August 2020 - QED - Good People

Lockdown solutions, and how schools choose the best one.

Up until recently, schools weren’t required by Ofsted to have an official lockdown system installed. A simple document with guidelines was considered just fine for a Lockdown Policy.

However, now, Ofsted require schools to have a specific lockdown alarm that is not the same sound as a fire alarm! Why – you may ask? This is because of the NACTSO which advises against the use of fire alarms to “reduce incorrect response to an incident”.

You’re correct in thinking aren’t Ofsted concerned for a school’s performance and learning? Yes, but they will refer to site security and will expect schools to demonstrate the measures in place for protecting pupils, staff and the school itself.

In the case of an emergency, poor acknowledgement of pupil safety will be detrimental to an Ofsted inspection. Therefore, which lockdown system best suits a school’s needs, and whether it’s inline with their policy, is vital informatio

Choosing a Lockdown System

There is little guidance from councils and governments when it comes to choosing a lockdown system, and the NASUWT did recently call on the government to provide schools with nationally recognised lockdown procedures.

Chris Keates, NASUWT General Secretary said: “responsibility for ensuring security and terrorism preparedness should be the responsibility of the whole governing body. It would not be appropriate for the government simply to require schools to have preparedness plans in place and assume that they are able to do this.”

Why would a lockdown system be used?

There are a number of incidents that may instigate a lockdown: postcode wars, an armed intruder, an escalating argument between parents, rogue animals or nearby fires with noxious fumes. So, how does a school alert everyone in a safe manner to find a safe place within the school and stay put?

IP Speakers

IP Speakers produce audio announceemnts but no visual alert. These speakers do require wiring, which takes time and money to install. The advantage, of course, is once installed, the system can be used for any alert (wet play, class room changes). So this option really does depend on the school’s budget.

Using the fire alarm

For smaller sites using only one sound as an alert, it is possible to use fire alarms for lockdowns. However, in schools, using the fire alarm for lockdown prompts confusion: do we evacuate, or do we stay put?

Other voice systems

Are live voice-based systems the answer? Again, there are pitfalls such as language barriers. And as most lockdowns are prevalent in inner cities, this can be a real problem. A lockdown message with a built-in alert on loop can work. Especially if the school has regular lockdown drills. However, these tannoy announcements rarely cover outside areas such as playing fields due to cabling. Therefore, schools with several outbuildings may not be able to use this option.

Alerts via mobile network

Schools will have policies about mobile phones during learning times. Therefore, unless the school looks to providing all staff with a hand held device purely for lockdowns or emergencies, relying on personal phones is a no-go.

ALERTEX School Lockdown Solution

The ALERTEX system offers battery powered units and is deployable anywhere.

ALERTEX offers audible and visual alerts. The alerts are distinguishable from fire alerts, and ALERTEX can be quickly installed on site over a weekend or even at the end of the school day. Resulting in minimal disruption to the learning environment.

With a three year battery life, a maximum of 64 units can be installed per site, up to 1km apart. What’s more, when one ALERTEX unit activates, it triggers all units in range to sound an audible alert or lockdown message, and a flashing beacon light.

Internal and external variants are available with adjustable decibel levels. There are 32 sounds to choose from, or an annunciator variant can be ordered which has a built-in strobe. Choose the standard lockdown message, or the school may wish to record their own.

The ALERTEX PC app also allows one central location (usually the school office) to monitor and control the activated units. From here, the user can reset the system after activation. The PC app also has an email function which advises a specific email group of the severity of the lockdown event.

In conclusion…

It is vital schools conduct and review fire and security risk assessments regularly. Staff should be aware of potential risks and the difference between a fire alert (evacuation) and a lockdown alert (stay on the premises and make your way to the nearest place of safety).

Contact us for more information: 01772 336 111 or email sales@qedgroup.co.uk

Needing to keep over 17,000 students safe, the University of Dundee decided to go with the IndigoVision solution supplied by Authorised Partner Scottish Communications. Wondering if your current security surveillance system is fit-for-purpose?

We are a campus that is about 72 buildings. We’ve got close to 17,000 students and about 3,000 staff members. The other part to that is that we are very centrally located downtown urban university, and of course that being said, we also don’t have a wall around the university.

IndigoVision allows us to spend our time and our resources helping people. The video intercom assistance points that we have that are integrated with IndigoVision through Control Center, they are rolled out strategically around campus, and when somebody activates that button it automatically activates a two-way video intercom. But sadly, that video intercom is about this big and it doesn’t give us a very good overall picture. So, by tying them into IndigoVision we are able to create a trigger to activate the closest PTZ camera that would turn and zoom in on the big picture view of what’s going on.

We may have 300 cameras but we only have six people on staff, but having one person who mans the Control Center means he can sit here and watch 36 cameras kind of at the same time. So instead of needing 36 people, we have 36 cameras and one person who’s monitoring them.

Campus Security, Adam speaking.

Control Center ties everything together. So, you can have an access control software, you can have a CCTV software, you can have a million-in-one different software’s, but if you have to flip between five or six of them all you’re doing is wasting time, especially in a critical incident response. You want everything as streamlined as possible, and for us, it’s that Control Center that has been that ribbon that has tied them all together. We want our officers out doing 101 other things, not sitting at a desk trying to figure out how to work a software.

The fact that the IndigoVision Control Center platform is so easy to use and it’s very easy to learn and it’s quite intuitive, means that my officers don’t have to waste time. We have all the cameras build onto a map as little icons, so as an incident moves through campus, instead of trying to scroll through a hundred cameras on a list, our officers can just click the next camera on a route and follow an incident as they move through our campus. When incidents happen, seconds count.

We’ve had an excellent partnership with the University of Dundee for over five years now. University of Dundee have vision in where they want to be in three years’ time, in five years’ time and in ten years’ time. And they share that vision with us, and they share their operational requirements from now and for the future.

IndigoVision is very responsive, they stand behind their product, but beyond that, they’re willing to work with you to make sure that your system is absolutely fit for purpose, and that’s a key thing when you’re looking for a partner.

Quality Essential Distribution are exclusive distributors of the Indigo Vision range please call us to discuss your bespoke requirements.

Here to help your customers working from home

Working from home has gradually become the norm for many of us now–including your customers! Even if you’ve been a home-worker your entire life, it is most likely a new reality for many of your customers. So it’s worth considering how you can help make their home working environment organised, more efficient and most importantly: safe.

WiFi where you need it

Super fast, reliable Wi-Fi is an absolute necessity at home. There’s nothing worse than slow, sluggish Wi-Fi preventing you from working to your best ability and getting through hefty workloads.

We recommend:
TP-Link Wireless N 4G LTE Router
TP-Link Powerline Adaptor Starter Kit

Protecting homes

The increase in reports of theft and burglaries during lockdown is quite alarming. Protecting family and property couldn’t be more of a priority… and it’s made simple with these plug and play camera kits.

We recommend Uniview CCTV Camera Kits.

Wireless Mouse

Reduce the safety hazards throughout your home with a wireless mouse.

We recommend:
High black gloss wireless optical mouse
Check out our range of monitors here

Switches

We recommend:

• Tenda 5 port GW switch
• TP-Link 8-Port Switch with 4-Port PoE
• TP-Link 8 Port Desktop Gigabit Switch, 4 PoE Ports (55W PoE Budget)

*Limited stock available

Other Bits and Bobs

There are also other gadgets available that may be of interest to you:

Extension leads
HDMI cables
Speakers
Cabinets

Tackling Spiders in the home and on CCTV

Spiders are thriving at the moment in the mild weather according to the BBC. But how can you get rid of them? They are currently looking for shelter and preparing to find a mate and find somewhere warm to stay for the winter months.

How to get rid of Spiders:

It’s peak spider season in early autumn and the best way to control them is to limit their food source according to Rentokil experts.

Here are some of the most common ways to get rid of the pesky critters!

Insecticide

You can spray an insecticide externally around windows and doors as well as inside walls and ceilings concentrating on the wall/floor and wall/ceiling junctions.

To prevent spiders nesting in CCTV cameras spray around the camera base which will then act as a barrier and repelling spiders from crossing and nesting in and around the camera. This will also prevent false alarms from occurring which is one of the most common reasons for false alarms at this time of year.

Why SpiderEx?

spiderex spray review

Most insecticide sprays don’t last long and the difference with SpiderEx is that it is a lacquer and it stays on the surface area for a few months. It doesn’t leave a sticky or coloured film or mark, it’s a clear formula that is hard to see.

Other methods include:

Spider traps: catch and control light spider infestations.

Declutter your home: spiders will have fewer places to hide if you keep clutter to a minimum. Also, make sure you clean surfaces and vacuum often as bits of food may attract other insects, which could in turn attract spiders.

Keep windows closed: spiders tend to enter houses at night as they aim to look for a warm place once the sun sets to find food and mating opportunities. Closing your windows at night may help to keep them away.

Natural deterrents: spiders detest the smell of citrus fruits, so you could place slices of lemon or lime across your windowsills and doors as a natural bug repellent. You could also use other essential oils such as peppermint, cinnamon or tea tree oil to keep the spiders away. Alternatively, a water and vinegar spray will have a similar effect at deterring spiders.

Wash windows: cleaning windows with ammonia and water helps to prevent the creatures from getting inside.

Fill in gaps: filling in walls, around pipework and under doors can deter entry.

Reviews for SpiderEx

SpiderEx spray reviews

Customers and CCTV installers who use SpiderEx buy it every year and rave about it!

Short and sweet. This stuff WORKS. Have just ordered this autumn’s batch to treat the house in preparation for September, knowing that we will be monster free throughout. Brilliant. Will continue to buy every year. Thanks for making my home comfortable to live in.

– Vicki Edge.

We have been trialling SpiderEx for about six months in UK and France and have found it to be highly effective in reducing the amount of false alarms on our motion detection cameras.

– Richard Howkins. Telecommunication and Control system services Manager at Eurotunnel.

SpiderEx is the first choice of many who need to remove Spiders from a specific area. Buy Today! You can buy a can today from amazon.co.uk, Lakeland, North West Locks and YESSS Electrical (just visit the site and search SpiderEx).

For bulk orders contact sales@qedgroup.co.uk for trade prices.

Our new partnership with Aiphone

As our world develops, the need for better and more reliable building access and control will grow. Quality Essential Distribution and Aiphone UK’s new partnership highlights the demand by customers for a range of products to fulfil the need to minimise the risk of unauthorised access.

Covid-Secure Intercoms

Aiphone are able to provide a covid-secure intercom and entry systems for every environment. For example, the education sector introduced remote teaching earlier this year, however not all schools or households are able to provide distance education effectively. Hence the increase in the number of intercom systems being installed in schools before the new school year beings in September. This is just one of the measures many schools are taking to prepare safer environments for teachers, students and parents. Property management and healthcare buildings are also investing in upgrading intercom and entry solutions.

Aiphone WAVE

Due to the demand from healthcare, education, residential and commercial sectors, Aiphone recently launched the Aiphone WAVE button to combat the current pandemic. These modules are designed to keep high hygiene and minimise contacts to surfaces and visitors simply WAVE towards the entrance panel and the sensor detects the motion to call the premises – complete touch-free communication is also possible with this system.

QED will now distribute Aiphone’s range of intercom and entry systems offering reliable solutions for the most diverse range of environments.

Adapting to the ever-changing world:

QED has recognised the needs of the security industry are changing and although traditional security products continue to be necessary, the priority has shifted. The manufacturer’s focus is on reviewing existing products and systems to help keep people and properties safe in the current climate and for the foreseeable future. We have already seen upgrades, new products being introduced or reintroduced. This is one reason Quality Essential Distribution is exploring new supplier partnerships and widening its product range; preparing to face market demands for now and the foreseeable future. Matt Philp, QED’s Product Development Director said:

This partnership has been driven by the need to add more flexibility with our product range to support our partners working on keeping the general public safe. We must face how different this new world has become. It is a pleasure to work with Aiphone, whose range of products fill a gap in the marketplace.

Harvey Williams, Aiphone’s General Sales Manager said:

For more than 70 years Aiphone has been at the forefront of technological development: offering solutions packed with innovative features, many unique to Aiphone. We are delighted to have entered into a partnership with Quality Essential Distribution whose values and culture of delivering the highest quality products to customers on time and to the right specification to make their life as easy as possible matches our own.

School Lockdown Solutions

Lockdown solutions, and how schools choose the best one.

Choosing a Lockdown System

Why would a lockdown system be used?

IP Speakers

Using the fire alarm

Other voice systems

Alerts via mobile network

ALERTEX School Lockdown Solution

In conclusion…

IndigoVision security surveillance for universities: University of Dundee

Working from home: we’re here to help

Here to help your customers working from home

WiFi where you need it

Protecting homes

Wireless Mouse

Switches

Other Bits and Bobs

Tackling Spiders in the home and on CCTV

Tackling Spiders in the home and on CCTV

How to get rid of Spiders:

Insecticide

Why SpiderEx?

Other methods include:

Reviews for SpiderEx

QED announce new partnership with Aiphone UK

Our new partnership with Aiphone

Covid-Secure Intercoms

Aiphone WAVE

Adapting to the ever-changing world:

Create an Account.