Making your home into your castle is expensive, but there's a lot of interest in home security now.
A man’s home is his castle, as the saying goes. But homes today don’t normally feature ramparts, drawbridges, moats and six-foot-thick stone walls to keep out unwanted visitors. Today, a house alarm, and preferably a managed home security system, has become an essential feature to ensure the safety of your family and possessions and decrease your home insurance costs.
The electronic security market, which is worth about Rs 1,800 crore, is a fast-growing one, clocking a CAGR growth of around 30 per cent.
D E Byramjee, vice-president and business head, Godrej Security (equipment division), says, “Today people want a security solution for their homes that is doubly safe, cost-effective and easy to operate. Even if there is a watchperson at the building gate, owners want to identify the person who comes to their door. They themselves would want to be sure.”
To fill in the gaps, Godrej has introduced video doorphones, priced between
Rs 8,000 and Rs 15,000, which help users view callers at the door and also speak with them before opening the door.
Burglar alarm systems, video surveillance and doorphones, wall-mounted air sensors, motion detectors, two-way key fobs and Wi-Fi cameras have, for instance, gained demand among affluent Indians.
According to Milind Londhe, head, software implementation and support, Micro Technologies, “Security is something which cannot be compromised on. People have realised this and are implementing effective security solutions.”
For several years, security solutions manufacturers such as Honeywell Security have been developing intelligent video systems that are designed to watch a scene and pick out specific behaviours that are considered to be out of the ordinary or which constitute a threat.
Picture this: Outside a large residential complex, traffic moves rhythmically. On closer inspection, one realises that commercial trucks or vehicles may halt in front of the complex for approximately three minutes at a time — when the traffic light is red.
If, therefore, a large truck stops in front of the building for more than three minutes, an alarm alerts the security personnel about a potential bomb threat or suspicious intentions of the occupants of that vehicle. This is not another instance of paranoia but an essential security measure that large residential complexes are considering.
“The benefits of an intelligent video system are many, and they are currently being deployed all over the world. It has been proven that in large-scale surveillance applications, it is difficult for a security guard to effectively monitor and process information from more than 12 to 16 security cameras at a time,” says Deepak Thakur, director (south Asia), Honeywell Security.
His advice: In situations where an immediate response to a perceived threat is imperative, an intelligent video analytics system is an astute investment. For instance, at a parking lot, standard behaviour for a patron is to park their car and walk to or from the elevators or the entrance.
A person who is loitering for an unusually long time or walking back and forth between cars is probably up to no good. With intelligent video analytics, the camera system can alert the security office and present them with live video of the suspect without any form of human intervention.
Starting at Rs 22,000 (per camera), these systems are getting a lot of attention from potential buyers. “By creating custom mathematical algorithms that analyse video signals for specific and targeted actions, the implementation of this technology is only limited by your imagination,” says Thakur.
With the development of Bluetooth and infrared technology, most security equipment is now being made available in wireless mode. Although priced almost 40 per cent higher than the normal category, wireless security cameras, sensors, alarms and accessories are a common sight in big mansions or even new apartments.
Use of fingerprint door locks is another common security measure that is being adopted by people living in multistorey apartments. A fingerprint lock can store up to 100 fingerprints, which means it will allow only a select few to enter. Fingerprint locks start at Rs 10,000 and high-end ones are available at Rs 30,000.
The demand for high-tech security systems from the corporate sector has also gone up in recent weeks. Says Sachit Gupta, managing director of Globe Detective and Security Services, “Security measures have been beefed up and, apart from CCTVs and metal detectors, corporates are now looking at advanced systems as well.”
Real estate developers are advocating tighter security measures for upcoming and existing projects too. “We will be installing high-tech security systems in our upcoming projects,” says the marketing head of one major real estate developer.
