As the connected environment continues to expand, with some 25 billion devices predicted by 2021 according to Gartner Inc., the case for managed, intelligent networking power solutions for access control is not a luxury for the protected premises – it is a necessity.
With guaranteed uptime from networked power solutions, system status is active and intuitive, identifying potential problems or issues with components such as locks or panels, and potentially warding off security compromise or failure proactively. Formerly incapable of transmitting data regarding access control devices, power as a product category has changed with technological innovation and the continuing movement to IP and network connectivity.
With numerous integrated components and devices now part of access control specifications, power has taken its place as an indispensable part of these solutions. In addition to the ability to provide greater awareness of connectivity of access control and system components, power management is emerging as a new way to generate RMR from managed services through monitoring, maintenance, health reports and other collected data.
Modern power management systems can be controlled through web-accessible platforms, providing security integrators in-depth analytics to continually assess system operations for optimum operation and assured reliability. Proactive remote monitoring and system management includes functions such as rebooting field devices, remote or scheduled battery testing and other capabilities for tangible streams of RMR and the enviable sticky customer.
The Evolution of Power
Not long ago, the engineered enclosure that houses power and access control components was simply a static piece of hardware, and often, three separate enclosures were required for access control projects for system power, access power and lock power – spreading footprints and complicating installation processes.
Today’s enclosures can offer streamlined electrical and mechanical integration of power, locks and access panel hardware. Prewired and ready to install, quick connect terminal strips easily incorporate the latest access control hardware. Ground wires on the doors of enclosures come with pluggable connections so there are no tools required to complete configuration. Dual-color LEDs give quick, visual notification of voltages so technicians can avoid applying incorrect voltages to sensitive access control equipment and products. These design changes seem small, but savings have added up when it comes to streamlined wiring, labor and maintenance, and standardization across an enterprise.
For the end-user, monitored power means the move to a more comprehensive, proactive network. It offers lower a total cost of ownership, coupled with useful data that ultimately keeps systems solutions up and running smoothly.
The Economics of Power Management
Time is money, especially when it comes to skilled technicians on the job. With loaded labor rates ranging anywhere from $40 to more than $100 an hour – depending on the skills of the technician, certification and other factors – being able to wire all components and devices in the field quickly is critical to profitability.
A standardized, prewired installation platform eliminates hours of panel wiring, lock control and communication wiring; in fact, a 40-percent installation savings and 60-percent wall space savings can be achieved. In addition, by standardizing across a customer’s facility or national account base, service times and maintenance costs are reduced. When a technician can finish the job sooner and move onto the next project, there is more efficiency in the field.
Preconfigured wiring with a standard design in a single enclosure greatly simplifies maintenance, which is a huge cost center for installing companies and their customers. Preconfigured enclosures also streamline troubleshooting (less labor in the field), as wiring is easy to reach, service and manage.
Power Management in the Field
Power management offers intrinsic value to the end-user, especially those with large campuses or complicated systems. Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA), for example, uses managed power to proactively preempt system failure and degradation of electronic openings. Spread over six sprawling campuses – it is the second-largest community college in the U.S. – NOVA’s IT department needed to efficiently manage physical security and access control with an abbreviated staff. Leveraging a networked power system for its one-card physical security and identification system enables the college to perform remote monitoring and maintenance to save time and manpower vs. traveling to different sites to address potential system challenges.
The County of Travis in Austin, Texas, spans 35 miles and includes more than 80 different buildings, and its Facilities Management Department (FMD) needed real-time data on system integrity and the ability to provide proactive power monitoring and maintenance of its access control solution. Houston-based systems integrator Preferred Technologies LLC (Pref-Tech) provided a connected power solution that uses critical remote monitoring capabilities to provide immediate notification of AC loss, overcurrent alerts, low battery warnings and other intelligence to handle situations before they elevate to dangerous or critical.
Iowa-based Communication Innovators deployed an integrated, web-accessible platform to centrally monitor all the power supplies for one customer with 80 different locations and long distances between facilities. “Using an integrated SDK, we receive status alerts and manage all power through the unified security management platform, with notifications coming natively into the software,” explains Ralph Azzi, the company’s Solutions Architect and Project Manager. “The end-user understood and wanted to leverage the value proposition of managing all their power supplies, integrated directly into their Genetec Security Center platform.”
Azzi says another advantage is field-selectable dual voltage outputs at 12 or 24V. “That provided a lot of functionality during the system takeover,” he says. “Having a dual voltage system all in one enclosure gives us a lot of ‘bandwidth’ and flexibility for our installations.”
For the end-user, a single enclosure means faster set up and the ability to quickly get all components online, as well as enhanced maintenance, service and testing. “A consistent, streamlined and standardized installation saves on-site labor and is more reliable overall,” Azzi says.
Benjamin Butchko, President and CEO of Butchko Inc., Superior, Colo., continues to deploy network managed power for many of its customers. “Right now, users are putting in managed power because it gives them more flexibility for the future,” he explains. “What they don’t invest in is the operational process to be able to use it – training and operations. It takes a pretty mature operation to explore the remote power capability and use the data to its fullest and in a predictive manner.”
Butchko says his business model is to send technicians into the field as few times as possible. “I want to maximize the technician’s probability of succeeding on the first trip. If I can give them something that’s standardized, I can save time and money so there’s more profit coming in, owners are more satisfied and technicians can install more systems.”
RMR Opportunity
Modern power solutions can predict battery health, exact standby time remaining and also pre-empt possible downtime with constant analytics on device status. The value proposition of power also includes different scenarios for managed services RMR.
Managed power services can encompass a number of physical elements, including the main power supply, power system outputs, supervised inputs and standby batteries. Managed monitoring can encompass event reports, AC loss notification, service due reminders, overcurrent alert, low-battery warning and insufficient battery standby. Remote servicing capabilities of power solutions offers output supervision, battery load testing, remote power cycling and system health logs/trouble alerts.
With power monitoring also comes the opportunity to create real-time action alerts and reports. Alert formats may include email, XML, web-browser notification or Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP). For example, a short circuit or integrated lock that is drawing more or less power than it should is an indication it is beginning to fail. In this condition, an email alert or SNMP trap (notification) can be automatically sent to the integrator or end-user, alerting of a potential problem.
With continuous power system monitoring also comes the opportunity to create customized action alerts and reports for comprehensive system maintenance and management.
End-users are looking for tangible value, lower total cost of ownership, a healthy return on investment for all their security solutions and the ability to guarantee system uptime with proactive maintenance and monitoring. With the increasing ability to integrate a wide range of systems – from security to building operations and energy management – they will be aware of any potential power problems or issues with their access control products.
Michael Bone is Marketing Manager for LifeSafety Power. Request more info about the company at www.securityinfowatch.com/11462038.
