Integrated security systems: classification, design, equipment

The development of modern security systems is inextricably linked with various integration processes and extensive automation. This applies not only to the means of protection, but also to any others that are intended to provide programmatic management of the functioning and life-support of residential, office and other buildings or facilities. The logical development of this trend resulted in the emergence of such a phenomenon as integrated security systems, which had more opportunities.

What it is?

As the basis of ISB is a single hardware and software platform, which is a fully automated management, which has a multi-level network structure. It has a common center, based on a local computer network and providing a communication line, controllers and information reception devices, as well as a number of peripheral devices. With their help, integrated security systems provide the collection and processing of data from various sensors, as well as control over all possible means of automation.

ISF are automated control devices that help to ensure the optimal control of the safety of any objects, therefore, various norms and requirements of the current legislation are fully applicable to it.

Basic concepts

Security systems are divided into two groups established by the current regulatory framework:

• Automated. Include staff, as well as a certain set of automation tools for its operation. Implement information technology to perform certain tasks.
• Integrated security systems of an automated type. The combination of two or at once several interconnected AS, in which the work of each individual element directly depends on others in such a way that such a set can be considered as a single device.

In accordance with the concepts considered, it is possible to define the ISF itself.

Definition

Integrated security systems are a set of technical facilities that are designed to control fire, security alarms or alerts, as well as fire-fighting automatic equipment, access and television surveillance. They differ in information, technical, operational and software compatibility. This allows us to consider this set as a single automated complex.

From this definition, we can conclude that the design of security systems of this type is the creation of a structure that will provide protection from several types of threats at once. If we consider the above definition, we must provide protection against a possible fire, as well as various criminal threats.

Modern ISBs are based on a hierarchical network structure, which includes various computer and local networks of different levels of complexity of specialized computing devices.

Levels

The design of integrated security systems provides for the creation of four levels.

The first is a computer network of the "client-server" format, based on an Ethernet network using the TCP / IP exchange protocol and using specialized network operating systems. With the help of this level, a full-fledged communication is provided between the main server and various operating operator stations. The ISF management, which provides control over all devices, including ACS, fire systems and many others, is provided with the help of special software. And for small objects it is even possible to use only one computer. It is also worth noting that communication and parallel control over remote objects are provided at the upper level, and modern capabilities of the equipment allow data to be transmitted through different communication channels, which allows creating full-scale security monitoring complexes for objects at a great distance on the basis of the ISB.

The second level consists of local controllers, which are the main control elements. Through them, fire control systems and all others are monitored. Each local device must perform the most important tasks in its own zone, even if communication with the upper layer is broken. To provide communication between homogeneous devices, the RS485 interface is used or some others that provide the possibility of building full-fledged industrial-level networks that are characterized by a sufficient speed of information exchange, as well as interference protection. The connection between the upper and the second layers can be provided through some particular network controller by connecting it to the server. In some ISBs, where the access control system (ACS) is used, as well as other security measures, there is the possibility of direct access to the upper layer via the TCP / IP protocol.

At the third level are the addressable network devices connected to each individual controller, and here, in the majority of cases, it is customary to use the RS485 interface. The total number of network devices that can be connected to any controller can reach 256. At the same time, their nomenclature is quite diverse, starting from standard expanders for connecting specialized radial arcs and ending with complex third-level controllers. For example, these are fire control devices or modules that connect address-analog fire detectors.

The fourth level includes all sorts of annunciators and annunciators of the OPS, the executive elements of the access control system (access control system), as well as devices for monitoring specialized equipment, sensors and many other devices. In the majority of cases at this level it is customary to use rather specific and non-standard protocols and interfaces.

The technical capabilities of modern ISFs, which use a video surveillance line and a number of other equipment, allow to determine also the future prospects of their development, the possibility of integration with any other means of automation, as well as the expansion of the total number of types and number of threats, protection From which it is achieved with their help. The trend of the subsequent integration is the unification of the existing ISB with various control devices and automation of the engineering systems of the facility, which is directly related to the concept of "intelligent building".

What is it?

Intellectual building is a complex that includes organizational, engineering, design and software solutions used to form a full information management infrastructure. It is designed to provide the most efficient and flexible service technology for a particular facility, as well as meeting the basic security needs of its owners as precisely as possible. Here you can use ACS, a video surveillance line, as well as a number of other specialized equipment that allows you to automate and modernize your security system as much as possible.

Its main purpose is to ensure the efficient operation of any engineering and technical systems, to conserve energy, and to detect, prevent and eliminate promptly any emergencies that may arise during the operation of the facility, minimizing the consequences of possible damage.

Where is it used?

Today, the integrated technical security system of the "smart building" format predominantly occurs in office and residential buildings. Their implementation for industrial and production facilities opens the possibility of creating such complexes in which the procedure for automating the production process or the main functional purpose of the protected facility is directly related to ensuring the security not only of the building itself but also of the people staying in it from the most different types of threats that can Arise on it in the process of work. The interconnection between different life support systems in this case allows the most efficient and effective implementation of functional tasks. By themselves, they are full-fledged automated control systems for life support, operation and safety of the facility.

How does integration work?

Integrated integrated security systems are created in several stages, the main among which is:

• installation;
• design;
• Carrying out of starting-up and adjustment works ;
• Delivery to the customer in the reception.

Any object that uses security alarms and other elements of the security system is treated as absolutely unique, so that each created by the professionals structure is a single instance, which again and again is created for different objects.

Key Features

It should be noted that in the process of creating any system, relevant provisions of the current legislation and standards in the sphere of creating similar products are taken into account. In particular, the standards establish the procedure for agreeing, developing and further approving technical documentation and terms of reference, as well as the exact procedure for the production, control, installation, commissioning and commissioning of various single-product items or their individual elements. At the same time, it is necessary to understand correctly that security sensors and other equipment can be finally assembled, adjusted, tested and brought only at the direct place of operation in the complex of a certain production facility.

Design

The most important role in the process of creation is given to the design procedure, since it is at this stage that all necessary quality characteristics are laid. Particular attention should be paid to the fact that during the design process one of the most important issues can be called the choice of specific technical means, from which an integrated safety management system will eventually be created.

By technical means in this case means different products, and also in general the entire system as a product of a single production, which for each individual object is created through the design, installation, commissioning and subsequent commissioning.

Basic difficulties

In any case, the ISB is an extremely complex technical structure, therefore, in the process of its creation, it is necessary to use specialized equipment that differs not only in its functional purpose, but also in certain features of production. Classification of protective complexes is quite diverse, and each of them provides its own features, advantages and disadvantages.

It should be noted that there is always a problem of compatibility of equipment, which includes two main elements:

• The task of ensuring the correct interaction of devices in various subsystems that were integrated into the ISF.
• Compatibility of devices manufactured by different manufacturers.

It is necessary to understand correctly that all these tasks should be completely solved, while integrated fire safety systems and others are at the design stage. After all, at this point they can still be optimized within the choice of the way of integration.

Principles

Principles of design are mainly determined by the chosen way of integration, on which the classification of the ISB also depends. The principles themselves can be divided into the main four levels:

• At the project level, the system is a combination of a variety of equipment that is not specifically designed to create the ISF.
• At the software level, there is a combination of devices from different manufacturers. In doing so, they are based on a software product specially developed for the purpose of integration, as well as on the management of a system based on a general-purpose PC.
• At the hardware and software level, the specialized equipment of the integrated security system and the software product of a certain manufacturer is combined, the system is managed on the basis of a general-purpose PC.
• At the hardware level, the software product and devices of a particular manufacturer are combined, and the system is managed without the need for a general purpose PC based on high-performance dedicated controllers and LANs based on them.

CCTV

Integration of the subsystem of video surveillance is a separate topic. There are three main variants of such implementation:

• At the project level. Systems are combined in the design process for each individual object, and the work is entrusted to design and installation firms, called conditionally "system integrators".
• At the program level. To combine subsystems, specialized software is used, which is developed and delivered as an independent product.
• At the hardware and software level. The development of software and hardware is carried out within the same system, thanks to which the most optimal characteristics are achieved, because the entire development process is mainly concentrated in the same hands, and the entire system comes with a production guarantee.

At the same time, all these options have a common drawback - the use at the top level of management of standard general-purpose personal computers.

Hardware platform

To date, the hardware integration platform can be called a relatively new direction in the development of the basic principles of ISF construction. In the process of developing this direction, the initial task was to completely eliminate various shortcomings of other methods, that is, to ensure complete abandonment of the use of standard PCs of general purpose in any level of the ISF.

The hardware integration technology is based on equipment that does not require the participation of a PC, but at the same time it allows to achieve the maximum speed and reliability of the system used.