Security

Home Security And Safety Trends From Electrical Contractors

(HIT) - Homeowners looking to increase their home’s security and safety now have more choices among new products and systems that can check activity from virtually anywhere.

According to Electrical Contractor and Security+Life Safety Systems magazines, published by the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), Bethesda, Md., more electrical contractors around the country are specifying, designing and installing security and life safety products such as:

• Lighting: new systems include whole-house lighting controllers
• Alarm systems: such as integrated wireless intrusion alarm systems that fit into diverse home décor
• Locking systems: including digital keypad controls, two-way wireless key fobs and systems that allow doors to be locked remotely
• Intrusion control panels: to detect unauthorized movements, forced openings, gas leaks and fires, crimes and medical emergencies; some systems include as many as 32 different zones in the home that can be monitored including smoke detectors and carbon monoxide sensors
• Cameras: including video door phones, and closed circuit television (CCTV) systems that can capture images outside the home and save them to a hard drive to be easily downloaded for police
• Whole House Automation: systems can include fire/life safety and security, home theater, audio installation and other controls

"What’s being done today in home security is incredible," said Dan Bollin, president, Transtar Security and Technologies, part of Transtar Electric Inc., a Toledo, Ohio-based full-service electrical contracting business. "You can have cameras installed and monitor them away from home through the Internet. You can integrate your lights so a microprocessor remembers your lighting habits over two week's time and replicates them when you leave for vacation. Your lights can flash if there’s a break-in," he said. View Full article