Today’s emergency intercoms are neither simple nor routine, and the security integrator is finding more ways than ever to incorporate them into a facility’s overall security and emergency planning.
The emergency intercom is generally pictured as a metal box — frequently red or blue for easy identification — that allows someone in distress to push a button and call for help. But like so many technologies in the security sphere today, these items can be far more complex than they appear.
There is a growing demand for emergency intercoms, says John Skwirblies, senior account executive, Advent Systems Inc., Elmhurst, Ill. For the mostly hospitals, universities and other “campus” type environments or parking garages that are the bread-and-butter of these applications, Skwirblies and others frequently turn to companies that specialize in these units such as Vingtor-Stentofon, Aiphone, Digital Acoustics, Talk-a-Phone and Code Blue, to name a few. And as products have advanced in technology — moving to IP protocols, utilizing wireless technology and offering better audio capabilities — integrators are finding that they are more useful and have more potential. Integrators say they also present increasing touchpoints with the customer, as well opportunities for expansion and integration.