Door Industry Journal - Winter 2016

104 THE door industry journal winter 2016 building hardware Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk Get smart with home security Martin Smith, product manager at IronmongeryDirect, takes a look at the latest smart innovations in home security that are making waves in the industry. The latest crime survey for England and Wales shows that there were an estimated 701,000 incidents of domestic burglary, and 672,000 incidents of household theft, reported between April 2015 and March 2016. In addition, research recently carried out by IronmongeryDirect found that almost 2,000 break-ins occur each day in the UK, and homes are 300% more likely to be burgled if they don’t have a security system in place. Therefore, it’s no surprise that home security and the threat of burglary are a major concern for homeowners, with 53% of Brits regularly worrying about their homes being broken into. As such, there has been a rise in interest in advanced security products that can provide the highest levels of protection - John Lewis found that searches on its website for smart home security products have increased by 670% during the past year, and sales have also shot up by 81%. The security market has been quick to respond to homeowner’s needs and we’ve seen considerable developments in new, innovative products that boost security and allow homeowners to monitor their properties from just about anywhere. These smart security solutions range from high-tech locks that only allow access to certain people, to comprehensive systems that provide coverage for the whole house. Locking down key points of access When it comes to enhancing a property’s security, doors in particular require the most attention as they provide one of the easiest ways for burglars to gain access - in fact, around a third of burglars break into a home through an unlocked door. Although the traditional lock and key has been relied upon for centuries to protect homes against intruders, sophisticated keyless entrance systems are now available to offer a more secure and reliable alternative. Criminals relying on people accidentally leaving doors open or picking locks to gain entry to homes will be stopped in their tracks with these new, advanced devices. One new smart locking system that is proving to be popular is the Yale Keyless Connected Smart Lock. Replacing traditional cylinder locks, this product is operated by entering a code into a keypad, or can also be controlled via a smartphone, ensuring only authorised people can enter the property. For people who often misplace their keys, this is a great solution as it means it’s no longer necessary to carry a key so they’ll never be locked out. The Yale Keyless Connected Smart Lock can be installed with either a dedicated Yale module to wirelessly connect it with a range of Yale Smart Living products, or with a Z Wave module to connect the lock to leading smart home systems using the Z Wave protocol. The Z-wave smart system is one of the most secure solutions available because it uses the same encryption as online banking, which protects the lock from being hacked and stops unauthorised people from being able to retrieve the code. If intruders attempt to guess the entry code, the tamper alarm will sound when the code has been incorrectly entered three times, notifying the homeowner that someone is trying to gain unwarranted access. Smart collaboration Smart systems have been developed to create fully comprehensive security systems that integrate a variety of different products, in order to protect all areas of a property. Connecting various devices, such as alarms, CCTV cameras and motion detectors, to one main hub enables homeowners to safeguard their properties 24/7 - even when they are not there. As they are usually controlled via a smartphone, users can then easily arm and disarm the security alarms and access any other connected devices from wherever they are. One such system is the Yale Smart Home Alarm View & Control Kit, which is operated via the Yale Smart Home Alarm app and can be used to control up to 20 additional security components, including video cameras and alarms, remotely. To help monitor any suspicious activity that could be taking place inside a property, the pre-linked image camera can send still images of the room to the smartphone. And if an intruder has gained unwarranted access, the alarm will sound, notifying the homeowner immediately via the app. The pre-installed power switch really brings to life the idea of creating a fully connected home, as it can be used to switch home appliances or light switches on or off, perfect for leading potential intruders into believing that someone is in the property at a time when it’s currently vacant. Advancements in smart technology are becoming extremely popular in the security market and have the potential to dramatically improve home security, by giving homeowners the ability to carefully monitor their properties at any time. With so many high-tech products becoming available, it is recommended that tradespeople keep up- to-date with the latest advancements so they can recommend the most secure devices on the market. For more information, visit http://www.IronmongeryDirect.co.uk/home-security IronmongeryDirect, Scimitar Park, Basildon, Essex, SS13 1ND W: www.IronmongeryDirect.co.uk T: 0808 168 28 28 E: sales@IronmongeryDirect.co.uk ** If you are reading this article in print, to access the source links and all other links visit www.dijonline.co.uk/winter2016/ .