when it comes to keeping your home or business safe. Residential Smoke Detector Placements At a minimum, The National Fire Protection…
What Is Fire? Fire is the result of a chemical reaction called oxidation. Oxidation is the combination of oxygen with another substance. In the case of a fire, the oxidation happens so quickly that light, heat, and sound are released. A fire needs oxygen, heat and fuel to burn. These factors are frequently referred to…
Is it legal for you to break into your own house? Yes, you can get in trouble for breaking into your own house—at least temporarily. If the police are notified that there is a break-in at a residence, either by a neighbor or a security alarm, they can detain or arrest you until you can…
What Is a Village? A village in the United States is defined as a small municipality with limited corporate powers. A village government usually consists of a village board made up of trustees and a village president. Village Building Codes Have Minimum Requirements Every village adopts its own building codes to establish minimum requirements for…
A central station alarm system is one that feeds directly into a central monitoring station. If a sensor on the central station alarm system is triggered, such as fire, smoke, C02, or burglar, the system does much more than just set off a loud siren or send an email alert telling you to log into…
While no two small businesses are the same, they share commonalities when it comes to what they want in a security system. Most small business owners want to do three things: Protect their people, property, and assets from fire Protect their people, property, and assets from theft See what is happening in their business even…
Video Doorbells In the News Video doorbells are one of the hottest home security tools on the market today. We agree. Once you have a video doorbell, you’ll probably wonder how you ever lived without it. Check out our blog on How a Video Doorbell Works to learn more. However, like any technology on the…
A video doorbell is a system that allows you to see who is ringing your doorbell by way of a video connection. If your video doorbell has a two-way audio system, you also can talk to the person at the front door, whether you’re home or not. How you connect your system and how you…
Access control systems manage who can enter specific areas of a building or property using badges, key fobs, PINs, or mobile credentials.
Intercoms allow two-way communication between entry points and internal locations, often integrated with access control to verify visitors before granting entry.
They restrict unauthorized access, create audit trails of entry/exit, and allow real-time control and lockdown of doors if needed.
Yes! Access control integrates with video surveillance, intrusion alarms, fire systems, and HR or visitor management software for a unified security solution.
Common credentials include key cards, fobs, biometric readers (fingerprint/face), PIN codes, and smartphone-based mobile access.