CAMERAS

Video surveillance is gaining real traction in New Zealand and its uses are only limited by your imagination. The cost of video technology changes depending on the quality of picture, recording time, lighting conditions and level of automation you need. For simple identification of people entering your building, an entry-level camera may be enough. If you want to record footage in an unlit outdoor area at night, and get enough detail to read the number plates on vehicles, a higher resolution model is required.

Entry Level Cameras
Camera technology that allows video monitoring suitable for homes and small businesses is readily available and inexpensive. These technologies produce reasonable quality pictures but only work in well lit areas.

High resolution indoor cameras
The second tier of digital video camera offers high resolution recording, but needs reasonable lighting and is suitable only for indoor use. They are ample for most small business needs. You will need to pay extra for models with night vision, or good zoom capability.

SECURITY TECHNOLOGIES

The best way to choose the technologies that are right for you is to have a Nutech security assessment. These are free everywhere from Waihi to Te Puke. If you would like to read a little about your alarm technology choices, this section is for you, it's all about:

• Sensors to detect intruders
• Sensors to detect fire
• Monitoring technologies
• Access control systems

You want an alarm that works. An alarm that goes off at the first sign of an intruder but doesn't false alarm. And, an alarm that comes at a price to suit your budget.

Infrared Sensors
Infrared sensors work by detecting moving body heat and are the most cost effective solution. They work well in the right conditions, but are less effective when the air temperature is close to body temperature.

Dual Technology Sensors
Dual technology sensors combine, both infrared and microwave to provide more reliable detection in difficult situations.

Electromagnetic Sensors
There is a time and a place for everything.Electromagnetic sensors trigger an alarm as a vehicle passes over them. They are ideal for detecting vehicles entering or leaving sites and a great tool in protecting yards with heavy equipment.

Sensors for smoke and fire detection
Have smoke detectors fitted to your security system for 24-hour protection. The battery backup in the alarm system ensures 24/7 service.

Smoke detectors
Smoke detectors are the most commonly used fire detectors, and are suitable for most environments, but do not work in areas that are dusty or naturally smoky. They need to be placed at the highest point in a building and cleaned regularly. This can pose a challenge in buildings with high and inaccessible ceilings. We recommend and install pholoelectric models that don't sound the alarm when you burn toast. A photoelectric detector is more stable because it uses refraction and only goes off when dense smoke is detected.

Rate of Rise fire detectors
With a rate of rise fire detector, your alarm is triggered when a sudden marked temperature change is detected. They are ideal for areas with dust, saw-dust, smoke, steam or other dense air matter that may block a smoke detector. They are also ideal for buildings with high ceilings, as they do not need to be cleaned regularly.

Monitoring Technologies
What will happen when your intruder or smoke alarm is triggered? For fast, effective response you need the alarm to be raised at your place, and at ours. That way, we can take immediate action to put things right, even if you can't. Security systems that are monitored through telephone lines alone can be vulnerable, so it pays to know all of the options:

• Monitoring via telephone lines
  This method is the least expensive to operate. However it is the least secure because telephone lines can be easily tampered with at street level.
• One way radio monitoring - faster, more reliable monitoring
  When your security system is monitored using one-way radio, the signal travels more quickly than it does by telephone line, and is not able to be interfered with by would-be intruders, nor is it affected by external telephone line faults.
• TCP/IP monitoring - anywhere, anytime
  If you have broadband internet access 24/7, then consider TCP/IP monitoring. Your alarm is monitored through your internet connection via an 'IP' address. Our computer can check whether or not the alarm is on-line. This technology allows us to monitor alarms anywhere, for no more than the cost of monitoring someone in the Tauranga region.
• Supervised radio monitoring - extra reliability
  This method of monitoring uses a GPRS transceiver. The monitoring station can constantly check that the communications path is available. All signals from your alarm system are sent via cellular directly to the monitoring centre. This method is for critical situations where life or livelihood is at risk and where time is of the essence. Use it to monitor critical applications.
• Dual Monitoring
  For high-risk situations, consider dual-technology monitoring. Talk to us about the best combination of technologies for your needs. Consider this solution for critical applications where the signal must get out every time.
  
• Smoke Cloak - for instant response
  The smoke cloak is for places with precious, high value, goods like jewellery, art or cash. When an intruder is detected the smoke cloak releases a non-toxic, non-staining fog that produces an instant white-out. The fog is so thick that the intruder can't tell up from down, let alone find their way to the door. They are trapped in your building, with your goods. Once the room is aired, the fog disappears, leaving no mess behind - just an embarrassed thief!
• Access Control Systems
  With an access control system, you can set limits on who enters your premises and confirm who is in or out of the building if an alarm sounds. Access can be limited to certain areas of the building and certain times of the day. You choose between using access codes, swipe cards, proximity tags or fingerprint scans for identification.