Embassy Gardens

Embassy Gardens fob access cctv door entry Comelit Keri Systems radiating cable leaky feeder Cisco network
Embassy Gardens Phase 2

Embassy Gardens is a new build project in nine-elms. The project is phased with phase 1 completed in 2018 and phase 2 due to complete in 2021. At completion it will comprise 1229 apartments and numerous commercial spaces.

Two of the selected manufacturers saw fit to produce their own case studies on this project and their articles are linked underneath this article.

Blakeglow Systems were approached to supply the security systems and convinced Ballymore to move away from analogue systems and to embrace Ethernet based instead. This provided not only the latest technology but also significant cost savings across the project.

Blakeglow Systems were tasked with providing the following systems:

  • Visitor Door Entry: Comelit’s VIP system was selected for not only its market leading aesthetics but the resiliency of its peer-to-peer communications. Peer-to-peer systems are not server reliant and therefore any item in the system can fail and the rest of the system continue to work.
  • Residents Access Control: Keri Systems Mercury controllers were selected with Keri Systems Doors.Net software to oversee the running of it. Keri Systems 3r and 3re readers were selected for their sleek looks and 128 bit encryption. Doors.Net has no limitations on the size of system, number of users, access groups or time zones and is a true IP offering. Lift control was used across 3 sets of lifts. In phase 1 access to the Gym floor was controlled both by time and by residents induction status. In Ambassador building the lift to core F penthouse had proximity and number access – proximity for the resident, and numbers to allow the residents guests to access the penthouse level.
  • CCTV: Samsung (now called Hanwha) Camera’s and Network Video recorders were selected for their quality of image and low light performance. Top of the range static 3Mpx cameras, and top of the range 2Mpx PTZ cameras were used. The cameras were presented to the professional security team using Samsung’s SSM Professional Video Management System (VMS). The Gym staff required access to the Gym cameras and Blakeglow provided for this. The gym staff can only view live images of their cameras.
  • Ethernet Network Backbone: Cisco switches were selected for the 1000Mbps site wide network. Cisco switches are market leading both for features and reliability with a Mean Time to Fail of over 50 years. The system was designed as a partial mesh in order to provide reliability at a reasonable cost. Vlans were provided for each system connected to the network. A Watchguard security appliance was selected to protect the networks that needed internet access. A physical connection from phase 1 to phase 2 was not possible, so Blakeglow Systems selected two 1000Mbps microwave links from SilverNet to provide an Ethernet connection between both phases. Each link was located on a different building to provide further resiliency.
  • Site Radio’s: Blakeglow Systems were asked to provide a radio communication system for the security team. Owing to the fact that a license to operate a radio system was not available a radiating cable system was installed throughout both phases, enabling communication with the the Fire Control Centre (and security room) from anywhere across site. The system used the Ethernet network to communicate between buildings.
  • Car chargers were installed into both the residential and Waitrose car parks and Blakeglow Systems provided internet connections for these.
  • The BMS system required links between buildings and Blakeglow Systems provided a VLAN and switchports for this.
  • The MBUS system required links between buildings and Blakeglow Systems provided a VLAN and switchports for this.
  • The Fire alarm system required links between buildings and Blakeglow Systems provided a VLAN and switchports for this. These links were not part of the life safety system but enabled indication of system state in other buildings.
  • Two Vlan’s were provided for Ballymore’s own internal use, one for their PC’s and another for their VoIP phones.

Blakeglow Systems monitored the systems using PRTG’s Network Monitoring software. Ballymore Properties saw the benefits of this, and subsequently purchased a license upgrade to enable more items to be monitored. The system came into its own when a contractor working on the new build introduced a switching loop onto the system, and Blakeglow Systems had a senior network engineer on-site within 30 minutes of symptoms becoming visible to the end users. Blakeglow Systems had received alarms some 2 hours before enabling us to react quickly.