IRONMONGERY & SECURITY
SAFE AS W
hen it comes to security, there is a clear shift towards smart products, according to Dominick Sandford, product director at
IronmongeryDirect.
“Smart home security systems are revolutionising the way a property can be protected, and it is up to the industry to keep up with the rapidly increasing consumer demand” he says.
IronmongeryDirect conducted research into the smart product industry and found that nearly 30% of homeowners now own at least one smart home product and sales of smart technology are expected to more than double this year. Wayne Lysaught-Mason, managing director of IronmongeryDirect, adds: “Smart products are redefining the way that a property functions, and there is a clear need for tradespeople to keep abreast of the developments involving smart technology. With basic burglar alarms now enhanced to monitor, control and interact with a home of business premesis from a smartphone or tablet, we are just at the beginning of this smart tech revolution.”
“There is still a demand for traditional
SMART HOUSES
The security sector is undergoing space-age modifications to meet ‘Generation Z’ expectations, but the new technology brings with it new challenges...
products but these new smart alternatives should not be ignored. There are some fantastic products on the market, whether you want to specialise in security, lighting, heating or household appliances.”
However, not originally riding the wave of this trend might not be a merchant’s only problem, as previous national research carried out shows that almost 90% of tradespeople are not confident when advising customers on smart products, and 84% of tradespeople said they had never undertaken any training in smart home technology.
Sandford elaborates: “Only one in ten trades- people said they felt “very confident” when it comes to offering guidance on smart products, including products such as smart CCTV systems, smart alarms and locks which can be connected to smartphones.”
However, this alienation should not continue as training organisations around the UK offer courses in smart technology, including the AWE Smart Home Academy in Surrey, which equips trades-people with the skills and confidence they need to advise customers on the technology.
Digital trends
Meanwhile, ERA Security is following the digitisation trend in their latest products. With remote-controlled security operating systems becoming ever more popular, their latest development is the ERA DoorCam Smart Home Wifi Video Doorbell. Using a smart-phone app, Door Cam allows the householders to view anyone who rings the bell and talk to them in real time, whether they’re home or not. Thanks to a motion detector which alerts the householder when someone has arrived at the door, the system offers convenience and added security.
Once the DoorCam is wired in the householder can simply plug in the Wifi chime which comes as standard, connecting up to four chimes inside the home, meaning a chime will sound in the house, with adjustable sound, volume and light function. This means the householder doesn’t need to be carrying their
August 2018
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phone to know the doorbell is ringing. By the end of the year, ERA plans to fully integrate the DoorCam App with ERA’s HomeGuard cloud-based alarm app. They are also currently working on a high-powered long- life battery version to offer customers more choice and as well as value for money. DoorCam allows for two-way talk with high quality sound and adjustable volume, brightness and colour to suit the user. The video camera has a 180 degree field of view and records in 720pHD resolution, available in black or white to blend or suit any house exterior. Its infrared night vision ensures operation day and night, with optional motion detection and the ability to customise focus on a specific area so the householder can tailor the DoorCam to suit their individual security needs. Being simple to install, customers can choose whether to DIY or hire a professional.
Head of marketing at ERA, Tania Tams, says “Innovation is integral to ERA’s philosophy and the company’s smartware range provides the cutting edge security technology that consumers now demand as well as an excellent profit opportunity for professional locksmiths and electrical contractors.”
Round the back
As style is another factor dominating house design choices, homeowners are drawn to large amounts of glass to make the most of natural light and the ability to connect an indoor and outside space. This in itself creates the question of security. While Yale and Era are looking into the future security of the front door, companies such as PC Henderson are left to lock-up the back.
A growing trend in garden access design is the sliding or bi-folding door; usually huge panes of glass that are designed to move effortlessly, at the lightest touch. While the glass itself can be designed to withstand huge force, Henderson’s new Twinbolt locking system has been designed
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