MOBOTIX CCTV solution and ACT access control system improve security at Midlands based accountancy practice

09 March 2010

Based in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, Pinfields has a long established background offering high quality financial advice to small and medium enterprises since 1938. Due to their continuing growth, in August 2009 Pinfields moved into new purpose built offices covering 5,500 sq ft over three floors. With a move to bigger premises, the firm decided to improve its security monitoring and access control requirements and approached Ecl-ips, a local business who specialise in monitoring and surveillance using IP technology.

After surveying the building and discussing the exact requirements with the client, Aaron Kernaghan, Managing Director of Ecl-ips, recommended a solution that combined the MOBOTIX IP Surveillance cameras and a door entry and access control system from Access Control Technology (ACT).

Due to Mobotix’s Q24 hemispheric camera, Ecl-ips only had to install one camera in the office building. Thanks to the 360° all-round view, the Q24 is able to capture an entire room. With a panorama function and a quad view, the camera can show images from four different angles simultaneously. Currently the MOBOTIX Q24 is the only product on the market that offers this functionality and reduces the amount of cameras needed to provide surveillance of a room.

The MOBOTIX M12 camera was situated at the front of the building to provide external surveillance of the premises. As with the Q24, all of the MOBOTIX cameras are high resolution cameras which store images that are more revealing and provide stronger evidence than other formats.

MOBOTIX cameras record approximately 30 times more detail than 95% of all existing video systems worldwide. In virtually all applications, one MOBOTIX camera can replace several standard CCTV systems because MOBOTIX technology offers four times more coverage. Ecl-ips also installed a surveillance class network attached storage device which is capable of recording and storing up to 28 days high definition footage from the MOBOTIX cameras.

Retrieval of these images is made simple by the utilisation of the license free MOBOTIX MxControlCenter Video Management Software that has been set up and deployed on several client PCs within the business.

The ACT access control system recommended by Ecl-ips has exceeded the expectations of Nick Pinfield and his team. Ecl-ips fitted an ACTpro 3000 door access controller which allows the staff to gain access to the building via a key fob. This also records the exact time that they enter and leave the building, and by doing so provides the restricted access that was requested and delivers a time and attendance system.

With the use of the ACTentry V-IP system, which combines door entry with audio video over IP, visitors to the Pinfields office simply press the door entry panel, which includes a camera, and from any PC in the business that has the client software installed they can view who is at the door and speak to them over the phone system before allowing them access to the building.

Nick Pinfield, a Partner at Pinfields Limited commented, “The system recommended and installed by Ecl-ips has definitely exceeded my expectations. The quality of the MOBOTIX images is superb and we can even zoom in and out of the recorded images as and when we need to. I have found the system incredibly easy and intuitive to use. The access control has enabled us to be able to monitor and control our front door when reception is not attended. The time and attendance system is also very simple but highly effective and has fulfilled all of my requirements. This has also increased our productivity.”

Pinfield continued, “We have been delighted by the professionalism of Ecl-ips and the team of engineers that have worked on this project. They are a company that understand technology and in particular IP. It has definitely been money well spent.”